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  • Ole Cowboy

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    This is something to keep and eye on, Libs HATE the military and especially hate soldiers!


    Report says 60,000 veterans get triple benefits


    By MATTHEW DALY



    Nov. 1, 2014 10:45 AM EDT


    27612



    2 photos


    • [*=center]
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    FILE - In this July 9, 2014 file photo, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. speaks on Capitol Hill in... Read more


    WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 60,000 veterans were triple dippers last year, drawing a total of $3.5 billion in military retirement pay plus veterans and Social Security disability benefits at the same time, congressional auditors report.
    It's all legal.

    The average payment was about $59,000, but about 2,300 veterans, or 4 percent of the total, received concurrent payments of $100,000 or more, the Government Accountability Office said.
    The highest payment was to a veteran who received $208,757 in combined payments in 2013.

    Some lawmakers say the report shows the need for better coordination among government programs that are facing severe financial constraints. The Social Security Disability Insurance trust fund could run out of money in as soon as two years, government officials say.

    "We should fulfill our promises to the men and women who serve, but we need to streamline these duplicative programs," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who requested the study.
    Veterans groups disagree. They say the retirement money was earned for years of service in the military, while disability payments are compensation for service-related injuries and wounds.

    In most cases, veterans who receive a combination of benefits are severely disabled. About 4 in 5 veterans who got triple payments had a disability rating of at least 50 percent, the GAO said. Nearly half of those receiving triple payments were at least 60 years old.
    Louis Celli Jr., a Washington representative for the American Legion, said critics of the multiple benefits are "misguided and uninformed." He said the report "should simply be filed in the category of one of Sen. Coburn's parting shots to loyal upstanding American patriots who have sacrificed so much for this country."
    Coburn, a longtime critic of government spending, is retiring at the end of the year. He said in an interview that the report raises legitimate questions about whether disability benefits are getting to those who truly need them.

    "This is billions of dollars a year in duplicative payments," Coburn said. "We ought to reassess and say, 'Are we doing more than take care of people in need?' I'm not against the military. I don't think they should be triple dipping."

    Most Americans would find it hard to understand how someone making $86,000 a year in tax-exempt VA income qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, when civilian workers are disqualified from the program if they make as little as $13,000 a year, Coburn said.

    Only 17 percent of those who received multiple forms of compensation had suffered a combat-related disability, according to the GAO.
    Veterans have long been exempted from rules that deny Social Security benefits to anyone with other income exceeding $13,000 a year.
    But until the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, veterans were barred from receiving both military retirement pay and Department of Veterans Affairs' disability benefits. Under a Civil War-era statute, the Pentagon docked retirement pay dollar-for-dollar up to the amount of disability benefits from the VA.

    With bipartisan support, Congress changed that law in 2002, gradually restoring military retirement pay to veterans also drawing disability benefits from the VA.
    "Our nation's status as the world's only superpower is largely due to the sacrifices our veterans made in the last century," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in March 2002 when the bill was being debated.

    "Rather than honoring their commitment and bravery by fulfilling our obligations, the federal government has chosen to perpetuate this longstanding injustice," Reid said. "Quite simply, this is disgraceful and we must correct it."

    At the time, then-Sen. John Warner, R-Va., a former Navy secretary, posed a question to fellow senators: "How can we ask the men and women who have so faithfully served to sacrifice a portion of their retirement because they are also receiving compensation for an injury suffered while serving their country?"
    Warner acknowledged that the change would have "significant cost," but added; "Is the cost too high? I think not."
    About 3 percent of the nation's 1.9 million military retirees collect all three benefits, the GAO said.

    The report did not recommend changes to the program. The VA said in a response that it "generally agrees" with the report's conclusions. Social Security officials did not comment.


    http://bigstory.ap.org/article/604aa4786241467f93ebb9b2a8473191/report-says-60000-veterans-get-triple-benefits
    Texas SOT
     

    Phoneguy

    Proud American and Infidel since 1968
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    Maybe these non-serving civilians should go serve their Country, have the Military destroy their mind and/or body for 20 years, and then complain when all they receive is a small stipend for retirement and not be able to work nor get disability payments.
     
