Why not boost pay for ALL DISABLED VETERANS !! ?? Retirees don't get enough already? Maybe they spent more time them most,they volunteered to.Plus they get all their other bennies,free medical,dental,optical,commissary benefits.I've looked at their pay charts and I think they're pretty well paid.(This is my opinion and I'm welcome to it.)

Yeah, all well and good. President Bush did this for us already, and I was coming due. Only now, under the new plan, as a retired member with 60% disability, I have to wait until the last group to get my pay. Thanks a bunch Obama, for nothing. Another reason why I am glad I didn't vote for you.

quote:

Originally posted by 2352156:
Why not boost pay for ALL DISABLED VETERANS !! ?? Retirees don't get enough already? Maybe they spent more time them most,they volunteered to.Plus they get all their other bennies,free medical,dental,optical,commissary benefits.I've looked at their pay charts and I think they're pretty well paid.(This is my opinion and I'm welcome to it.)

Nope, you got it all wrong. We pay for our medical, dental and vision. It's not free. We all volunteered anyway, but the rule changes mid-stream **** me off.

quote:

Originally posted by 5160897:
This old Chief is a bit confused.I haven't seen my status mentioned. Iretired in 1977 with 19yrs-7mos (counted as 20 yrs).I was slated to retire on 20 yrs day for day on the Navy Disability RetireD List.I rejected the NDRL to accept a lucrative job offer.I was told to see the VA and apply for disability. I did this a year later and received a 50% rating (combat zone). As soon as my VA pay started my Navy pay was reduced by the amount of my VA receipt. I am covered by CRDL until 2014,when I will no longer have the reduction from my Navy retirement. Where will people fit into this plan, if it flies. Woody

You fit in right where you did before, at the end of the line. This is primarily geared towards the big chunk of medically retired vets who are on disability, i.e., war-wounded. Some others will benefit, such as those with debilitating illnesses. It's kind of a catch-all. But for those of us who did the full pull, and got significant disability, it's the back of the bus.

quote:

Originally posted by SABOT7:
Can someone explain just what Chapter 61 is??? Becuase if I read it right, it says "RETIREMENT OR SEPARATION FOR PHYSICAL DISABILITY". I retired after 23 years as a 1SG (regular retirement). I went to the VA like I was told to get evaluated and I recieve 30% based on their evaulation. Now, if I read this Chapter 61 title correctly, it only applies to those personnel medically retired or seperated because of medical disabilities. If that is the case, there are a lot more veterans that will not recieve any addtitional compenation regardless of how much rating you have.

You are reading that right...and it's a big joke for the ones who retired at 20 or more.

Can someone explain just what Chapter 61 is??? Becuase if I read it right, it says "RETIREMENT OR SEPARATION FOR PHYSICAL DISABILITY".

This whole article threw me in a loop. I read the same as above, and can someone who knows confirm this is different than regular military retirement plus a VA rating? I retired after 20, AND received an 80% service connected rating from the VA. The phase in for concurrent receipt has nothing to do with this article correct?

This promise has been a long time coming. In am still not sure how to calulate how much extra, if any, my husband would receive. He was injured (aka left leg, loss of use right leg) in 1967. He was an e-5 when retired by the Army at 80%; VA immediately rated him 100%.
However, his total length of time in service was two years and seven months. I do not know how to figure his possible increase in monies.

By the way, he is rated in the SMC category.
So will he receive some concurrent pay?

If the present Government can afford to bail out many firms (GM - $64 billion over a 2 year period) why is $45 billion over 10 years a stretch in order to take care of our veterans?

I only want to say "thank you" to all of you men who served for the greatest country on the planet. I served for only six years and was on my way to combat when I was permanently disabled at NTC in Ft.Irwin, California during battle training maneuvers. At 70% rated, I would rather have gone to battle than been retired right here at home. Especially when I read about all of your heroic experiences. I don't know what Obams's proposal means for me, but I am pulling for you all and wish future good health, healing, and happiness.

