The longer the partial government shutdown continues the more impact it will have on America’s veterans.

In a message delivered to Congress Wednesday Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, reported that more than $6 Billion in payments to more than five million beneficiaries would be halted during and extended shutdown.

The Director of the Junction City Military Affairs Council, Col. (Retired) John Seitz said the impact of that happening would be serious. ” For people who depend on their VA compensation it’s going to have a serious impact. Of course the impact goes across the board, anyone who depends on the VA for anything,” Seitz said.

Not only will veterans not be able to receive benefits but they will have to wait longer for their disability claims to be processed,” I think the process now takes almost a year so that will make it take even longer.”

In Shinseki’s message he noted that since the shutdown began the backlog of claims has increased by 2,000.