Will I lose my P&T TDIU benefits and amount when I turn 67?

[Bigkevo44]

I am currently rated at 70% P&T TDIU based solely on my service connection for mental illness. Will the VA reduce my income and take my benefits away other than whatever 70% pays when I turn 67 years old?

[pacmanx1]

Not sure why you would ask this question, but the VA does not reduce veterans' ratings just because of age.

[Dustoff1970]

No.  I was 70% PTSD and TDIU from 1998 to 2000 and then made P&T TDIU in 2000 up until end of 2021 and then became P&T 100% with SMC-S about 5 months ago.  My age is 76.  Pacmanx is correct.

 

[Tbird]

Actually, this was brought up in a GAO report in 2015gao-06-2015-unemployability.pdf

There was an outcry from veterans and their advocates and it was dropped. I keep my eye out for any news that they might try this again, but so far I haven't seen anything.

[broncovet]

Relax.  The protections have been posted here many times.  Since you are P and T, this gives you protections.  In a nutshell they cant reduce P AND T VETS "Unless you have actually improved under ordinary conditions of life".   Feel free to look up VA's wording, but I will offer my interpretations.  

Further, this has to be sustained improvement, not an episodic improvement.  (Many of us have good days and bad days.). 

For TDIU, this would generally mean you are not only gainfully employed, but you would have had to earn more than the poverty level during the previous 12 months.  

In other words, it would be very hard for VA to reduce you if you are not currently employed consistently for a year.  Cutting your neighbors grass wont get you reduced unless he pays you more than about $15,000 per year.  

 

[broncovet]

Under current regulations, VA can not reduce you based solely on age.  

Even if congress were to change regulations you still have some protections because most new legislation is grandfathered in and wont affect your benefits if already TDIU.  

P and T is a "permanent" designation and offers you legal protections, some of which I have outlined above.  

P and T also gives you other benefits, such as the free life insurance, property tax abatement or reductions (in some states).  Some states give fishing or hunting licesnes to P and T Vets and many more benefits.