Paying retirement to Chapter 61 SEPARATEES is the exact definition of double-dipping (paying twice for the same event). It's not that they probably should get something, but that NOBODY was ever promised retirement pay for serving less than 20 years. Yet, there are still some 400,000 RETIREES who fulfilled their 20 year obligation regardless of their disabilities who are not getting one dime of the retired pay they EARNED AND WERE PROMISED, just because they are getting VA disability. THIS IS JUST A$$-BACKWARD AND WRONG!

So let me get this rite, because I ONLY faithfully served 22 years and ONLY receive 30% VA disability, I'm not "well-deserving" of concurrent receipt? I tell you what, especially to those who make these ridiculous decisions, don't give me concurrent receipt...just do me a favor and quit taking so much in Federal/State taxes from the SUBSTANDARD RETIREMENT INCOME I DO RECEIVE!!!

Oh, do me another favor, grease the knife before you stick it in my back any deeper!

thanx....

am a nam vet with 20yrs service i recieve a 30% disabilty check but my other injuries were not took into account because they didnt start acting up until i was release from the miltary when i tried to recieve treatment the army said there was no record of ever being treated for my problem so no benefits. so this has got to be good for those that have been suffering from pain we can not get treatment are benfits. my life was on the line for 20yrs in places i wouldn't have never seen. now its all over and the army just say thank you and bye hopefully this new retiree plan will give those who deserve it a easy life with there pain and suffering

Here is a link you may wish to check out for a claim. Many have found help here http://forums.military.com/eve...1001/m/7920022902001
Read the input and if you still have a question please feel free to ask it. I monitor the topic daily.

It is too bad that I probably don't qualify as a Chapter 61 retiree. I was in the National Guards for fifteen years and given a medical (honorable)discharge in August of 2001--3 weeks before 9/11, yet I will likely never see a penny of military retirement benefits because I never served active duty time. This whole idea is a rip-off to those of us who served as citizen-soldiers and kept the homefront safe for all of these years. Pass the bill, but remember the rest of us.

Found this on the internet today. A letter from members of Congress supporting the issue of concurrent receipt, directed at finding funding for the issue of concurrent receipt. It includes "all" categories concerning the issue. Will be interesting to see if anything develops from this. But they are the minority in Congress at the moment.

Blessings to all.

Article follows:

Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Steve Buyer, the Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today called on Rep. John Spratt to utilize the “reserve funds” he imbedded in the House Budget Resolution to pay for key benefits that were promised to and are so richly deserved by America’s military personnel and their families, military retirees and veterans.

During consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 in committee last year, Republicans on the Armed Services Committee attempted to force the Budget Committee Chairman to utilize the “reserve funds” to eliminate the unfair tax created by the offset between Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities and Veterans’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Ultimately, that effort was blocked on a budget technicality.

In preparation for committee consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 on June 16, Republicans are again encouraging the Budget Committee Chairman to identify the necessary offsets so the promise of the “reserve funds” may become real.

A copy of the letter follows:

The Honorable John Spratt

Chairman

U.S. House Committee on the Budget

207 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Spratt:

Last week during the Budget Committee hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, you noted that the President’s Budget is full of placeholders and promises. We would also note that the Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010 is also filled with place holders and promises called reserve funds. You also stated that “…The proof will be in the pudding, as they say, on how Congress and the administration actually implement...” these placeholders. We couldn’t agree more with the sentiment of your statement.

As you are aware, the reserve fund created by section 324 of the budget resolution would permit you to provide, in a deficit neutral manner, budget allocations that would complete the promise of concurrent receipt for disabled military retirees (S.546); eliminate the Widows Tax created by the offset between Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities and Veterans’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) (H.R.775/S.535); improve healthcare coverage for reserve component members (H.R. 972); and fund President Obama’s initiative to provide concurrent receipt for disabled military retirees with less than 20 years service. Cutting waste, fraud and abuse amounting to 0.14 per cent of the spending allocated by the budget resolution would provide the necessary offsets to fund these priorities.

