Bureau of Pension Advocates

[dunlop303]

Afternoon,


Does any one have any experience working with the BPA? I self assessed my disability using nothing but my physicians paperwork and found the adjudicator missed the mark no matter which chapter they used. I put a short report together for BPA and they agreed and said they would request a re-assessment pointing out the items that were missed. Does anyone know if this goes straight to adjudication or any past results they care to discuss?

Thanks,

 

[FJAG]

I've dealt with BPA lawyers in the past. For the most part they are capable lawyers, experienced in the pension system and, most of all, they are free. They work in a solicitor/client relationship with you like most lawyers and you can approach them at any time for advice or information about your case.

I think folks on this site can probably give you some generalities but what you really want to know is how will your specific case be managed. My suggestion is call your particular advocate and arrange for a meeting to discuss with him/her how the case will be handled and what, if anything you can do to help him/her to advance the case. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

:cheers:

 

[Blair36314]

So here is my recent experience with the BPA. Was assigned an advocate for a VRAB appeal after waiting for a year. The advocate went over my case and said he felt I had a good chance to win and nothing further required he would do things on his end for appeal. Nothing for over six months then get a call from BPA saying I was being assigned a new advocate. Waited another few months and finally get a new advocate. He calls me tells me he used to be on VRAB board and said I had no chance of winning and didn’t like to lose. He wanted another doctors opinion. I then go see a specialist who agreed to do a report backing claim. A year later no report secretary said doctor too busy and said she figured he would not do. I contact advocate and tell him no report and just proceed on current info. Again he tells me I will lose so he sets up a appt with a doctor through a private company probably for insurance claims. This doctor not a specialist for my condition and his report wasn’t very helpful. After report received I get a email from advocate stating I have been counselled out. I phone him saying wtf? He again said I will lose and he doesn’t like to lose even though I wanted to continue. After that I said screw it and contacted VRAB stating I was counselled out didn’t agree with advocate and wanted to self represent via written submission. Had hearing a month ago and won. I feel like called advocate to let him know but wife said leave it. Point of story is sometimes they are not the greatest

 

[CountDC]

My experience point. Talked to VAC agent who recommended I talk to BPA about my claims so I did. Person at BPA attempted to send me to VAC. I stated several times that I had just talked to VAC, they gave me the phone number and told me to call BPA. She finally gave in and passed my info to an agent. Eventually got a call from an agent that resulted in her deciding we needed to wait until after other claims are ruled on and a follow up appointment with a specialist in Sept. Supposed to send me a form to take in and have completed.