Notice of Exception to Date of Receipt Rule

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Veterans Affairs [Docket No. VA-2026-VACO-0001] AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Beginning November 15, 2024, a strike led by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) resulted in a delay of mail delivery from Canada Post. In response, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is establishing a temporary exception to the date of receipt provisions to ensure that veterans or claimants residing within the Canada Post mailing jurisdiction do not have an adverse effect to benefits. VBA recognizes the potential impact in the claim process resulting from the inability to send or receive mail. The strike ran from November 15, 2024, through December 17, 2024. On January 6, 2025, Canada Post returned to full-service levels, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) resumed acceptance of mail and packages to and from Canada. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jadine Piper, Acting Assistant Director, Policy, Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, (202) 461-9700. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 15, 2024, CUPW initiated a national strike affecting Canada's postal system, causing stoppages and significant delays in the processing and delivery of mail. On November 29, 2024, USPS announced an immediate suspension, temporarily halting mail acceptance to and from Canada, affecting the processing or delivery of mail services to millions of Canadian customers. On January 6, 2025, Canada Post reinstated full-service levels f…