# What This Bill Does

This bill requires the Veterans Affairs (VA) to assign a peer support specialist to every veteran who files a claim related to military sexual trauma (MST). The peer support specialist would be there to help guide the veteran through the claims process and provide emotional support—think of them as an advocate in your corner while you're dealing with the VA bureaucracy.

The specialists themselves must be trained as victims advocates, which means they'll have professional training in how to support trauma survivors. Importantly, these specialists won't be the same people deciding whether your claim gets approved or denied. That separation is intentional—it keeps the person helping you emotionally separate from the person making the official decision about your benefits. If you don't want a peer support specialist, you can opt out, but the default is that one will be assigned to you.

# Who This Affects

This applies to any veteran filing a claim with the VA related to military sexual trauma—whether that's sexual assault, harassment, or other forms of sexual abuse that happened while they were serving. The bill recognizes that navigating the VA claims process can be especially difficult for MST survivors, who may be dealing with trauma, anxiety, or other challenges while trying to get the benefits and healthcare they're entitled to.

The practical impact is that veterans won't have to navigate this process alone. Having someone trained to understand trauma and advocate for you could make the claims process less stressful and potentially help ensure your claim gets the attention it deserves.

VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act

Delgado, Antonio

VA Peer Support Enhancement for MST Survivors Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each individual who files a claim relating to military sexual trauma is assigned a peer support specialist during the claims process, unless the individual elects to not have such support. Under the bill, a peer support specialist must be trained as a victim advocate and may not be responsible for any part of adjudicating the individual's claim.