Individual Unemployability Open Letter

[Rick Meussner]

Many veterans are determined to be 100% “TOTAL & PERMANENT” due to Individual Un-employability. This determination is due to combat and/or service connected injuries.

“Under current rules, the IU program awards payouts at the 100 percent disabled rate to veterans who cannot find work due to service-connected injuries, even if actual rating is less than 100%.”

The Veterans Administration uses a mathematical formula that is not arithmetically linear, A Veteran may have numerous service connected  injuries or illnesses that may add up to well in excess of 100%, but using the VA formula the rating always falls to a percentage less than 100.

“Administration officials want to stop Individual Un-employability payouts once veterans are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, arguing those individuals should no longer qualify for unemployment benefits. Veterans who cannot collect Social Security would be exempt.”

There are several problems arising from this concept. Many veterans who worked and paid into social security would be penalized when compared to those who paid into other retirement plans and receive those benefits in lieu of Social Security.

Secondly, there are many veterans who would have worked well past retirement age if their service connected disability had not rendered them unable to continue to work.

“For veterans who aren’t already retirement age, the change could largely be offset by their new Social Security payouts. But for veterans already receiving both, it will mean a sudden loss of a significant income source.”

The first part is not true. Persons who are disabled would be able to receive Social Security Disability. If the IU was determined before the veteran reached retirement age,the Social Security Disability payment  would then convert automatically to a Regular Social Security Pension without any change to the actual payout.

The concept or idea that the Social Security Payment would offset the Un-employability payment is bogus.

For the second part, “a sudden loss of a significant income source” That is more than true. There will be a loss of income and loss of VA dental care as well, which would further penalize those unfortunate veterans who are currently classified as “Total and Permanent” due to service & combat related disabilities because of IU.

For those veterans that the VA has classified as “Total and Permanent” would this proposed change imply that “permanent” is not really permanent?

Lastly, one of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs goals is to stem the rate of Veteran suicides.  Does VA Secretary David Shulkin not realize that in some cases he would be taking a veteran’s total source of existence. This would only increase the suicide rate, not stem it!  Old Vets are proud people and they would prefer to end their suffering rather than to beg.

[Paul Albertine]

Thanks for your post, hopefully others are reading and have contact a vet or such as VFW etc., who are firmly against any such legislation. ..the current head of the VA also stated that the goal of ending veteran homelessness will take much longer than planned...

Also state benefits, in most states tie directly to VA determinations...Vets would also loose those benefits....it took Vietnam Era veterans close to 30 years to get the federal government to admit to the existence of PTSD affecting veterans ability to get and keep jobs, to stay married, alcohol abuse, homelessness..   veterans are not asking for a handout, not playing victim, only asking for a shared burden for those who "stood the watch"....   this is the first VA head who never served...  

Next Gen, the all volunteer military still serve, still volunteer, still give all... as veterans benefits are slowly being eroded,  who will have their back...?  and yet they still volunteer...these are real patriots, our sons daughters, now grandkids...  proud of the next gen...

Sorry for the rant, I can have verbal issues after that 2nd cup of coffee

[Rick Meussner]

Good point Paul, The  goal of ending homelessness could be adversely impacted by eliminating IU.

I'll have to amend the letter a bit to include the goal of ending homelessness.

Readers, Please feel free to use the letter and it's contents if or when you may choose to correspond to those in the Washington Bureaucracy on this issue.

[Howard Jacobs ROH]

Great post!  If you are going to add more to this Rick.... when you are done post on Facebook to get it circulated even more.  Great job my Brother!