Veteran's Disability Compensation

[meghp0405]

I found out some information concerning HR 303. This is the bill that would allow full payment of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for disabled veterans' eligible for both payments (those veterans' that are 40% or less) This is the 14th time that HR (House Resoultion) 303 has been the number for the Retired Pay Restoration Act, which addresses an offset only partly eliminated by changes in law over the past decade.

This bill submitted by Representative Gus Bilirakis, R-FL, has been a strong and consistent supporter of this resoultion. Obtaining support from other Representatives has been difficult. Only 74 members of the House has signed on as co-sponsors so far. This Resoultion needs 218 sponsors (votes) to pass this bill through the House.

The number of supporters have declined the past couple of years.

I believe that, we as veterans' need to contact our Representative in the House and ask if he/she is not a supporter, why?

This is the last year of the phase in period for the concurrent pay issue for those veterans' 50% and above. By January 1, 2014, all military retired veterans who are 50% and above will start seeing their full retirement and their award from VA.

We now have to fight for those retirees that are 40% and below. There is no reason why they shouldn't be entitled to both.

[boomer2]

You are absolutely right and I have already done just that. If you go to POPVOX.com you can look up any bill and email your senator or rep. Here are some other bills in congress that are obviously just laying around. HR-186, S-260, HR-178, and HR-238. I don't remember the specifics of each but, they do cover vets and their dependents.

[Teac]

I found out some information concerning HR 303. This is the bill that would allow full payment of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for disabled veterans' eligible for both payments (those veterans' that are 40% or less) This is the 14th time that HR (House Resoultion) 303 has been the number for the Retired Pay Restoration Act, which addresses an offset only partly eliminated by changes in law over the past decade.

This bill submitted by Representative Gus Bilirakis, R-FL, has been a strong and consistent supporter of this resoultion. Obtaining support from other Representatives has been difficult. Only 74 members of the House has signed on as co-sponsors so far. This Resoultion needs 218 sponsors (votes) to pass this bill through the House.

The number of supporters have declined the past couple of years.

I believe that, we as veterans' need to contact our Representative in the House and ask if he/she is not a supporter, why?

This is the last year of the phase in period for the concurrent pay issue for those veterans' 50% and above. By January 1, 2014, all military retired veterans who are 50% and above will start seeing their full retirement and their award from VA.

We now have to fight for those retirees that are 40% and below. There is no reason why they shouldn't be entitled to both.

I think you failed to mention that current receipt does not apply to chapter 61 retirees under 20 years of service..... concurrent receipt or some kind of it went into effect in in 2000. Since then everyone said its coming for you guys too (chapter 61).. and we are still waiting.. As always someone in the government continues to put veterans in different classes. Is there any wonder why veterans don't vote as a block .. ( especially retired veterans).. and is it any wonder why it is so hard to keep up with what is coming and what has gone.. I am at the point that I really don't care about concurrent receipt anymore.... every year or so its the same crap, write your congress critters to support the bill, well many of us have written until we have writers cramps and ran out of ink.... and frankly writing again isn't going to accomplish anything.. but go ahead and write to your congress critters if you have a mind too.. I hate to be negative, It won't help, but it can't hurt....

Edited March 6, 2013 by Teac

[COOL BREEZE]

They only withhold 5.00 for me. And I am receiving retired military pay and rated at 70%!

[aggie54]

I am retired Army, with over 20 plus years of active duty. I receive both my DOD/VA payments.

I am at 90% Service and VA connected, and DFAS only deducts $1.00 for VA waiver from my Military Retirement Check

and I get my complete VA Disability Payment minus my pending Dependents Pay which is still pending plus a few deferred medical issues.

Good luck to all my brothers and sisters that are at still waiting on their claims to be completed to include myself.

God Bless.

[boomer2]

aggie54 and coolbreeze

You are both rated over 50% that is why you are getting both. If you were rated at 40% they would deduct the 40% out of your retirement pay. HR-303 would restore that deduction. This deduction came about in the late 1890's when we were at war with Spain and the country was in financial trouble (like now). Some people call this a veterans tax because they pay you X for being disabled and then take it back from your retirement pay.

[Teac]

I hate to say it but you guys just proved my point... No one gives a darn about a chapter 61 retiree when it comes to this issue.. Ironically, TERA retirees ( less than 20 years. but over 15 years service) elected to retire before 20 because they couldn't get promoted and the Military was over strength.... and they are entitled to concurrent receipt just like the 20 year + retiree..... Chapter 61 retirees however in most cases were forced into retirement..