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    When my reserve unit was activated. Our MP company had state troopers, Dallas homicide detective, Travis co sheriff deputies.

    These guys got to "double dip". Their civilian pay continued. So say a buck E5, pulling about $3000, was getting another pay check....from a $60k a year civilian job as well.

    So? How much is someone's volunteering to die, if need be, worth?

    Fighting a war for lost gains. But doing it anyway. Then your demilitarized like a worn out, junk rifle. Your use was used.

    Then.....

    Getting poked and prodded by the VA, stigma of the "disabled vet". Treated like worn out military equipment. Pills, needles, and more pills.

    What's the true price of the of a Warrior's soul?

    Seems it runs cheap nowadays.
     

    Ole Cowboy

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    When my reserve unit was activated. Our MP company had state troopers, Dallas homicide detective, Travis co sheriff deputies.

    These guys got to "double dip". Their civilian pay continued. So say a buck E5, pulling about $3000, was getting another pay check....from a $60k a year civilian job as well.

    So? How much is someone's volunteering to die, if need be, worth?

    Fighting a war for lost gains. But doing it anyway. Then your demilitarized like a worn out, junk rifle. Your use was used.

    Then.....

    Getting poked and prodded by the VA, stigma of the "disabled vet". Treated like worn out military equipment. Pills, needles, and more pills.

    What's the true price of the of a Warrior's soul?

    Seems it runs cheap nowadays.
    Quoted for the truth

    "Most Americans would find it hard to understand how someone making $86,000 a year in tax-exempt VA income qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, when civilian workers are disqualified from the program if they make as little as $13,000 a year, Coburn said"

    First of all 100% disability is only worth about $47,000 per year. I think the MAX you can get paid is about $96,000 per years +/-. If you are drawing more than the 100% VA disability rating its because you are FUBAR. and I mean REALLY FUBAR. Doubt if there is a guy who would not trade his health for the payments he is getting.

    VA and SS are paid for different things: VA is for injuries sustained while SS if for in ability to work.
     

    Mike1234567

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    I worked as a civilian in a sick contaminated rat and bat infested building for years at Ft Sam Houston. Yet zero compensation for sick/dying people like me.
     

    Mexican_Hippie

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    The vet benefits should match whatever was promised when you signed up.

    Social security, IMO, should not exist for anyone. But even for these folks it shouldn't be yanked. It was a promise that was made and should be kept while it is phased out.
     

    rushthezeppelin

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    If only they were as concerned about welfare fraud.

    ...or corporate welfare. So sad they are going after people who have sacrificed so much for this country. I might not agree with basically every war we've been in since WWII but none of these qualms should be laid on the backs of the people who fought in said wars, it should lie squarely on the shoulders of those that got us into all these quagmires worldwide and those that made largely empty promises to those people.
     

    Ole Cowboy

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    If you are drawing mil retirement then you put in the years to do it

    If you are drawing SS then you paid in to it

    If you are drawing VA then you have some kind of injury that is compensated for by that payment

    Not sure I see any conflict here
     

    TX69

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    If I were in a position to affect both military benefits and civilian benefits I would cut civilian benefits HARD and then divert those funds to our fighting soldiers for better pay. Cut the slugs out of the system and all will be well.
     

    southtexaspilot

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    There's just as much abuse and fraud in the VA benefit system. Those who need it don't get enough and a bunch of flat footed, ingrown toenail p*ssies are suckling on taxpayer tit.

    W
     

    Ole Cowboy

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    There's just as much abuse and fraud in the VA benefit system. Those who need it don't get enough and a bunch of flat footed, ingrown toenail p*ssies are suckling on taxpayer tit.

    W
    True and yes if you lose you arm in a DUI accident, off post, in another state then you will be compensated for the arm just like the guy who got his blown off on the killing fields...
     

