UPDATE ON DISABLED VETS SCREW JOB

The Retired Officer Association | Today

[Jumper]

As a former member of the 82d Airborne Division, three tours, and a hundred jumps, 4-miles a day in the morning, 30-miles running a week for over 12-years of my 20-years, plus one or two 2-3 hour stints a week with a 45-60 pound pack, plus rifle, helmet, etc., I would tend to beleive that the "average" veteran has some hard miles on their bodies also. Most people on active duty actually have to perform "athletic level" physical fitness routines, routinely. This aspect alone makes military service extra hard on a person, not to mention the dangerous type of work many are involved in to start with; not everyone in the military is a clerk or civilian wearing a uniform - and those who do 20-years in any branch have been rode hard and put away wet too many times. Military folks normally work 12-hours a day and miss out a lot of weekends to boot. I'd say your average 20-year retiree did more damage to his body than a 30-year civilian ever could; then you image someone who does more years - the ratio is 1.5 military years to one civilian year in wear and tear. Of course, I know there are some civilians who work in harsh conditions, firefighters, law enforcement, construction, farm workers, and some factory jobs, but your normal couch potato"e" doesn't have a clue.

[marajade]

Disability payments are not retirement benifits but disability benifits. It's not double dipping by any means. They like you have paid for their Socical Security dues and disability coverage in case this unfortunate event should occur.

First I am not a disabled Vet and don't know all the details of this story but I can tell you about mine. I am disabled and get SSA and private insurance. I worked for the State of Arizona before getting ill. I paid into SSA, a retirement plan, and half the cost of long term Disablity insurance. They offset my private insurance by 64% of my SSA amount. So instead of getting $1366 from my insurance I get $811. Plus I get the joy of paying taxes on half of my insurance payment.(I pay taxes on some of my SSA benefits too, but that is a different story) So this offset isn't just happening Vets. I don't mind it as I feel I being treated fair. The only thing I don't like is paying taxes on any of my SSA.

BTW: This is zanarchist, Marajade's husband. I don't dare log her out so I can log in until I figure out how to log her back in after I post.

[Snow Bunny]

Thanks advocate10, I sure will.Thank you for pinging me.And please ping me to anything about this topic that you do in the future too.

On May 15, I did a disabled Veterans thread and I wish I had had this then.There will be another one in the future with more information so thank you soooo much.

[Republican Wildcat]

Apparently, you didn't even read the article you posted. Anything to bash President Bush, I guess.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"On May 15, I did a disabled Veterans thread":

Here is your thread Snow Bunny.

USO Canteen FReeper Style..Honors Disabled Veterans....May 15,2002^

[advocate10]

I'm a little tired of Jeb myself. Dubya needs to remember what he said in the campaign regarding vets!

I live in SW FL, too.

[advocate10]

Administration Threatens Veto Over Concurrent Receipt

[advocate10]

Ping!

[d4now]

Done. Thanks for making it easy with a link.

[advocate10]

There is also a WH link in the main article.

[advocate10]

WH crap!<P> Concurrent Receipt

The Administration strongly opposes Section 641 of the current version of the bill, which would phase in full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veterans disability compensation for military retirees with disabilities rated at sixty percent or higher. The Administration also believes that our current deficit projections necessitate strict adherence to fiscal discipline to ensure the quickest return to a balanced budget. The Administration is concerned that an amendment may be offered on the Senate floor that would expand this objectionable provision even further. Should the final version of the bill include either provision affecting concurrent receipt of retirement and disability benefits, the President's senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

Section 641 as currently drafted is contrary to the long-standing principle that no one should be able to receive concurrent retirement benefits and disability benefits based upon the same service. All Federal compensation systems aim for an equitable percentage of income replacement in the case of either work-related injury or retirement. The Administration's preliminary estimate is that Section 641 would increase mandatory outlays by $18 billion from 2003 to 2012 and would also increase DoD discretionary costs for retirement accrual by $11 billion from FY 2004 to FY 2012, an impact that would necessarily require tradeoffs with war fighting capabilities. The Administration also strongly opposes any further expansion of Section 641 and understands that the amendment that may be offered would provide immediate full concurrent receipt. This expansion would have an estimated mandatory cost of $58 billion ($42 billion associated with the additional payment of retired pay, and $16 billion associated with payment of additional VA disability compensation under claims that would not otherwise be submitted) and DoD discretionary costs of $20 billion over 10 years.

[advocate10]

Ping.

[advocate10]

Shameless bump.

[Militiaman7]

BUMP TO THE TOP

[surely_you_jest]

BTTT

[matrix]

Good on 'ya? C'mon FReepers, let congress know how you feel. The WH, too!

[willyone]

As someone who works in a mixed civilian/military organization I have seen first hand some of the scaming that goes on when retirement time comes. There are alot of games played to get compensated for normal aging that occured while on active duty. I have no problem with those injured during actual military operations/combat getting well taken care of. However this has become like the SSI program where somehow money is expected for things that the rest of us just accept as part of getting older/living. Further more where is the money to pay for this going to come from? All those in favor of having their taxes raised put your hand up. Then again whats a few hundred billion more in debt passed on to those yet unborn. Let them worry about it right?

[willyone]

If you were well enough to serve your full twenty and get retirement just how disabled were you? If an injury forces a early termination of a career or inability to work later that is different. As for civil service retirees just remember that almost all of their Social Security benefits are taken away. Is that fair? What does one have to do with the other?

[Militiaman7]

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/704632/posts/, 24 Billion (a year)for Illegal Immigrant Health Care)

More than enought to pay for Concurrent Receipt BTTT.