How Do You Become a Government Whistle Blower?

I've been in a Veterans Administration sponsored work program & homeless program since last July. The lack of accountability and the abuses are running rampant here in Dallas.

I was called into the office of the job program and was asked if I wanted to be a whistle blower when I complained about the abuses I had been witnessing. I didn't really understand what I was being asked.

People getting paid while not at work, people getting apartments for $50 a month all bills paid from a HUD-VASH program. Going on food stamps for $200 per person a month and then getting a free cell phone because you're on food stamps.

I see guys in the program with smartphones, playstations, UVerse and the American public is paying them to stay in this program.

I actually had a guy tell me that he was getting out of the program until September or October because it's too hot to "work" outside in Dallas in the summer. He was only present about half the time he got paid for.

One guy bragged that he's been in 19 different VA sponsored programs that provided him with work, food and a place to live. He's got his $50 per month apartment now so he quit working since he had $1000 in the bank. He said he'll come back when that's depleted.

There are supposed to be random drug tests while working but when I asked why I hadn't been tested in 3 months, I was told they stopped it because too many people ended up testing positive.

One of the instructors asked that what happens when the government decides you can't come through the program 10 or 15 times. He also mentioned that the beds fill up in the program when it turns hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

I've tried reporting some of the problems to the Office of the Inspector General and got an automated e-mail back saying they really don't respond to these e-mails.

I've started drafting a letter that I want to send to the Dallas Morning News, NY Times or Washington Post so something can happen.

I'm disgusted. The VA should be there for the Veterans that need it not for it to be abused by those that don't want to work and are just looking for a handout.

Thanks for letting me rant!

I AGREE 100%.

While you have been personally witnessing this waste and corruption, my Uncle has been waiting for approval for an Aid and Attendance benefit since August 2013 and I am told we likely will not receive an answer until "Late 2015" more than 2 years after applying.

The A&A benefit is granted to Veterans through the Korean War Era and can provide up to $1700 per month in benefits for assisted living where medically needed. My Uncle is in a facility specializing in dementia care which costs nearly $5000 per month and we have sold his condo to help fund his care. This money is nearly gone and we are still waiting for the VA and our local Congress Person has been less than helpful in our appeal process.

Our Veterans and our taxpayers deserve much better.

..sigh. I feel your frustration jus through your rant. I would find some way to let someone up higher know,I couldn't stand it, I've seen the abuse of section 8 people and it disgusts me. Good luck and I'd like to know whatever transpires from whatever path you choose to take.

Whistleblower
An insider who reveals an act, generally illegal, taking place, which the person committing the act would not wish to be public.
The word comes from the idea that the whistleblower is "blowing a whistle" to stop the illegal action that he/she sees.

Other synonyms for whistleblower: hero, snitch, truth-teller, informer, rat

Ref: urbandictionary

DonDiego counsels wrosie to carefully consider the potential effects upon the whistleblower from those who would prefer the whistle not be blown.

EDITED TO ADD: If wrosie decides to proceed she should be sure she has all her ducks in a row and backup documentation to minimize potential negative repercussions.

Whistle blowing rarely turns out well for the person blowing the whistle. You have to decide if your character being assaulted is worth it. Normally people (media & governmental officials) don't get too excited about the rank and file gaming the system and most of the evidence you mentioned seems to be of individuals gaming the system not top down corruption.

The spouses also can apply for the benefit if the service member has passed away. My mom applied last year and screwed up the cost of the assisted living facility and was denied. She was in the process of appeal when she died.

My job at the VA was to welcome Veterans that needed assistance via wheelchairs we provided, they provided (transport) or just getting their electric chair out/off their vehicle.

The majority of Veterans I pushed in chairs were WWII or Korea with Vietnam coming up next.

The joy I took in the job was asking them where they served and watching their eyes light up as they told their story. Or if it was too painful to remember, I'm guessing, they said Europe, the Pacific and stopped there.

I see very few Veterans from Iraq or Afghanistan coming through the VA, but those I do see are amputees. Mostly legs from I'm guessing IEDs.

I also spent several months talking to Willie Brown a 94 year old blind WWII Veteran in the Community Living Center (CLC). Amazingly, the employees at the VA didn't even know what the CLC stood for. I really wanted to know his story and wished a historian would have gotten it from him. Willie said that someone at Texas A&M had interviewed him years ago.

The CLC has Veterans living in it for years. It's an old age home for Veterans. Perhaps you can look into getting your Uncle into one in your area. The two I'm familiar with only have about 100 beds each.