Canadian Mail Strike Saves US Vets' Benefits from Delay
Published Date: 3/27/2026
Notice
Summary
Because of a big Canadian postal strike from November 15 to December 17, 2024, mail to and from Canada was seriously delayed. To help veterans and claimants in Canada, the VA is making a temporary rule change so late mail won’t hurt their benefits or claims. This exception started after mail service fully resumed on January 6, 2025, making sure no one loses out because of the strike delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
VA treats late Canada mail as timely
If you are a veteran or claimant living in the Canada Post mailing jurisdiction, any correspondence received by the VA between November 11, 2024 and March 10, 2025 that contains a claim, information, or evidence will be treated as received on the postmark date or on November 15, 2024, whichever is earlier. This exception was made because of the Canada Union of Postal Workers strike and the resumption of full mail service on January 6, 2025.
Extended deadline for VA-asked evidence
If the VA asked you for information or evidence and your submission deadline expired between November 15, 2024 and March 10, 2025, your response will be considered timely if it is postmarked by March 10, 2025. If there is no USPS postmark or date stamp, VA will treat the solicited evidence or information as received no later than March 10, 2025.
Decision notices treated as March 10, 2025
For any VA decision notification letters sent during November 11, 2024 through March 10, 2025, VA will consider March 10, 2025 as the date of the decision notice for purposes of selecting a subsequently submitted decision review option. This ensures impacted claimants have the full review time despite mail delays.
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