10thFO Posted June 3, 2006 Author Share Posted June 3, 2006 I would imagine that to be the case. Probably would catch too much hell from SO's. It may be a tactic to head off all of the newcoming veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. Also I think that Vets will play hell in the public eye for those who are 65 or older and Draw IU. I understand the complications of that if your drawing IU, it's not the same as those drawing paychecks. After all their paychecks pay into things like SS, 401K's and the such. Most people drawing IU, need that money to live, and it's not like their getting any more credit for SS since they are not working. Most people are pissed about Vets that draw 100%anyway, so as Vet Votes get smaller, I see the squeeze continuing to be on us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder john999 Posted June 3, 2006 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted June 3, 2006 10thFO One thing I think most civilians and non-veterans don't understand is that by being disabled from work the vet loses a lot more than just a pay check. He loses his pension contributions, ability to contribute to a 401K or IRA. He ends up with less SSA money since he cannot get the maximum. They think it is a free ride. If I was still working for the post office I would have 24 years in service. I would be making the maximum 401K contribution and I would have senority. I would not be breaking a sweat and I know I would be making over $50,000 a year. I had some special circumstances due to wage loss payments from workers compensation so I would be in really fine shape. I was getting a cola and union wage increases. I took a very big hit when I retired on disability. My disability pension is pathetic. If not for TDIU I would be up #$$## creek. There is no question this administration wants to cut benefits to vets. They preach about supporting the troops and Heros, and then behind the sceanes are cutting benefits. They have already cut back at my VAMC. I smell karl Rove and that pack of skunks behind all this. These people have no conscience. Most are draft dodgers and would never dream of letting their kids go to Iraq. I know I am preaching to the choir. I write my congressmen and senators at least once a week. I very rarely get an answer. I cannot think of one good thing about being disabled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Pete53 Posted June 3, 2006 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted June 3, 2006 If I had continued to work for Mobil maybe I would have got a 400 Million Dollar Bonus but I did not. Seriously in the Department that I worked for the men who retired all left as Millionaires. Some did not stay that way cause of pitfalls. So I am not sorry I am no longer working there even though I took a hit. As I have mentioned on Hadit our Disability sucks but compared to others retirement its great. Besides we have already learned how to make it on less. I pity the people who worked for Enron that have nothing but Social Security to live on when they retire if they ever do. Officially I have been retired for over 10 years and I am still here :-) Good Luck but I really think that in some ways I consider myself very lucky that I was drafted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Soumis Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 10thFO One thing I think most civilians and non-veterans don't understand is that by being disabled from work the vet loses a lot more than just a pay check. He loses his pension contributions, ability to contribute to a 401K or IRA. He ends up with less SSA money since he cannot get the maximum. They think it is a free ride. If I was still working for the post office I would have 24 years in service. I would be making the maximum 401K contribution and I would have senority. I would not be breaking a sweat and I know I would be making over $50,000 a year. I had some special circumstances due to wage loss payments from workers compensation so I would be in really fine shape. I was getting a cola and union wage increases. I took a very big hit when I retired on disability. My disability pension is pathetic. If not for TDIU I would be up #$$## creek. There is no question this administration wants to cut benefits to vets. They preach about supporting the troops and Heros, and then behind the sceanes are cutting benefits. They have already cut back at my VAMC. I smell karl Rove and that pack of skunks behind all this. These people have no conscience. Most are draft dodgers and would never dream of letting their kids go to Iraq. I know I am preaching to the choir. I write my congressmen and senators at least once a week. I very rarely get an answer. I cannot think of one good thing about being disabled. John 999, I just read your post from yesterday. I too am on disability retirement from the PO. total service was 22yrs, 2mo. I am getting hammered. the disability retirement is a joke. to think I worked 6 days a week most of my career. the pay was great, thrift savings program all great, retirement, horrible. I had a severe GI bleed due to naproxen use, Dr. wouldn't allow me to return to work because I had a watershed effect of the cervical cord, stroke type incident, and the VA awarded me 20% additional disability. I lost my job which is now paying $53,000 per year and got a $357 a month increase on my disability check from the VA on my 1151 claim. I did get SSDI on the first try. I waiting on my appeal. If you loose your good paying job because the Dr's won't sign a release to return to work, I have big time pain from this in shoulders and arms, have trouble getting clothes on my back and arms, wander all over the road when driving, have the proper EMG reports, dr reports, and like everyone else, continue to play the waiting game. Dr report says I am through working, Dr. Bash thought I don't have a tort, although it was just through phone conversation, my 2 yrs to file a tort is over 10-04-06. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder john999 Posted June 4, 2006 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted June 4, 2006 Mike and Peter I got a college degree but my few years in the Army have proved to have been better for me finacially than all the work I did afterward. My civil service retirement is laughable considering they offset it by 60% of my SSDI. After insurance payments are taken out I get $325 a month from the Post Office retirement after 20 years. This is disability retirement. When I hit 62 the disability retirement converts to a regular retirement which is still only 30% of my old pay. I went wrong somewhere. With TDIU from the VA I am doing OK. Without it I would be poor. All my injuries except the VA ones are work-related but I can't get decent doctors to help due to the fear most have of dealing with the Office Of Workers Compensation Program for federal employees. The OWCP stiffs the doctors all the time. I guess I am still lucky compared to many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Soumis Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Mike and Peter I got a college degree but my few years in the Army have proved to have been better for me finacially than all the work I did afterward. My civil service retirement is laughable considering they offset it by 60% of my SSDI. After insurance payments are taken out I get $325 a month from the Post Office retirement after 20 years. This is disability retirement. When I hit 62 the disability retirement converts to a regular retirement which is still only 30% of my old pay. I went wrong somewhere. With TDIU from the VA I am doing OK. Without it I would be poor. All my injuries except the VA ones are work-related but I can't get decent doctors to help due to the fear most have of dealing with the Office Of Workers Compensation Program for federal employees. The OWCP stiffs the doctors all the time. I guess I am still lucky compared to many. John 999, could I ask you one question, maybe a couple. My Dr. reports, the whole episode was in the local hospitol, not VA, say that my GI bleed was due to chronic use of naproxen. The naproxen was a VA script so I filed a 1151 claim. The side effect of the bleed was a stroke of the cervical cord. I was awarded 10% for each arm, had 30% from before, total 50% disability. I feel I should get IU since dr wouldn't sign my release to return to work. My neurologist sent me a letter saying I am permanently disabled and will not work again. There is no cure for spinal cord injury to date. Do you feel I should be granted IU? I sent in a 21-8940 Veterans application for increased compensation based on unempoyablitiy on 1-30-06, along with my SSDI award, disability retirement notice, and all letters and records. watershed effect of the cervical cord and the symtoms I have, are unheard of. My neuro specialist dr. checked around the world to see how other dr's treated this type injury and got no response. there is no cure, he said all I can do is go and try pain management. DI feel I should get IU, the waiting is the toughest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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