Veterans in Arkansas could suffer from shutdown

MORE THAN 250- THOUSAND VETERANS IN ARKANSAS WHO RELY ON V-A BENEFITS COULD SUFFER FROM THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN. 40/29’S PAIGE (Proy-see) PREUSSE JOINS US LIVE IN THE STUDIO TO TELL US HOW THE SHUTDOWN IS ADDING TO THE V-A CLAIMS BACKLOG EVERY DAY.. CRAIG, VETERANS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DISABILITY BENEFIT CHECKS… FOR NOW. BUT IF THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES FOR MORE THAN SEVERAL WEEKS, OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS COULD GO WITHOUT BENEFITS FOR HEALTHCARE, INCOME… AND SUPPORT. “It’s not a good place for a Vietnam Vet to be.” ROGER VETERAN DENNIS GROFF SERVED NINE YEARS IN THE ARMY. I’m a 100 percent disabled vet. I have Parkinson’s Disease.” HE RELIES ON VETERANS BENEFTS TO PAY FOR ALL HIS MEDICATIONS. “ProzacI have a list, because I also have osteoporosis, PTSD, psoriasis.” NOW, YOU CAN ADD ANXIETY TO THAT LIST AS GROFF WAITS FOR CONGERSS TO PASS A BUDGET. HE KNOWS IF THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES — HIS HARD-EARNED BENEFITS WILL sTOP. “It’s getting depressing . The way I look at it, every day is one day closer to me not getting a paycheck. God forbid I can’t receive medical assistance from the V- Athen what do you do?” FOR GROFF, THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS. “There’s no other income, and no chance of work; it’s not like I can find a job. My emphysema and COPD is bad, the Parkinson’s Disease makes it really bad too.” AND LOSING HIS BENEFITS MEANS LOSING ALMOST EVERYTHING. “Eating, sleeping, having a place to stay.” GROFF SAYS HE’S EMBARASSED BY THE CURRENT POLITICS IN A COUNTRY HE SO PROUDLY ONCE SERVED. “For them it’s all political gamesmanship. It’s no game to us. If it is, it’s certainly one we can’t play, we’re just stuck with the outcome.” EVEN BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN … SOME VETERANS HAD TO WAIT MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS FOR THEIR BENEFITS. NOW — THE V-A ESTIMATES THE SHUTDOWN WILL REQUIRE FURLOUGHING 20- THOUSAND V-A CLAIMS PROCESSORS ACROSS THE NATION. CRAIG?