VA Outlines Contingency Plan Amid Government Shutdown

As Disabled American Veterans (DAV) recently pointed out, the ongoing government shutdown “can cause anxiety and uncertainty within the veteran community,” as former service members worry about the closure’s impact on the services they rely on.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that 97% of VA employees will continue to work during the shutdown, and the organization has shared an official contingency plan that outlines what services will and will not be available while the federal government remains inoperative. For example:

• VA medical centers, outpatient clinics and vet centers will be open as usual, and will be providing all services.
• VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered. This includes compensation, pension, education and housing benefits.
• Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries. Applications for headstones, markers and burial benefits processing will continue.
• The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will continue decisions on veterans’ cases.
• The VA’s primary call center (1.800.MyVA411) and the Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988, press 1) will remain open around the clock.
• The VA Benefit Hotline (1.800.827.1000) will be available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
• Suicide prevention programs, homelessness services and caregiver support will continue.

Some VA services will not continue during the shutdown. For example:

• The VA will cease providing transition program assistance and career counseling.
• The VA’s Gi Bill hotline (1.888.GIBILL.1) and Memorial Products Applicant Assistance unit (1.800.697.6947) will be closed.
• Public Affairs and unfunded outreach to Veterans will cease, including social media, VetResources emails and responses to press inquiries.
• No grounds maintenance or placement of permanent headstones at VA cemeteries.
• Applications for pre-need burial at VA cemeteries will not be processed.
• There will be no printing of new Presidential Memorial Certificates.
• There will be no outreach to state, county, tribal, municipal, faith-based, and community-based partners by VA Central Office.

The VA urges visitors to the VA website to continue checking back for updates, and provides a number of resources for VA employees, such as links to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Shutdown Furlough Guidance and an unemployment benefits finder by state.