Like Causes?

Install the App
TRY NOW
Countable Is Officially Causes.com

house Bill H.R. 333

Closing a Loophole That Reduces Retirement and/or Disability Pay For Certain Veterans

Argument in favor

The retirement pay and disability compensation veterans receive is reimbursement for two separate aspects of their service, and they should be paid in full for both.

Scott's Opinion
···
08/14/2016
If you are talking about a retired veteran, then you are talking about a man or woman that worked 60 to 80 hours a week for twenty years (or longer) and did not receive over time pay. You are talking about having to work most holidays and weekends and not getting over time pay. You are talking about a man or woman that every 12 to 16 months had to readjust to new supervisors (people are always having to relocate). Leaving their families to go into harms way. In other words they had given the best years of their lives to this country under the inference that the best country in the world would take care off them after their unwavering service. Veterans make up such a small portion of our population it seems like we could take care of them. We should be talking about maybe reducing disability compensation for career politicians rather than not taking care of our veterans. Veterans are just a number or a conversation piece for politicians!!!!
Like (55)
Follow
Share
Alis's Opinion
···
09/07/2015
I can't believe we are even debating giving veterans EVERYTHING they deserve. As a nation we have apparently chosen endless war. Full veterans benefits are part of the cost of attempting to control the entire bloody world!
Like (13)
Follow
Share
BTSundra's Opinion
···
02/04/2016
They have fought valiantly for their country protecting our liberty and the liberty of others, they should be given full compensation.
Like (13)
Follow
Share

Argument opposed

This bill would potentially allow veterans to draw funds from three sources - the Department of Defense, the VA, and Social Security Disability. We need to find a simpler way to honor our commitments to veterans.

John's Opinion
···
02/04/2016
You want to close loopholes let start in the tax code that allows American companies to dodge their taxes
Like (6)
Follow
Share
Peter's Opinion
···
08/15/2016
Let's give them all the respect they deserve and all the money the deserve, but it seems that this just isn't a logical bill (even if it feels compassionate). If you retire from the military you get retirement, if you are injured you get disability. Both should be enough to provide for you. If you are injured before you retire, I am not positive you should get retirement and disability at the same rate, maybe a % retirement and a % disability which if I read the bill, that is what we do now. I have to take a logical line and say we can't just give away as much money as possible, we should keep our promises and one way to do that is not give more than we promised to insure there is enough to cover the rest. I could be very wrong, this was a hard bill to follow, but I think it's something we have to use our brains and not our hearts on.
Like (5)
Follow
Share
Marvin's Opinion
···
08/23/2015
Don't the disabled have enough problems? Now you want to stop reimbursements as well? Ridiculous!
Like (2)
Follow
Share

What is House Bill H.R. 333?

This bill would allow veterans who have a service-connected disability rating of less than 50 percent to receive veterans’ disability compensation and retired pay simultaneously.

It would also cover eligible retirees who had a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more and were forced to retire before attaining 20 years of service (also known as Chapter 61 retirement). These veterans may still be subject to some reduction in benefits due to concurrent receipts while they are phased into the system.

This would close a gap which prevents veterans from receiving the full amount of both their retirement pay and disability compensation, which is known as ‘concurrent receipt’. As the CBO explains: “Combat-related special compensation is exempt from federal taxes, but concurrent retirement and disability compensation is not; some veterans qualify for both types of payment, but they must choose between the two.”

Impact

Veterans who would qualify based on their disability rating and service time, program administrators at the Department of Defense and VA.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 333

A current CBO cost estimate is unavailable. The National Taxpayers’ Union published the figures from a CBO estimate published during the 112th Congress (2011-2012), which found that this bill’s implementation would cost about $13.5 billion over a five-year period. It should be noted that the current numbers would likely be different.

More Information

Of Note: A 2014 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that there were 59,251 veterans who received concurrent benefits from the DOD retirement system, the VA disability compensation, and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). A random sample of seven veterans yielded a range of total benefits paid to individual veterans from $19,210 to $152,719.

