H.R. 984: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide timely equitable relief to an individual who suffers a loss based on an administrative error by the Secretary, and for other purposes.

This bill aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code to improve the process of providing relief for veterans who have suffered financial losses due to administrative errors made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). Below are the key points of the bill:

Improvements to Equitable Relief

• Timely Relief: The bill specifies that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must provide equitable relief to affected individuals within 120 days after determining that an error occurred. This changes the current language from "may" to "shall," indicating a more mandatory approach to timely relief.
• Debt Cancellation: If a veteran is found to be incorrectly charged or indebted due to an error by the VA, the Secretary is required to quickly cancel any agreements with debt collectors related to that incorrect debt. This ensures that veterans are not pursued for payments that are determined to be erroneous.

In essence, the bill seeks to enhance the responsiveness and accountability of the VA when it comes to correcting mistakes that cause veterans financial hardship, aiming for a more efficient process in rectifying such errors and alleviating undue financial burdens on those affected.

Relevant Companies

• None found