Disabled Veteran Retirees - How can I raise the US public's awareness about government inequities?

Question

The public in general is not aware that:

If a servicemember has 20 years of service, breaks a leg in a softball game (and it affects their mobility), they get *ALL* retirement pay *AND* VA compensation.

But if they fall off a tank while reparing it and are paralyzed, but have less than 20 years of service they are *REQUIRED TO FORFIET* retirement pay if they accept VA compensation. (with some rare insignificant exceptions)

Shouldn't a 25 year-old with, say, six years of service get their six years worth of retirement pay? (about $200 a month)

Private companies are required by law to "vest" employees after participating 5 years in a retirement fund. But not the government.

Doesn't the paralyzed 25 year old NEED the extra money, where the 20 year "full" retiree with a limp could probably get by without the VA compensation ($200-$300 monthly)

The public doesn't know this. Even MOST congressmen don't realize it works this way. If they did I KNOW they would be outraged.

I am aware of the "I got mine, to heck with you" crowd as well as the "That's the way it is" crowd. But i've never seen them combined with the senilely "How dare you" crowd.
Thanks for your participation OkieBoy, but you didn't even try to answer the question.

Seven years ago "The system" didn't allow for those with over 20 years service to recieve retirement AND VA compensation.

That changed because we didn't just "accept the way things are". I fought for your getting concurrent receipt.

But before the 20 year retiree with 10% comp for plantar warts gets more money, I personally feel the 19 year 8 month parapalegic that was "retired" against his will deserves to get his time in service adjusted retirement pay.

The money for retirement pay is deducted off the top of the compensation amount determined by congress for each paygrade.

The money was set aside, it should be used as earmarked.

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Gregory -
The 'funding' issue is supposed to be taken care of. Congress says, "Paygrade x deserves $25,000 annual compensation" They then take about 4.5% of that amount off the top from every service member and put it into the retirement fund. 80% of service members never retire. 2-3% of service members are forced to medically retire. The other retirees ASK to retire. Shouldn't the person forced to retire get their retirement pay?

$100,000 SGLI is only for the active duty. If you got out before 1 DEC 2005 you were stuck with $25,000 life insurance. No Traumatic SGLI.

The "pension" you mention raises your annual income to $10,929 at MOST.

GI bill expires 12 years after you are retired. A great deal if you are healthy enough to serve 20+ years. Our 25 year old loses his GI bill at 37. A 20 year retiree loses theirs at about 50.

They get SSDI if they paid into it... But not their retirement that they paid into??

None of this addresses my original question.

Answer 1

Well it is the government. I don't think many government programs are listed as well funded. Everyone that depends on the government complains they are being short changed. Even those companies that are making weapons are laying off people.

You can get tramatic SGLI worth $100,000 plus service-disabled veterans insurance/RH insurance worth $10,000 to $30,000 for any permently disabled service member (RH insurance also covers non permenant medical problems) under the GI bill.

You can also recieve a monthly pension (no monetary amount given) if you have a limited (again no monetary amount given) if you are permently and totally disabled or at least 65. If you are injured but not permently or totally, they do offer a 3 3/4 reabilitation and training program. This too is under the GI Bill.

Not only that, you can also get disability social security if you have paid into social security.

All of this stuff goes into effect the first day you are "in" the military.

Answer 2

They are required to forfeit retired pay because under 20 years of service "they aren't retired". That's the way it is, I for one, did 21 years of service. Have a disability rating from the VA for which I'm compensated, and how dare you suggest i could go ahead and get by because Ive already got a retirement check. I spent the best years of my young life working extremely hard, staying highly fit, and getting numerous injuries during training and combat. How dare you suggest That the 20 year old could use the money more than I could. Ive got maladies that after 20 years of dedicated service will continue to get worse because I chose to serve my country as long as I did and gave it my all! Your argument doesn't wash so don't think that congress and the senate isn't running around blindly not knowing how the system works, they know quite well. They set it up and for damn good reason.

Obviously you didn't get what you felt was your just reward so yes, I answered the question, the system is, just as it is, can't please everyone all the time. Obviously, your not.

Answer 3

No one gets VA Comp and Retirement Pay, the law prohibits it. And no one gets VA Comp for a non service related injury.
The TSP is the equivalent of the 401k you mentioned. If you contributed the money is yours.
If you are "Paralyzed" from a SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY you should be getting 100% from the VA for unemployability.