removed dependent question

[11cvolley]

My lawyer said that the VA will give me the option of having the difference paid back in full or split up into multiple payments. I haven't gotten the letter in the mail yet. Is this true?

[broncovet]

Yes, I think so.  There is an office of debt management, and they send you a letter whenever there is an overpayment.  

You can also apply for a waiver of repayment.  There are mostly 2 factors which are relevant when seeking a waiver:

1.  You need to show it would cause "hardship" to repay.

2.  Its helpful, a lot, if you can show this was not your error.  That is, you did what you were required to notify VA promptly of your change in dependent status.  

    In my case, I got married, and my wife was earning too much household income for pension.  So, I notified them within 30 days of the wedding along with notice about my wife's earning exceeding poverty limits for pension.  

    Of course, the VA "sat" on this for 2 to 3 years, then sent me a letter demanding return of this overpayment.  

    I sent a waiver request to debt management, explaining it was not my fault VA continued to pay me, as I promptly informed them, and that my wife's income was not available to me and

the repayment would cause hardship.  I also sent them my personal financial snapshot.   

     My waiver was granted and I did not have to repay.  I think there is now a special form:

More on waiver requests and payment plans here:

https://www.va.gov/debtman/

[11cvolley]

Thank you.

[11cvolley]

Called them and they allowed me to set it up as 3 payments. Now if they could just work fast on my competency claim and release my back pay...