VA Disability? " Reduced Social Security for You"

[robo]

They start with Disable Vets and soon after follow with, Retired Military, Retired FERS, etc….

We are easy targets since we work for the Government. Next they will want to reduce your social security if you have a large balance in your TSP or you bought an annuity with it..... Yeah, no social security for Birchtree or Robo! They are loaded. CROOKS!

Federal retired folks already get enough retirement, no social security for them also. They are the big dippers, no more double dipping for them....

Some points I agree with, but the reduction of social security because you have a VA disability is over the top for me!


Send the link below to folks you know that might care about this issue. We could be next!



OPPOSE S2674/HR5509 Which Discriminate Against Disabled Veterans Oppose S2674/HR5509 Which Discriminate Against Disabled Veterans Take Action!


Please send the following message to your elected officials and candidates for office --

As a disabled veteran and your voting constituent, I am most concerned with the provisions of Senator Burr's America's Wounded Warrior Act (S 2674) and Representative Buyer's Nobel Warrior Act (HR 5509), which would drastically change the disability compensation system for America's veterans. These bills are loosely based on the recommendations of the President's Commission on Care for America's Wounded Warriors (Dole/Shalala Commission), but the specifics of these bills would do great harm to these veterans in the following ways:

* Offset VA Disability Compensation by Social Security when the veteran ages 65.

For these reasons, among others, I strongly urge you to oppose S2674/HR5509 and any other legislation which is detrimental to and/or discriminatory against this nation's veterans.


http://capwiz.com/usdr/home/

http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/...14251&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

[rokid]

Robo,

Are you sure this is a bad bill? I copied the following from Rep. Buyer's (R) web site:

"I believe that America's veterans stand out as a bastion to traditional values of service and self sacrifice. As a nation, we must reciprocate this service by demonstrating our loyalty to our veterans' community. Failure to do so will erode America’s collective consciousness of military service and demeans the sacrifice that our veterans have made on our behalf."

In addition, Senator Burr (R) has a little sticker on his web site proclaiming his support for our troops.

Are you sure that they're trying to screw veterans?

[James48843]

Robo,

Are you sure this is a bad bill? I copied the following from Rep. Buyer's (R) web site:

"I believe that America's veterans stand out as a bastion to traditional values of service and self sacrifice. As a nation, we must reciprocate this service by demonstrating our loyalty to our veterans' community. Failure to do so will erode America’s collective consciousness of military service and demeans the sacrifice that our veterans have made on our behalf."

In addition, Senator Burr (R) has a little sticker on his web site proclaiming his support for our troops.

Are you sure that they're trying to screw veterans?

They are both Republicans. Yes, that means inherently they are out to screw the troops.

This bill appears to provide EITHER VA Disability payments, or social security old age payments, but not both.

I'll have to check it out on other Veteran's web sites and see what other groups are saying. I'm a member of American Legion, and have not yet heard anything about this one.

[James48843]

I found this on http://washingtonwatch.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++
H.R. 5509, The Noble Warrior Act (2 comments ↓)

H.R. 5509 would amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve and enhance procedures for the retirement of members of the Armed Forces for disability and to improve and enhance authorities for the rating and compensation of service-connected disabilities in veterans.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/28/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Points in Favor

Points Against


Learn More

• Read the Bill
• See What People Are Saying

Visitor Comments

Ncharity

RE: There should be a new BILL To Be Amended, how about those Veterans that have committed SUICIDE and those of us LEFT BEHIND. The Girlfriennd, Fiance, Wifes, And The CHILDREN. Whats the government going to do about US. Myself, and my Three CHILDREN left behind. Their Fathers INCOME WAS OUR INCOME. Due To the Army/Service and the places he was sent to did more damage and does more damage on the mental well being of our soilders and the soilders family has to suffer for it. Even if they had been HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT ANY PRIOR TIME in the PAST. My situation he was discharged in 2002 What is the government going to do to help us and those in the same situation? There are many Thousands and everyday the numbers are growing. Catch the SIGNS BEFORE THE SERVICE LETS THEM IN>>>>

Stu Steinberg

I am a National Service Officer for Vietnam Veterans of America. This bill is horrendous and is geared to reduce the amount of money disabled veterans are entitled to. The fact that it has been introduced by Rep. Buyer should say it all. The companion bill, S2764, introdiced by Sen. Burr is equally flawed. These people are pushing the agenda of right wing groups like the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation who are on the record stating that veterans disability benefits are welfare and that many veterans commit fraud to receive benefits, particularly when it comes to claims for mental illnesses like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Rep. Buyer is not now and never has been a friend to veterans. This bill should be rejected.



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[James48843]

Here is what another website is saying about this bill:

From: http://www.vawatchdog.org

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BUYER AND BURR SEEK TO RADICALLY CHANGE VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION SYSTEM -- Would have the VA "determine appropriate amounts of compensation under a new, modern disability compensation rating schedule."

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs is on the left. On the right is Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

by Larry Scott

What we have here is a last-ditch effort by a lame-duck administration to trash the veterans' disability compensation system.

It's that plain and simple.

Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, are no friends of veterans.

Buyer's record is especially dismal.

More on Buyer here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=buyer&op=and

The administration has been trying for years to change the compensation system to save money.

The administration stacked the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) in hopes of cutting back on veterans' benefits. But, that backfired when the VDBC final report was mainly favorable to veterans. That didn't work and now that report has been shelved. More on the VDBC here...

http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=veter
ans+disability+benefits+commission&op=ph

Then, the Dole-Shalala Commission was ginned-up to try the same thing. They came close. The Dole-Shalala recommendations, if implemented, would cause great damage to the veterans' disability compensation system.

More on Dole-Shalala here...

http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=dole+shalala&op=ph

However, the Dole-Shalala recommendations are stalled in Congress.

So, there's another push to get this done. And, this time the hatchet-men are Buyer and Burr.

They have introduced nearly-identical legislation in the House and Senate that, if implemented, would radically alter disability compensation.

We don't have copies of the bills yet, but we will get them posted as soon as they hit the Web.

Below we have three items. First is a news story. Then a press release from
Buyer. And, a press release from Burr.

Things to note:

In the news story Burr admits this would save the VA money. How can that be done unless fewer vets are rated disabled and/or fewer disabilities are rated and/or smaller amounts of compensation are awarded?

And, the burden would be put on the VA to "determine appropriate amounts of compensation under a new, modern disability compensation rating schedule." Do you trust the VA to do that?

It will be interesting to watch the Democratically-controlled Congress respond to this legislation.

News story here... http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/972179.html

[Sunnyskies]

My dad had a small VA disability check as well as SS in the 70's (high inflation). Everytime he would get a cost of living increase on one, the offset made the other go down. He said he wished he never had the disability check. Hopefully, Congress will correct this, if it hasn't already.

[VirginiaBob]

With a Democrat controlled House and Senate, the onus of this lies on them.

[Silverbird]

With a Democrat controlled House and Senate, the onus of this lies on them.

If matters continue as they are, the Pres will threaten a veto again cause it's going to cost money, and any bill to fix the offset will stall cause the Dems don't have enough votes to force a vote, and the Reps don't want to force a veto cause no vote makes the Dems look bad and keeps them from getting in trouble with won't spend on anything Bush.

[robo]

James,

Thanks for all the links and additional information!

Take care...


Robo