Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission
Under a Republican Congress and Republican Senate
a Special Congressional Committee Was Setup To Cut Disabled Veterans Benefits. (I'm sure both Republicans and Democrats
voted to start this Commission.) This disgraceful Congressional Commission is working on their third major attempt to
cut disabled veterans benefits. In the Commission's first phase, 72,000 disabled veterans were going to be investigated
for fraud. After an honorable PTSD veteran killed himself, the Commission moved into its second phase and
tried to cut America's most disabled veterans' benefits in almost half.
Some members of Congress stand up for veterans rights, but
few stand up the rights of PTSD Veterans. Democrat Congressman Tom Udall has already
stood up as a supporter of PTSD Veterans. What about other Democrat Congressional leaders...
Please read Congressman Tom Udall's letter at:
Please sign our petition to stop this Disgraceful Commission: (4,400 Signers already) Help send a message to our Democrat Congress that it is time
to care for disabled veterans, rather than plan on cutting their benefits. http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?disgrace&1
~ "The Thousand-Yard-Stare"
~ http://www.americans-working-together.com/american_veterans/id142.html
The State of New Jersey Denies a honorable PTSD Veteran his Due Process in a Legal Malpractice case against an New
Jersey State Official. (New Jersey State Corruption as usual, but why do it to a disabled PTSD veteran.) http://www.americans-working-together.com/jack_cunningham/id54.html
http://www.americans-working-together.com/american_veterans/id125.html
DISABLED AMERICAN
VETERANS
Building Better Lives for America's Disabled Veterans
_______________________________________________________
Commission May Punish Disabled Vets
By Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant
Ever
since legislation creating the Veteran's Disability Benefits Commission was passed, there have been concerns about whether
the deck is stacked against veterans. And after a year of meetings, site visits, field hearings and public comment, it is
still an open question. That's understandable, considering the political climate in which the commission operates.
The
13-member panel was established after some rather heavy-handed attempts at sweeping changes to veterans disability compensation
failed in Congress. However, the same political forces are still at work, both on and off Capitol Hill, making it difficult
for disabled veterans to remain optimistic about the outcomes.
Optimism was in short supply at the commission's March
16-17 meeting as some of its members maneuvered to authorize collecting data about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
benefits paid to veterans who also receive VA disability compensation. That was done with a view toward an offset of disability
insurance if the veteran receives disability compensation from the VA.
A move to sidestep proper procedures and hold
a secret ballot on the matter was postponed, but the issue is expected to resurface at the commission's meeting in May. If
so, it could lay the groundwork for cutting or eliminating veterans benefits as a way of saving the government money.
The
idea that disability compensation is some kind of income security or welfare program cheapens the service and sacrifice of
disabled veterans. That kind of thinking might also open the door to cutting off VA compensation when a disabled veteran becomes
eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.
Veterans benefits are separate and distinct from Social Security,
so receiving payments under both programs is not dual compensation for the same disability, as some have tried to argue.
Service-connected
disability compensation from the VA is an earned benefit, awarded only on the basis of eligibility to a special class of persons.
Payments under this program are recompense from the government for the life-long effects and consequences of a disabled veteran's
extraordinary sacrifice in service to our nation. And a service-connected disability doesn?t magically disappear when a veteran
has a job, either.
SSDI benefits, on the other hand, are not compensation for a disability, but rather cash payments
to a person who is unable to work for a year or more because of a disability. Most U.S. workers who have paid Social Security
taxes are covered by the program. Benefits usually continue until the person is able to work again on a regular basis. When
a person receiving Social Security disability benefits reaches retirement age, those benefits automatically convert to Social
Security retirement benefits.
Rather than protecting the public purse, implementing a policy regarding offsets to VA
disability compensation and Social Security disability and retirement benefits would have the effect of punishing disabled
veterans. I can think of no greater insult to the men and women whose service and sacrifice have kept America free and safe.
We are mindful that this is only in the discussion stage, but I would hope that the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission
would reject even the suggestion of such an ill-advised scheme.
Please sign our petition to stop this Disgraceful Commission: (4,400 Signers
already) Help send a message to our Democrat Congress that it is time to care for disabled
veterans, rather than plan on cutting their benefits. http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?disgrace&1
~
"The Thousand-Yard-Stare" ~ http://www.americans-working-together.com/american_veterans/id142.html
The State of New Jersey Denies a honorable PTSD Veteran his Due Process in a Legal Malpractice case against an New
Jersey State Official. (New Jersey State Corruption as usual, but
why do it to a disabled PTSD veteran.) http://www.americans-working-together.com/jack_cunningham/id54.html
