WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Stefanik’s bipartisan legislation, the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act. This legislation would improve the process of issuing pension benefits payments administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"For years, I worked with the Peltz family, our great veterans’ service organizations, the VA, and Members of this Committee on crafting this legislation to ensure no other family has to endure what the Peltz family went through when WWII veteran and hero Ernest Peltz passed away," stated Chairwoman Stefanik.
Watch Chairwoman Stefanik's remarks here.
Stefanik introduced this legislation upon working with Charles Peltz, whose father, World War II veteran Mr. Ernest Peltz, passed away after being approved for his accrued pension benefit. However, due to a VA processing error, the VA did not deposit the approved funds in Mr. Peltz’s bank account until after his passing. In turn, the VA removed these funds from Mr. Peltz’s account, even though he was alive when his benefit was approved, leaving his family to deal with all expenses related to his care.
This bill enhances the process of issuing pension benefits payments administered by the VA that are impacted by the death of the beneficiary. It would ensure that veterans receive their accrued pension benefit in the event of a month of death-claim, or if payment for the month of the death has been issued.
Chairwoman Stefanik reintroduced the bipartisan Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act in April 2025.
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