Therefore, we, the Republican signatories from the committees below, strongly encourage you to exercise your authority under section 324 to make concrete and real the promise of the reserve fund: to ensure America’s military personnel and their families, military retirees, and veterans have the support they so richly deserve.

Sincerely,

Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (CA)

Joe Wilson (SC); Ranking Member, Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel

Steve Buyer (IN); Ranking Member, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Roscoe G. Bartlett (MD)

Mac Thornberry (TX)

Walter B. Jones (NC)

W. Todd Akin (MO)

J. Randy Forbes (VA)

Jeff Miller (FL)

Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ)

Rob Bishop (UT)

Michael Turner (OH)

John Kline (MN)

Mike Rogers (AL)

Trent Franks (AZ)

Bill Shuster (PA)

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA)

Michael Conaway (TX)

Doug Lamborn (CO)

Rob Wittman (VA)

Mary Fallin (OK)

Duncan Hunter (CA)

John Fleming (LA)

Mike Coffman (CO)

Tom Rooney (FL)

quote:

Originally posted by 18196430:
This promise has been a long time coming. In am still not sure how to calulate how much extra, if any, my husband would receive. He was injured (aka left leg, loss of use right leg) in 1967. He was an e-5 when retired by the Army at 80%; VA immediately rated him 100%.
However, his total length of time in service was two years and seven months. I do not know how to figure his possible increase in monies.

By the way, he is rated in the SMC category.
So will he receive some concurrent pay?

If he was medically retired from service with 80% rated disability by DOD then he is included. The 80% disability rating by DOD dosn't matter, only that he was medically retired by DOD. Under this formula he would receive 2 1/2 % of base pay for an E-5 per year served. For example, if he had served 20 years and retired before Sept 1980 he would have received 50% of base pay. That is 2 and 1/2% per year. After Sept 1980 High three was used. Personnel retired under Chapter 61 a section of the Tax Code could recieve their retirement calculated by DOD as either percentage of disability, or as 2 1/2 % per year served. Whichever was more favorable to the vet. For your spouse, obviously 80% of base pay would have been much better than 2 1/2 % of base pay because he only had 2 years service. It depends on time served sometimes its close. However it didn't really matter as he was rated by VA as 100% and received the waiver to forfeit his retired pay for the VA's tax exempt pay. Under this proposal (details not out yet Could change) he would receive 5% of the base pay of an E-5. That is specificaly for his 2 years invested, served. The funds from the VA are to be for his disability. Since he is 100% from the VA he would be in the first group starting Jan 2010. this is to makke up for other who are covered under CRDP (Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay)CRSC (Combat Related Special Compensation) Chapter 61 medical retiree's with less than 20 years service were the only group consistently left out of any legislation trying to address ending the offset known as concurrent receipt. Details could change before its finalized though. Chapter 61 is in CFR 38 Code of Federal Regulations and in USC Title 38 United States Code Title 38. Covers Veterans Pensions Bonuses and Relief, ie the laws, and can be found in any major library. (Note there are two volumes in Title 38 as it also covers Postal workers). 5% dosn't sound like much but better than nothing. for others whom served 12 - 19 years and were medically retiredd it has real meaning as this pay is in addittion to the disability pay from the VA, and like your spouse it is earned retired pay and has always been forfeited until this proposal by the President if it is passed by Congress?

this is great for that 100K, however lets not forget about those of us that did our 20+ and are now haveing our retirerment pay docked to pay our disability pay. we still have a way to go before it's right for all Vets.

quote:

Originally posted by 10599366:
So let me get this rite, because I ONLY faithfully served 22 years and ONLY receive 30% VA disability, I'm not "well-deserving" of concurrent receipt? I tell you what, especially to those who make these ridiculous decisions, don't give me concurrent receipt...just do me a favor and quit taking so much in Federal/State taxes from the SUBSTANDARD RETIREMENT INCOME I DO RECEIVE!!!

