The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect voluntary demographic data from certain survivors and people receiving burial benefits. The data would include race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, LGBTQIA+ status, and location. The department would use the data to identify underserved groups, report on the data, and plan outreach about benefits. The bill would also expand outreach to people who served in the uniformed services and require regular contact with eligible dependents after a covered person dies, until they file a claim. Dependents could choose to receive fewer or no outreach messages.
If you are an eligible survivor or dependent, the department would provide information about benefits and where to get help filing a claim. If the department lacks your contact information, it would make reasonable efforts to obtain it. Providing demographic data would not be required and could not affect a benefits claim. The bill would also require outreach about national cemetery burial eligibility for veterans and beneficiaries in groups identified as underserved.
The bill does not specify funding amounts. It would require the department to establish at least 5 and no more than 10 full-time equivalent positions at its call centers for survivor outreach.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.