VA furloughs take nearly a third of Wilmington VBA’s workforce

VA furloughs take nearly a third of Wilmington VBA’s workforce
Delaware Online
by Bill McMichael
Posted on October 15, 2013

The nationwide furloughs that sent home one-third of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s 21,000 workers during the partial government shutdown reduced the Wilmington office by nearly the same percentage.

Seven of Wilmington’s 24 workers were furloughed Oct. 8 along with more than 7,800 others around the country, prompting VBA to close off public access to all regional offices and facilities, including Wilmington. None of the seven process original compensation claims, according to the VA’s Ramona Joyce, so the impact of those furloughs on such cases would appear to be negligible. The office also processes payments in the compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation programs.

Wilmington falls under the Philadelphia Regional Office, where 183, or 17 percent, of 1,108 employees have been furloughed.

Online claims are still being accepted at VBA offices. But walk-ins – a common means of filing – are not possible, and phone calls for assistance or help with filling out a claim are not being accepted.
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