Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today, one year after establishing the Veterans and Service Members Advisory Response Team (VSMART), announced that it has fielded hundreds of inquiries from veterans and active service members in need of assistance with consumer issues, benefits and other matters.
Blumenthal said that, based on calls and complaints received over the past year, there is a broad and troubling need for advocacy on behalf of active duty personnel and veterans -- and he urged more to take advantage of VSMART.
Hundreds of Connecticut service members and veterans have contacted Blumenthal's office for assistance and advice, resulting in discharge of thousands of dollars in unfair debt, approval of benefits, halted foreclosures and legal action withdrawal by contractors pursuing service members in small claims court.
"These men and women have fought for us -- and we must fight for them," Blumenthal said. "I am pleased that we have helped hundreds of veterans, but troubled by the depth of problems that our military men and women face when they return from service. Small claims actions, daunting debt terms, foreclosures and government benefit mazes seem more intended to hurt than help our active duty service members and veterans.
"I fear that many veterans and active service members remain unassisted and unaware that VSMART exists, and encourage them to reach out. My office -- working closely with veteran service organizations and a network of private law firms offering pro bono services -- will continue to aggressively advocate on behalf of veterans who face unfair obstacles involving benefits, employment, contractors or other issues.
"No matter how significant or small their problem, veterans and active service members deserve any assistance that we can provide."
In one case, Blumenthal's office advocated on behalf of a Vietnam veteran who for eight years was unable to have his appeal for an increase in disability heard by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Shortly after Blumenthal's office intervened and corresponded with the DVA, the veteran's file was reviewed and his increase approved -- as well as back payments of tens of thousands of dollars.
In another matter, an elderly war veteran's car was repossessed after he was unable to make car payments. Despite the repossession, a bank sought to continue to collect thousands of dollars, until Blumenthal's office contacted the bank's local counsel and successfully advocated withdrawal of the debt collection.
This week, Blumenthal's office also compelled a car dealership to provide a former Connecticut veteran with an overdue $500 rebate check for an auto purchase that was due for many months.
Veterans and active service members needing assistance should call the Attorney General's Office at 860-808-5318.
Other services are separately available through the state Department of Veterans' Affairs -- through the Veterans Info Line -- at 1-866-9CT-VETS (1-866-928-8387).
