The Department of Veterans Affairs is not trying to ruin your life. It just has a really unique talent for making it seem that way.

If you’ve opened an envelope from the VA and were surprised to discover that the VA can send you a bill, you’re not alone. A lot of veterans find themselves in surprise debt from the VA. These debts usually fall into one of two buckets: benefit overpayments (from disability compensation, pensions, or the GI Bill) and health care copay bills (from regular appointments, prescriptions, or community care).