Please
Help Disabled Military Retirees Eliminate The Disabled Veterans Tax
During this time of increased national patriotism and awareness of the sacrifices of our nation’s dedicated military members, we would like to inform you of an injustice to the men and women who have spent long careers in service to this great country, become disabled during that service, and been discarded like old shoes.
Military careers
mean many sacrifices. Careers begin with "salad days" consisting of
low pay and demanding schedules, substandard quarters, a second job (when it is
possible because of the nature of the primary job and the requirement to be
available for duty 24/7/365) so the kids can get braces, overseas assignments
"living on the economy" and barely scraping by, working spouses (also
at low pay and with little chance of advancement due to frequent relocation),
delayed educational opportunities while on remote tours (as the kids grow up
and the career member misses the scout promotions, proms, home runs).
Military careers
are, by nature, hazardous! Apart from the obvious possibility of hostile fire
and wartime threat, many, many members are exposed to toxins, hazards, disease
and injuries. For that, service-connected disability may be
awarded (the rules are strict and closely monitored.) It must be proven to be service-connected.
IF an
award is made, it has nothing to do with pay grade, but is compensation (it is
NOT a benefit!) for decreased earning capacity as a result of a
service-connected disease or injury. The maximum amount is approximately (in
2003) 2,300 dollars monthly ($27,000 annually or approximately $12.75/hour wage
for 40 hours per week) for a 100% disabling service-connected
condition (the overwhelming majority are rated considerably LESS than that,
with most in the 10% - 40% range). Maybe that amount is adequate, although I
think not, but let's assume it is. Most
retirees, in any profession, assume a second career as part of life's strategy.
NOW,
here's the rub, a
non-career service member (one who served two years, for example) is afforded
the full disability compensation. It
matters not what career he or she enjoyed, as long as the disability is
service-connected, a monthly stipend is awarded by the VA to help compensate
for the disability and reduced earning capacity - fair enough!
The military
retiree, however, is considered (by some government bureaucrats) as already
compensated! For each and every nickel awarded by the VA for
service-connected disability, an equal amount is taken away from the retired
pay! This is the Disabled Veterans Tax..
The plain, simple,
clear and indisputable fact is that the retiree has the same disability
as any other person, but is discriminated against by having his/her retirement
taken away solely because he/she had the misfortune to be disabled during
military service! This is disgusting
and a national disgrace!
OK, one might say, how can a member serve 20
years and then be disabled? The answer is very simple. Many injuries or illnesses do not appear
until years later (Agent Orange cancers, deterioration in hearing caused by
exposure to noise, psychological trauma not evident until separation from the
career, degenerative bone/joint disease, respiratory conditions and a host of
others). Additionally, unless the
disability is total and permanent, the service member is still able to perform
limited duties and will be required to do so until his/her separation from the
service.
Those who suffer
injury or illness as a result of service to this nation deserve better! They
should never, ever be forced to lose their retired pay because they suffer
disability as a result of that honorable service!
All Americans are urged to stand up on behalf of
the disabled military retirees and tell the Congress and the President that
service to this nation and disability as a result of that service must be
compensated! It should not be policy to take away retired pay for these
disabilities, which were incurred during service to this country and through no
fault of the service member. There is no
excuse to do otherwise!
For more
information, visit: http://www.usdr.org