COLUMBIA, SC (SCDVA)- The South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with the Columbia VA Regional Office and WIS News 10, hosted a phone bank to assist Veterans and their families with questions regarding PACT Act benefits, eligibility, and enrollment. Veterans, family members, and survivors of Veterans called with questions on Wednesday, August 2nd from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. during WIS’s live broadcast. SCDVA also hosted a special introductory call-ahead session at 3 p.m. LIVE on social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn). 

Through these efforts, more than 150 callers were able to be assisted. Many callers had questions about the PACT Act and received assistance from specialists on site regarding "Intent to File" claims and other additional benefits.

Those who were unable to speak with a specialist during the phone bank can still get answers to their benefits, eligibility, and enrollment questions by contacting the SCDVA team at the Columbia VA Regional Office at 803-647-2434. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM. You can also visit the office at 6437 Garners Ferry Rd, Columbia, SC 29209 for assistance.

The PACT Act is a law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. The law helps the VA provide generations of Veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.

There are no deadlines for Veterans and survivors of Veterans to apply for PACT Act benefits, but there are approaching timelines for Veterans seeking certain claims according to the VA as follows:

• Veterans who file their PACT Act claim or intent to file by August 9, 2023, may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.
• Post-9/11 combat veterans who served between 2001 and 2013 have until October 1, 2023, to enroll in Department of Veterans Affairs health care (this includes Veterans who have never applied and Veterans currently in rejected enrollment status. The date will conclude a one-year "special enrollment period" provided by the PACT Act.

The PACT Act brings these changes:

• Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.
• Adds 20+ more presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures.
• Adds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.
• Helps us improve research, staff education, and treatment related to toxic exposures.

What does it mean to have a presumptive condition for toxic exposure?

• To get a VA disability rating, your disability must connect to your military service. For many health conditions, you need to prove that your service caused your condition. 
• For some conditions, we automatically assume (or “presume”) that your service caused your condition. We call these “presumptive conditions.”
• A condition is considered presumptive when it's established by law or regulation.
• If you have a presumptive condition, you don’t need to prove that your service caused the condition. You only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption.

To learn more information regarding PACT Act benefits and claims, visit the VA website HERE.