• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Grassley wants explanation on delay of benefits for slain law officers

Grassley wants explanation on delay of benefits for slain law officers

June 9, 2015 By Matt Kelley

Senator Chuck Grassley

Senator Chuck Grassley

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the federal government is dragging its heels and making the families of fallen law officers in Iowa and elsewhere wait far too long before benefits are paid. Grassley says the families of slain or injured officers who file claims for Public Safety Officers’ Benefits should see results in 90 days, but some families are waiting up to three years.

“The idea is to get the payments out when they’re supposed to go out so families don’t suffer,” Grassley says. “They’re already suffering because their loved one has given their life in the line of duty.” Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he’s sent another letter to the assistant attorney general, asking about the continued delays.

Formal letters were also sent to the Justice Department by Grassley on this subject in January and February. Grassley says, “The program was set up specifically to ease the transition from a tragedy like that…so the family could move forward.” While officials say progress is being made in the response times, Grassley says he’s seeing no sign that’s the case.

“It’s like pulling teeth just to get answers to simple questions,” Grassley says, “particularly when you expect, in a country based on the rule of law, that people don’t do what they’re supposed to do when they’re supposed to do it.”

A report released in 2009 by the Government Accountability Office found families of fallen or injured officers waited an average of a year and a half before receiving an approval or denial of their Public Safety Officers’ Benefits application. That’s despite a 2004 Attorney General order that instructed the benefits office to make a determination on all claims within 90 days.

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Chuck Grassley, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Exhibit features lesser known works of Grant Wood

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Drake falls to No. 20 Loyola in MVC Championship

Confusion at MVC Tournament as UNI exits prior to quarterfinal round game

Iowa State looks to avoid winless Big-12 season

New look and new format at girls’ state basketball

Youngstown State takes action against assistant football coach

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC