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Disabled Veterans Must Get What They Have Earned
By Tom Jurkowsky
Opinion Contribution Article From The Hill (Excerpt)
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view USVCP.
May 9, 2022
Tens of thousands of military members forced to retire after combat-related injuries suffer a lifelong financial injustice: They must forfeit part of their vested retirement pay to receive disability compensation. Reducing the retirement pay of combat-disabled
veterans is as wrong as it sounds, and Congress must act on pending legislation to correct this inequity.
When a service member retires from the military with at least 20 years of service, he or she is entitled to receive retired pay from the Department of Defense (DOD). Medical retirees forced to leave service before the 20-year mark because of a combat injury also receive retirement pay, but they are forced to give up $1 of their disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for every dollar of DOD compensation they collect.
Thankfully, the Major Richard Star Act would repeal the unfair offset that prevents more than 50,000 veterans living with the wounds of war from accessing both their disability benefits and retirement pay.
Add Comment
Miriam Keedy, 5/9/22
My husband died leaving me with a huge Mortgage. He was 100% disabled and his monthly pay was $3400.00. That was OK when he was alive, because with my SS payments and his Benefits, we were able to pay for the Mortgage, now that he is dead, I am left with a $1400 monthly fee which is very hard for me to pay and I am not getting any help from The VA. I see where some of the VA people whose husband killed themselves, left a huge benefit and the wife is getting his benefit , also on disability and have a business, how can this be when I can only get a measly $1400.00 and nothing to buy food? I need to hear from someone. Thanks.
Phillip Timmons, 5/9/22
The VA took all of my separation pay-of about $30,000 in order to get VA. So very wrong. As a result I nearly lost my house.
Willie J. Smith, 5/9/22
This situation must be corrected.