By Stephanie Wurtz
s.wurtz@krdo.com
COLORADO SPRINGS - A six-year Army veteran says he's missing out on thousands of dollars in benefits and says now he's at risk of losing his home. Sgt. Clayton Wingfield completed three tours of duty and applied for his disability benefits at the end of 2008.
He's been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is still waiting on his benefits. "No answers on anything," Wingfield says, "just a big run around."
For about eight months, Wingfield has been trying to track down his $1,300 a month in disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. "I'm just waiting to get my money," Wingfield says, "they've already rated me 70% disabled, but there's a competency issue and they say I'm not competent enough to control my own funds."
The VA says a field visit may be required, to ensure soldiers are able to handle financial issues. "That's where someone will go out and actually meet with you and look at what your living arrangements are like," says Rebecca Sawyer-Smith with the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs in Denver, "look at your financial situation and how you're handling everyday activities."
Wingfield says he was told it'd take six to twelve months to get him through that process. The VA says the process usually takes only 45 days. NEWSCHANNEL 13 faxed the VA his information, but Sawyer-Smith couldn't comment specifically on Wingfield's file or the hold up on his benefits; benefits Wingfield's waiting on to get by.
"I'd pay my mortgage, food," says Wingfield of how he'd spend his benefits, "day to day stuff, paying bills." Wingfield says the Army is going to start up disability pay July 1 of about $1,000 a month until things are straightened out with the VA.
The VA says there are other resources to help get soldiers through the claims process. Click here for Disabled American Veterans or call the local office at 380-8005. Click here for the American Legion. Click here for El Paso County Veterans or call 520-7750. Click here for the Department of Veterans Affairs or call 1-800-827-1000.
