Rep. Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia tells FOX 29 there are 875,000 veterans who have waited more than four months to get the benefits they deserve from Veteran's Affairs.
Fattah, a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, who has a Veterans Affairs claim center and hospital in his district, says "this has been a decades-old problem for hundreds of thousands of veterans."
Fattah, in an interview with FOX 29 last week, listed a number of reasons for the long wait for benefits.
He said "not only is Veterans Affairs largely paperwork dependent, its computers often have different operating and software systems." Fattah also said there are walls of paper files still to be entered into VA computers.
Fattah argues the Congress and the Obama Administration are working on the problems. He says 17 billion in additional funding has been provided to the VA and more case workers have been added. He says there is a new effort underway to get some of the old records on computers, and it seems to be working well.
The Congressman still sees a number of challenges for Veterans Affairs.
He says case workers carry about a 400 case workload. He is concerned that the files of older veterans are sometimes lost causing their cases to drag on for years.
FOX 29's Claudia Gomez had been reporting recently on veterans from wars long past who have had to fight another battle to get the benefits they believe they deserve.
Friday, June 7 2013 11:24 PM EDT2013-06-08 03:24:19 GMT
In the days after the building collapse that killed six people and injured more than a dozen in Center City, officials are shedding light on some things that happened before the disaster.
In the days after the building collapse that killed six people and injured more than a dozen in Center City, officials are shedding light on some things that happened before the disaster. And they're promising to make sure they don't happen again.
Thursday, June 6 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-06-07 03:07:14 GMT
A top, local school official voluntarily resigns after a district investigation. FOX 29 Investigates broke the story. Find out how much it cost taxpayers.
A top, local school official voluntarily resigns after a district investigation. FOX 29 Investigates broke the story. Find out how much it cost taxpayers.
Thursday, June 6 2013 7:58 PM EDT2013-06-06 23:58:23 GMT
FOX 29 wants to know who applied for the permits to tear down that building, and who was checking up on this job? Investigative Reporter Jeff Cole is working to get us answers.
FOX 29 wants to know who applied for the permits to tear down that building, and who was checking up on this job? Investigative Reporter Jeff Cole is working to get us answers.
Tuesday, May 28 2013 11:19 AM EDT2013-05-28 15:19:52 GMT
A local elected official hits the gas again when FOX 29 Investigates' Jeff Cole tries to ask him a few questions about why a ghost worker was on his staff.
A local elected official hits the gas again when FOX 29 Investigates' Jeff Cole tries to ask him a few questions about why a ghost worker was on his staff.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:43 PM EDT2013-06-19 02:43:10 GMT
Times are tough for many in Philadelphia with almost half a million people turning to food pantries just to survive. Several organizations are working to provide healthy options.
Times are tough for many in Philadelphia with almost half a million people turning to food pantries just to survive. Several organizations are working to provide healthy options.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:23 PM EDT2013-06-19 02:23:12 GMT
For the second time in one week, officers from the PSPCA are rescuing cats from another hoarding situation.17 cats have been rescued so far from a rowhome on the 2000 block of Margaret Street.
For the second time in one week, officers from the PSPCA are rescuing cats from another hoarding situation.17 cats have been rescued so far from a rowhome on the 2000 block of Margaret Street.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-06-19 02:20:21 GMT
Doctor Michelle Liggio was a very popular Pensauken doctor. Tonight she's a murder victim. Police say her husband shot her inside her office before turning the gun on himself.
Doctor Michelle Liggio was a very popular Pensauken doctor. Tonight she's a murder victim. Police say her husband shot her inside her office before turning the gun on himself.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:56 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:56:59 GMT
In Delaware County, a man is charged with raping a woman. And what led to his arrest--her iPhone. Upper Darby police arrested 23-year-old Gaurave Kumar for sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
In Delaware County, a man is charged with raping a woman. And what led to his arrest--her iPhone. Upper Darby police arrested 23-year-old Gaurave Kumar for sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:55 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:55:15 GMT
Bensalem police have arrested the suspect wanted for stabbing a man during a vehicle break-in. They previously released a series of suspect photos to help in the search.
Bensalem police have arrested the suspect wanted for stabbing a man during a vehicle break-in. They previously released a series of suspect photos to help in the search.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:58 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:58:16 GMT
Under a "doomsday" budget now being enacted, schools and students in the city of Philadelphia are facing devastating losses. Philadelphia is trying to convince the state not to let it happen.
Under a "doomsday" budget now being enacted, schools and students in the city of Philadelphia are facing devastating losses. Philadelphia is trying to convince the state not to let it happen.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:07 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:07:39 GMT
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
Published reports are saying this is a murder/suicide. The victim is 47 year old family practice doctor Michelle Liggio, and the alleged gunman is her estranged husband 58 year old Christopher.
