VA extends PACT Act deadline

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has extended the deadline for veterans and survivors to apply (or submit their intent to file) for PACT Act benefits. The deadline is now 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, Aug. 14.

Those who meet the deadline will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022 – the day President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. This is an extension from the original deadline of Aug. 9, 2023. All veterans and their survivors are encouraged to apply – or submit their intent to file – for PACT Act benefits now by visiting VA.gov/PACT.

 VA extended the deadline due to technical difficulties with VA.gov/PACT in recent days. Specifically, due to extremely high demand, some veterans who have sought to submit their intent to file for PACT Act benefits have received error messages. VA says it has successfully logged every one of these intents to file – meaning that every veteran or survivor who has received an error message while applying for PACT Act benefits can consider their intent to file complete.

Right now VA is working to contact these individuals to confirm their intent to file will be honored and their effective date protected. No veteran or survivor will miss out on a single day of benefits due to this issue.