Obama Helps Springfield Veteran Get $12,500 in Veterans Benefits Back-Pay
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Printable FormatFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, (202) 228-5511
Illinois Contact: Julian Green, (312) 886-3506
Date: May 17, 2006
Obama Helps Springfield Veteran Get $12,500 in Veterans Benefits Back-Pay
CHICAGO - Dale Hunter, 81, of Springfield, Illinois received more than $12,500 in veteran's benefits with help from U.S. Senator Barack Obama.
Hunter was wounded in 1945 while serving in the United States Army during World War II. On service with the 117th Calvary, Hunter and two other soldiers were on a reconnaissance mission to liberate families employed under forced labor in a food factory in Germany. Shortly after crossing the Rhine River, Hunter was shot by German forces. Hunter was awarded a Purple Heart while receiving medical treatment at the 95th General Hospital in France.
Hunter first filed for disability pay in 1946 due to complications with his injuries. The VA failed to report the injury in his original request for a claim, and Hunter was denied compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In 2003, the error was recognized by the Sangamon County Veterans Assistance Commission, and in June 2005 Hunter received a $22,000 portion of his retroactive back pay. On April 10, 2006 he contacted Senator Obama's Springfield Office to request help obtaining his remaining benefits. Staff for Senator Obama contacted a representative at the Department of Veterans Affairs and discovered that the paper work for the remaining $12,500, which should have been entered months before, was buried beneath a stack of other claims awaiting processing. The final compensation was awarded shortly thereafter on April 29, ten months after Hunter received his first check.
Hunter said he greatly appreciates Senator Obama's assistance. "Senator Obama did a marvelous job," Hunter said. "He did what it took other people 60 years to do. After the first of the money came in, I had gone to various people in VA to get the rest and their comment to me was, 'You got all you're ever going to get so just forget about it.' The Senator proved them wrong."
"For decades, Illinois veterans have received less disability pay than they earned simply because of where they live," said Senator Obama. "And unfortunately, stories like Mr. Hunter's are far too common. I'm very happy that I was able to help Mr. Hunter, and I strongly encourage veterans who feel like the VA made a mistake in their claim to call 1-800-827-1000 or visit a special website the VA set up at Senator Durbin and my request at: www.vba.va.gov/SpecialOutreach."
Since January of 2005, Obama's Springfield staff has secured more than $217,699 for Illinois veterans.