Disabled Veterans Lobby for Full Retirement Pay

The NY Times ^ | May 26, 2002 | The NY Times

[summer]

I do not oppose vets receiving both retirement and disability pay. Is there any voter who would actually oppose this for our nation's disabled vets? If so, why?

[summer]

FYI.

[larryjohnson]

A NYT story,WOW!

[Bogey78O]

But if we pay them won't we have to cut back benefits to those who lost life's lottery? I mean who's a bigger voting block, welfare moms or disabled veterans? /sarcasm

[3D-JOY]

What am I missing?

Disability is for those who must leave before completing their time and being eligible for retirement.

You can not be disabled after retirement, can you? I know you can't in the Civil Service System.

[Ciexyz]

I can see the government's position on this. I'm a federal employee, and a veteran, although not a disabled vet. Disability pay is to compensate those who can't work and have no other income. A civil service employee can't retire with a civil service pension and still receive either workers' comp payments or a disability pension (federal or military).

However, I don't mean to demean the sacrifice of America's disabled veterans. Maybe there's a compromise possible, such as a lump sum payment to compensate them for pain and suffering.

[Paul Atreides]

Why take care of vets when there are so many homosexual civic centers to build?

[caltrop]

I've got a compromise solution. We throw away $15 billion a year in foreign aid. Let's redirect that to disabled veterans. Incidentally, I'm a combat veteran without any disability.

[Auntie Mame]

I'm getting a little tired of all the whiners. These guys are getting recompense from their "employer" for their disability. This is money they get for life. But there's always someone looking to try to get more of something for nothing.

I have to listen to my dad every month or so whining about being a "notch baby" and getting screwed by the government because someone is getting more social security payment than he is, just because he was born in a certain year. Then I get to listen to him whine because he was in the Merchant Marines during WWII and he got screwed there, too, no GI Bill and until recently no medical help, either. Reminding him that he's not lying in a ditch crying out for help doesn't seem to make him feel any better about it. Someone, somewhere has a better deal than he does and it's JUST NOT FAIR! It gets old, real old.

[phil1750]

One of the problems is that there is too many whiners who deserve nothing, and complicate the system for the truly deserving. I have a brother that is one. He complains of every malady (sp) known to mankind, when in truth, there is nothing wrong with him. He claims to be a viet-nam vet (he ain't), claims to suffer ptsd from the mortar attack he was in in Thailand (he wasn't), and the new catch-all of fibromyalgia. Hell, he is healthier than I am, but he sees a government hand out, and his hand is. God bless the true veterens.

[Militiaman7]

I am a retired disabled vet, and I appreciate the compensation I receive from the VA for my injuries. Injuries that cost me my ability to earn a paycheck in the civilian world. When you retire at 43 and have a family to raise what are you to do? Does begging on a street corner sound about right to you?

That's not the point. I served more the 20 years in the USAF and earned my retirement (pension)

[Militiaman7]

Thank you for your support and kind words.

If any one would like to read more about Concurrent Receipt click here.Concurrent Receipt

[speekinout]

I certainly would oppose this. Disability pay is to compensate people who have limited job opportunities because of an injury. A retiree isn't concerned about job opportunities.
The Vets already collect the higher of the disability or pension payment. They just can't collect both at the same time.

[cynicom]

Waste of time trying to use reason with those that will not listen.

[Auntie Mame]

One of the problems is that there is too many whiners who deserve nothing, and complicate the system for the truly deserving.

Truer words were never spoken.

God bless the true veterans.

Yes!

[Auntie Mame]

I am a retired disabled vet, and I appreciate the compensation I receive from the VA for my injuries.

Gratitude is riches. You, sir, are a rich man.

I've changed my mind. A man with your attitude deserves not only disability pay and retirement pay, but anything else America can offer. Thank you for your service.

[Gnarly]

"Mr. Lawton, 64, a resident of Vienna, Va., who retired from the Army with the rank of colonel in 1991, said that he earned his retirement pay during 37 years of military service, and that it is unfair to ask him to give it up because he was wounded. "I didn't ask to get shot," he said"

Mr Lawton was wounded in Vietnam in 1967. He retired from the Army 24 years later in 1991. If he was so disabled, how did he complete 24 more years in the Army? If he was able to retire as a colonel with 37 years as stated, his retirement is adequate.

[callthemlikeyouseethem]

Lots of military retirees are diagnosed with military-related disabilities after RETIREMENT. It should be understood that we are talking about military RETIREES who are also disabled and that not all disabled veterans are retired from the military (one need not have served a given length of time to be considered for a disability, but to be eligible for retirement pay they must). A military retiree who is also considered a "disabled veteran" has their retirement payment reduced by the amount of the disability payment. The only difference is that the "disability" payment is not taxable.

[Militiaman7]

Many times an injury or illness doesn't show up immediately. You can only imagine what Mr. Lawton has suffered.

Who are you to judge him? In order to get his disability rating he had to prove to the VA beyond a shadow of a doubt that his disabilty was and is service connected. And it isn't an easy process.

[Gnarly]

How do you know that I don't know? Back to the basic premise of how you complete 24 additional years in the Army if disabled to that extent? Also didn't see what the degree of disability was.