PACT Act Application Deadline Extended

Veterans have a few more days to apply for PACT Act benefits according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

Veterans and survivors can apply (or submit their intent to file) for PACT Act benefits by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. 

The VA made this decision after experiencing technical difficulties with the VA.gov/PACT site in recent days. Extremely high demand caused some veterans to receive error messages. 

Despite these messages, according to the statement, the VA 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. 

The VA has also resolved nearly all of the technical issues with the site. As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, less than one tenth of one percent of attempts to submit an “intent to file” had resulted in an error message. 

This percentage is down from about 18 percent on Aug. 8. Additionally, there was a high volume of calls to VA call centers throughout the week, and the agency is working to decrease abnormally long call center wait times. 

Veterans and survivors who apply or submit their intent to file for PACT Act benefits by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to Aug. 10, 2022 – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. 

Veterans and their survivors should visit VA.gov/PACT for more information.