Federal Newscast

VA and SSA merging systems to make claims process faster for vets

In today's Top Federal Headlines, the Veterans Affairs Department and Social Security are merging systems to create an automated claims process.

Eric White@FEDERALNEWSCAST

November 11, 2016 9:32 am

< a min read

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Veterans Affairs and Social Security team up for a new health IT initiative. The idea is to let VA share medical records electronically with social security disability processors through an automated system. The agencies say this will save time and money and will result in better service for vets and beneficiaries. (Department of Veterans Affairs)

A new benefit for disabled veterans working for the federal government takes effect. The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 created disabled veteran leave for any federal employee hired after November 5th 2016. The leave can only be used for medical treatment of service-connected disability and can not exceed 104 hours. (Air Force)

An Army Lieutenant Colonel gets 20 years in prison for producing child pornography. The Justice Department says the soldier while working for the Defense Intelligence Agency was using his government issued laptop to carry out the crime. The FBI says he used social media and instant messaging apps on the computer to coerce minors. (Department of Justice)

Eric White

Eric White is news anchor and Federal Drive producer at Federal News Network.