Oh, do me another favor, grease the knife before you stick it in my back any deeper!

thanx....

Amen brother! I did 25 years, same VA disability rating as you. I also fund my own disability. What a sad state of affairs the whole concurrent receipt debacle is. It actually attempts to make one disabled vet more "deserving" than another. Most vets aren't buying it Washington! The politicians get to "feel good" by pasting smiley face bandaids on our physical and emotional problems, using cute talk and rediculous statements to try and justify why they have deserted many of us. This obviously effects our quality of life. It's comforting to know that the law making (cronies) will be able to use our military facilities for the remainder of their lives, FREE of charge, while we forfeit a percentage of our retirement pay in order to receive a tax benefit from our own disabilities. Wow - you talk about right and wrong, and justice! Get real.

quote:

Originally posted by 14325507:
It's time for frank language. I'm not asking for permission to speak freely. It's time to cut through the utter ******** that is concurrent receipt. It's time for veterans to be angry and let our "leaders" know just how angry we are.

Retired veterans paying their own VA disability payment is theft. It's no difference than my insurance company paying for a claim and then sending me a bill for the amount of the claim. It's taking money we earned to pay for our own so-called benefit. It is me paying me to be disabled as determined by the VA.

Why don't "moral" politicians see the wrongness of this? I realize that using the words moral and politician is an oxymoron but there must be enough ethical politicians in the country to make the needed change now. Otherwise we are all doomed.

I did not ask for a disability rating. I did my service and obeyed orders and listened to my VA rep when he said the VA would take care of fulfilling the promises they made. Receiving a rating was a function of retiring and filing my status with the VA. Had I known that the "disability pension" I would be granted would be paid out of my own pay check I wouldn't have wasted the time to complete the paperwork.

If the United States government wants to steal from me why did they grant me a so-called disability rating? Why not just tell me to go screw myself and leave my pay alone and let me fend for myself.

It is degrading, insulting and makes me feel like an utter idiot for fulfilling the oath when the politicians tell me they owe me nothing more. For the past 12 years the government has stolen hundreds of dollars a month from me. I am sick of hearing politicians from both parties lie and cheat me.

I encourage all active duty personnel to examine their loyalty very carefully before continuing serving a government who has utter contempt for the veteran. I encourage all active duty servicemen to voice loudly and clearly to their representatives that they are not fools for politicians to use and discard. I implore all current military personnel and veterans to flood their representatives with strong demands to release funds for all disabled veterans now.

Do not be trust politicians. They have no military ethic and view all of us as fodder to further their goals and will not keep promises. Concurrent receipt is proof positive that they do not keep promises.

I demand that all politicians immediately demand full concurrent receipt for each and every disabled veteran and I demand it NOW. Not in 2010, not in 2011 and absolutely not in 2014. Now is time for OUR government to stop stealing from us and to give us exactly what we earned by our loyal service. Concurrent receipt is not a gift from our government. It is OUR money.

The present concurrent receipt situation is a national disgrace. The proposed "solution" is an even worse disgrace that insults all veterans and morally wounds all the veterans that will die without ever seeing a penny of the VA pension they earned.

I beg everyone to insist that the administration pass 100 percent full concurrent receipt before the year ends.

Well stated!

Hey, its about time this administration does something for our Disabled and Retired Veterans. For which I am (Retired from the USAF (NG) in 92 and credited with 38 years, Disabled (20%) during Vietnam (Rt leg) and Desert Storm (Lt leg)). I get only 500 a month for retirement after the take out taxes and my 200 SC Disability. As you see I don't get that much for all the years I gave my country working every type of job from Personnel Specialist, Truck Driver, Pole Lineman, Door Gunner, Armored Recon, Armor Crewman, and finally a Cook.
I would wish they would just do away with the whole Concurrent Pay thing right now.



JW (TSgt, USAF Ret.)