    Mike1234567

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    If I were in a position to affect both military benefits and civilian benefits I would cut civilian benefits HARD and then divert those funds to our fighting soldiers for better pay. Cut the slugs out of the system and all will be well.

    I worked darned hard as a civilian for my paycheck for a quarter century. And I've yet to ask for a single dime... not even my pension yet.
     
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    **** THAT!! I worked damn hard as a civilian for my paycheck for a quarter century. And I've yet to ask for a single dime... not even my pension yet. Some folks are ignorant A-holes who simply say/write what they think others want to hear/read to make them feel accepted in a given environment.

    I agree. However, a raise in the military is a controlled guided path. That pay is set. The army is a commy society. You have no rights. You eat, sleep, fight when told. Not asked. If a soldier wants more money, they get a upper position, alright. More human life below him or her. In their care and control.

    Not to make production quotas. But to live and die.

    No, your money is yours. You earned it. Nobody wants it. Just understand the world of the military. USSR ain't got shot on 3rd Corp. Little lone, 1st CAV.

    It's take or be taken.

    When you look at country's like North Korea. View the whole Damn country as an army. There are no civilians.
     

    Mike1234567

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    I agree. However, a raise in the military is a controlled guided path. That pay is set. The army is a commy society. You have no rights. You eat, sleep, fight when told. Not asked. If a soldier wants more money, they get a upper position, alright. More human life below him or her. In their care and control.

    Not to make production quotas. But to live and die.

    No, your money is yours. You earned it. Nobody wants it. Just understand the world of the military. USSR ain't got shot on 3rd Corp. Little lone, 1st CAV.

    It's take or be taken.

    When you look at country's like North Korea. View the whole Damn country as an army. There are no civilians.

    I recently wrote that the military is a Socialist Society and that got me ripped a new one. Get ready to be "corrected" by those who lived and are living it... but deny it because they don't want to believe the lives they've lived and the handouts they continue to receive are absolutely socialistic. They believe they're special because they risked their lives. I have news for them... firemen and police are just as much at risk... and others, such as myself, are paying with their health and lives because the military didn't/doesn't give a damn about civilians working in contaminated sick buildings. They protect their comrades... but not the civilians who work behind the lines to support them. There is no shame in that system.

    What's wrong with this country... "It's all about me and I deserve all I can get!!"
     
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    Mic

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    I will say this.....having been in the military and knowing a lot of vets, the VA disability shit is often ridiculous. People draw VA disability for a lot of real silly shit. I know several people who get disability for some silly shit.
     

    Mike1234567

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    I will say this.....having been in the military and knowing a lot of vets, the VA disability shit is often ridiculous. People draw VA disability for a lot of real silly shit. I know several people who get disability for some silly shit.

    And to follow this statement... I have a neighbor who served less than three years. He was hurt in an IED incident in Iraq. Yet he is fully healed with no continuing physical or mental disability from it. He brings home $38K per year, TAX FREE, and pays no property taxes plus he has free health insurance for his entire family. He works "under-the-wire" (tax-free cash) for extra money and he can work fast and hard. He is NOT disabled... not physically nor emotionally. He'll receive these FREEBIES FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!

    THIS IS FRAUD!!

    This is a common "I DESERVE THIS" attitude among too many people.
     
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    Mexican_Hippie

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    If you are drawing mil retirement then you put in the years to do it

    If you are drawing SS then you paid in to it

    If you are drawing VA then you have some kind of injury that is compensated for by that payment

    Not sure I see any conflict here

    Well for SS many get more than they paid in. I know, that was the deal and we should honor it. I'm not calling anyone names for accepting SS. I still don't want to participate in it.

    I think it should be phased out or at least separated into private accounts that give the tax payer some investment choices. I don't need it nor want it. If the program isn't welfare then it should be my choice because it's my money.
     

    Mike1234567

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    Some people will always claim they deserve all they can get and that other "less deserving folks" are the "real" takers.
     
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