The Heritage Foundation published a report which noted that the Social Security Administration doesn’t consider VA disability compensation when computing SSDI benefits. This means that veterans receiving concurrent payment would receive the same amount from SSDI regardless of what they receive in disability compensation from the VA.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user North Charleston)

AKA

Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act

Official Title

To amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on Armed Services
      Military Personnel
      Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
      Committee on Veterans' Affairs
    IntroducedJanuary 13th, 2015
    Scott's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/14/2016
    If you are talking about a retired veteran, then you are talking about a man or woman that worked 60 to 80 hours a week for twenty years (or longer) and did not receive over time pay. You are talking about having to work most holidays and weekends and not getting over time pay. You are talking about a man or woman that every 12 to 16 months had to readjust to new supervisors (people are always having to relocate). Leaving their families to go into harms way. In other words they had given the best years of their lives to this country under the inference that the best country in the world would take care off them after their unwavering service. Veterans make up such a small portion of our population it seems like we could take care of them. We should be talking about maybe reducing disability compensation for career politicians rather than not taking care of our veterans. Veterans are just a number or a conversation piece for politicians!!!!
    Like (55)
    Follow
    Share
    John's Opinion Against
    ···
    02/04/2016
    You want to close loopholes let start in the tax code that allows American companies to dodge their taxes
    Like (6)
    Follow
    Share
    Alis's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    09/07/2015
    I can't believe we are even debating giving veterans EVERYTHING they deserve. As a nation we have apparently chosen endless war. Full veterans benefits are part of the cost of attempting to control the entire bloody world!
    Like (13)
    Follow
    Share
    BTSundra's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    02/04/2016
    They have fought valiantly for their country protecting our liberty and the liberty of others, they should be given full compensation.
    Like (13)
    Follow
    Share
    operaman's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/18/2015
    I'm sure it makes a Veteran proud to learn that goalposts can be moved or they are relegated to the backseat when promised retirement or disability coverage are tweaked for future budgets. Horrible and disgusting. The pacification of the worlds most powerful and advanced military relegates it's strength to surrendering.
    Like (10)
    Follow
    Share
    billwdk9's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/19/2015
    Veterans earned these benefits and if they qualify America owes them the benefits.
    Like (6)
    Follow
    Share
    Peter's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/15/2016
    Let's give them all the respect they deserve and all the money the deserve, but it seems that this just isn't a logical bill (even if it feels compassionate). If you retire from the military you get retirement, if you are injured you get disability. Both should be enough to provide for you. If you are injured before you retire, I am not positive you should get retirement and disability at the same rate, maybe a % retirement and a % disability which if I read the bill, that is what we do now. I have to take a logical line and say we can't just give away as much money as possible, we should keep our promises and one way to do that is not give more than we promised to insure there is enough to cover the rest. I could be very wrong, this was a hard bill to follow, but I think it's something we have to use our brains and not our hearts on.
    Like (5)
    Follow
    Share
    Leo's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/14/2016
    Why would anyone consider depriving disabled veterans of the benefits they earned through pain and suffering in service to this country?
    Like (4)
    Follow
    Share
    JayinNC's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    02/09/2016
    Leave us vets alone, I deserve my VA disability and my SSD I have injuries that can not be repaired surgically and PTSD I take medication that will not allow me to pass a drug screen even if I could work so go after big companies and the Washington fat cats and leave me alone.
    Like (3)
    Follow
    Share
    NACSP's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/16/2016
    People who serve in our military deserve to be compensated for their sacrifice. This process definitely needs to be simplified, but we shouldn't be leaving our veterans hanging.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Andrew's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/14/2016
    Why is this even a question?
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Hunter's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/14/2016
    Veterans are entitled to the benefits of their service. They sacrificed years of their lives to serve the American people and as such they deserve better.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    John's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/18/2015
    Yes. Loopholes are a ramifications of poorly written legislation. Please close this one. Our vets deserve every benefit to which they are entitled.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Ballinator's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/15/2016
    Our veterans deserve all the assistance they need.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Logan's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/17/2016
    It is harder for a veteran to keep benefits than it is for people's riding welfare. People want free college but you don't wanna compensate for someone's injuries defending the ideals and principles set forth several hundred years ago by your fore fathers to ensure you have the best life.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Marvin's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/23/2015
    Don't the disabled have enough problems? Now you want to stop reimbursements as well? Ridiculous!
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Mary's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/31/2015
    The Military and war Veterans deserve to be the highest paid individuals in America. This isn't even a drop in the bucket of what we owe them.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Randall's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/14/2016
    Disabled vets deserve it.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    Michael's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/14/2016
    These men and woman have given their young lives to our country and deserve to be repaid in full for their selfless service.
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    ark4162's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/23/2015
    The whole damn VA needs to be thrown out and built from ground up to work properly and efficiently!
    Like (2)
    Follow
    Share
    MORE