Posted on 05/29/2014 12:10:08 PM PDT by Fitzy_888
WATERVLIET - Firefighters in Watervliet spent Thursdsay morning, not fighting fires but raising money for the World War II veteran who had his benefits slashed to just $6 a month.
They're hoping to raise at least $3,000 for 89-year-old Joseph Teson.
As NewsChannel 13 first told you over the weekend, the Department Of Veterans Affairs told Teson he was overpaid by more than $3,000. So, they're withholding most of his benefits until they get the money back.
Teson's relatives say he relies on the money and is now selling some of his coin collection just to pay the bills.
“The response has been very good. Especially from people who have seen it on the news. Thanks to you people for putting it on the news. Anybody that's seen it has been more than generous,” says Watervliet Fire Captain Jim Halpin.
They have not yet counted how much they raised so far Thursday morning.
The Watervliet Fire Department says it will match whatever they make.
Horrible.....but at first I thought I was going to read that he was only going to get 6 dollars a month from today on and forever. Not that it makes it any easier this month, but I am a little relieved that it is temporary. Although a write off would help to perhaps begin to regain their reputation again.
It’s troublesome for sure, but the veteran, if the account is true, was paid this money by “accident” in advance...Acct & Finance pukes simply reduce his subsequent payments until it balances out.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But do you trust the govt. to stop the deductions whem the $3000 has been paid back? They’ll dilly dally around about reinstating his former stipend, if my experience runs true.
“I thought I was going to read that he was only going to get 6 dollars a month from today on and forever.”
He might be, he’s 89 years old. How much are they withholding every month?
He might be, he’s 89 years old. How much are they withholding every month?
True....honestly, I was hoping he received 3,006 dollars every month and it was only going to last one month. I can dream....
I experienced the same type of problem when I started drawing my USNR retirement. After filling out the paperwork in June 1998, which included the statement that I had received a $15K involantary separation from active duty payment, I was advised that effective Aug 1998 my retirement pay would be $X/month. In Nov 1998, I was advised that effective Jan 1999 my retirement increase to $X+ because of the COLA. In Mar 1999, I was advised that my retirement would be reduced to $0/month until the $15K was recouped. If I owed them $15K, why didn’t they just say “You get nada until it is recouped.” rather than starting and then stopping the pay?
When serving as a USN Disbursing Office, our rule was always: “When in doubt, screw the member!” It is always easier on the individual to get a larger payment because he was shorted earlier than to say you ain’t getting paid because you got too much awhile back. Even then, we were always able to say okay, you were overpaid $X. We spread the repayment over an extended period rather than no pay until we get all of it back.
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