How to get an appt. when you are pretty sure you are ready to file???

Dear Folks,

Excellent info on the forum--it has helped me greatly preparing to file for my 89-yr.- old mom(surviving spouse). My problem, after filing unofficial claim to start clock and using the time to gather hard-to-get documents, I can't seem to make an appt. with or get a call back from my local VSO. It is ticking down to about 2 weeks. (Right, I know...) The lack of follow-up is making me nervous. I have called, left voice messages, and left messages with a new volunteer. (The last actual phone answerer seems to have disappeared.) On the occasions the phone is answered, no one who can help me is in. I know that they are doing outreach and a homeless vet project, but have I been abandoned? I really need to get this squared away for my mom since she is in an ALF and we are running out of funds and I am having to pay her bills, etc., out of pocket.

Should I just forge ahead and do it myself? I was advised to use the VSO but how does that help if you cannot get in to see someone? Any ideas? I will do it myself and call my senator if no one calls me back again. The last time I was scheduled in was July and I had to try to reschedule. Now it is Sept.

Thanks,
Lizzie

P.S. Thanks for all you do, Debbie.

 

Dear Debbie,

Thank you for this place and this opportunity to learn from everyone. I am working hard to get this in ASAP.

Lizzie

 

Lizzie, I had a similar experience with my local (rural NY state) veterans assistance office. I won't detail it here, but suffice it to say that after getting all the requested information in to them in June 2011, by July 2012 they still had not acted to file my mother's application! This is after repeated in person visits by me to the office. I finally notified them to close their file and completed and filed the application within 2 weeks time on my own. I don't have any result to report yet, but completing the form can be done independently especially with help from veteranaid.org and other helpful websites. I had allowed myself to be buffaloed by all the warnings from the local "assistance" office and others on websites that the form is SO long and complicated that you have to have help. :-\

 

Claudia,

All the best with your claim. It is certainly a shame that we are told to go for help and then it is not there. I have given up on anything but myself and this Web site and the people behind it. I have been I'll for over 2 weeks (food poisoning) so will undertake an overnight delivery Mon. No one else can do this for me.

I have seen the P. O. Box address for Philadelphia and a street address. Looking it up on Google Maps, they appear to be the same location. My local Post Office will not say if return receipt works at P .O. Boxes. Any idea? I have tried to call the VA but cannot even get to the call back option

Thanks.

Lizzie

 

Debbie,

Wow--fast! Thank you for a quick and oh, so timely answer.

Lizzie

 

Debbie,

I underestimated the power of illness--I had food poisoning and am still not even 50%. It just took me down--Listeria from lettuce--and I doubt it would have done such a number on me if I wasn't so stressed out about the VA benefits. I have been unable to get everything ready for send-off. Is there any hope for letting the VA (Philadelphia office) know that I was almost ready and then this act of nature waylaid me?

I have a phone # that is not the national # from some correspondence and may give it a try. There is a claim number and I have the information, just not sendable at this time, due to my illness. I have no one to help me other than my husband who is a at work long hours and has not been involved other than to voice his support. I do not hold that against him as he has taken great pride in doing for my mother what I have been unable to do.

My sibling has made it clear that she will not help in any matter concerning our mother.

Any ideas??? I appreciate you so much.

Lizzie