United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-02-14 monographic deposited born digital 50 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-112 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112 P0b002ee18039224a f:d08112 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112 GAO-08-112 Data integrity Eligibility criteria Eligibility determinations Financial records Government retirement benefits Military disability retirement pay Payments Pension claims Pensions Policy evaluation Quality assurance Program management Retirement benefits Veterans benefits Veterans disability compensation Veterans pensions Other Written Product A80789 In 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) paid about $3.5 billion in means-tested pension benefits to over 500,000 veterans and survivors. GAO was asked to review the management of VA pension program. This report assesses (1) the characteristics and trends in size of the current pensioner population, (2) the policies and procedures VA has in place to ensure that initial pension eligibility decisions are well managed, and (3) the procedures VA has in place to ensure that pensioners continue to receive the proper benefit payments on an ongoing basis. Our study included reviews of agency policies, procedures, and internal controls; site visits to 4 of VA's 57 regional offices and all three of its pension maintenance centers; and a selected file review of new claims at three locations. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112.pdf GAO-08-112 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-112 Other Written Product GAO-08-112; Veterans' Benefits: Improved Management Would Enhance VA's Pension Program; Data integrity Eligibility criteria Eligibility determinations Financial records Government retirement benefits Military disability retirement pay Payments Pension claims Pensions Policy evaluation Quality assurance Program management Retirement benefits Veterans benefits Veterans disability compensation Veterans pensions Volume 48 Page 8 48 Stat. 8 Volume 73 Page 432 73 Stat. 432 Volume 93 Page 2497 93 Stat. 2497 Public Law 95-588 Public Law 103-271 Public Law 110-157