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I just spoke to my U.S. Congresswoman's office, and if any of you have read the VA Secretary is wanting to cut IU benefits from veterans to add to the Choice program. This is true that he is wanting to do this to balance his budget. I do know in my case being at 90% it would cut my pay per month from $3068. a month down to $1886. per month. In my case I do not have any other disabilities to make up the difference to get up to 100% at this time they tell me my other disabilities weren't caused in, or by Vietnam. I know I am crazy, but they say that doesn't count. Everyone needs to get ahold of their U.S., and state congressmen, or women to voice their opinion it is very important. If you call your local congressman, or woman they can give you all their Washington phone numbers to call each one of them to voice your opinion. This is very important to a lot of us I am sure so I ask each, and everyone to read this, and make the phone calls. I know I don't post much, but this is very important to a lot of our well beings. I know I can't afford a $1,200 a month cut in pay. Can you?
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I've read several write ups on the IU issue and it will suck for all veterans 62 and older because that is where they are starting. I've read that if you are not on Social Security the cut will not affect your IU... if this is correct then the cut will not affect my IU. I'm not eligible for Social Security... I get medicare A and B from my ex which was part of the divorce and that is only a back up insurance. If I am wrong about this info please post.. thanks.
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The $$$ being saved by eliminating IU is not a diversion from VA $$ the private health care access ...it is a demand that every agency cut budgets...the VA head, who didn't serve, has offered the IU funds ... the logic is somewhat confusing, and totally circular...anyone who worked paid into SS...the question becomes were they able to function to their capabilities? If someone didn't work, or is receiving a pension...will theirs be cut? How about someone who worked and maxed out SS? Dramatic cuts are going to hit every citizen...weather it be IU, healthcare, SSID, meals on wheels...every department except DOD...they are getting an increase larger than the total Russian military budget...the rest of the $$$ are going for tax cuts...as in "give the $$$ to the job creators...trickle down...etc" The veteran population is shrinking rapidly, the WW2 vets are almost all gone, Vietnam vets are starting to crest.... the government, don't care which party denied PTSD, or Agent orange existed for almost 20 years....now the logic to end IU coverage...or anything associated with Vietnam veterans is very ironic...
Current military members with any issues will end up on the medicaid programs...which are being cut, as much as we complain about government employees..there has been a concentrated effort over the last year's to get them jobs...and the federal government was hiring them...now there is a hiring freeze...programs to get veterans of the homeless list have been very successful. ..but now we're told "it's going to take quite a bit longer"...
Weather you or I can survive cuts is important, but weather our brothers in the next Gen will live 30 years fighting their battles on their own is something we should nvr repeat....
This isn't meant to be a political rant, it is a fact that both parties want cuts, easy targets will suffer....real estate lobby won't give up tax deductions for mortgage interest no matter how many homes someone has, political super pack will never give up their deductions for being a "charitabele" organization. ...and the fellows in defense all want shiny new toys ...and the voters?
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VA’S IU program has long been the subject of conversation in Congress - at least in the 2 Veterans Affairs Committees, mostly at the staff level and before anyone complains about non-vet staffers, many of the staffers have been vets over the years.
The conversation generally begins with the acknowledgement that IU is NOT a statutory program – it is NOT a program that has been passed into law. Rather, it is a program that exists entirely in VA regulations and as such, could be terminated by VA leadership at any time without action by Congress.
I believe the intent of the IU program is valid – up to a point. It is certainly plausible for a working age vet to be service-connected disabled at less than 100% and not be able to work and that vet should be financially assisted by VA.
Unfortunately, VA's regulations forbid VA from considering age as a factor in determining whether a vet qualifies for IU. As a result, VA often awards IU to vets well beyond working age. I know of several instances of vets who have retired in their 80s being given IU. One can argue that the disabilities prevented those vets from being employed at more lucrative jobs during their working careers but to my knowledge, there is no consideration of pay in making the determination. Perhaps one of our service officers can address that. I also know of cases of vets working full time in physically demanding jobs and vets with multiple advanced, highly employable degrees seeking IU simply because they want to do something different. I suspect that if we know of non-vets drawing full SSA disability and violating the rules we would object strenuously (or should). Just the same, I suspect non-vets would rightly object to vets abusing the IU program.
The other issue is that there is no requirement for the vet to be evaluated for training under VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VRE) program before being granted IU. For those not familiar with VRE, it is considered VA’s premier program for disabled vets – or at least that is what the VSOs have testified many times over my 15 years as a House Veterans Affairs staffer. It seems to me that before awarding IU – which places income limits on the recipient – a disabled vet should be required to be evaluated for VRE. VRE has several rehab “tracks” ranging from basic employment services to paying for up to 36 months of college/trade school. Financially, it is a better deal than the new GI Bill. VRE pays all costs including needed supplies and equipment and includes the same monthly living stipend as the new GI Bill.
Paul and others have raised the issue of using IU to address budgetary issues and those are reasonable policy discussions. But the fact is, veterans – whether we served for a single hitch or a career - should not be exempt from the normal obligations of citizenship and that includes the nation’s financial problems. We still have to do things like vote, pay taxes, obey speed limits (well, sort of), pay our bills, educate the next generation, and go to work every day until we retire and let the kids take their turn running things. Our service should mean we – better than non-veterans – understand our duty to, as the Legion says, God and Country.
Whether terminating or limiting IU benefits is the right policy choice is worthy of discussion but the simple fact is that in my 15 years on the Hill, VA’s budget has been treated better than just about any federal agency. When I began working veterans’ issues as the national legislative director at AMVETS in the early 90s, I believe VA’s budget was around $25 Billion. Today, the 2018 budget is around $186.5 Billion split between $82 Billion for healthcare (over $4 Billion more than 2017) and $104.3 Billion for entitlements (disability, GI Bill, etc).
Like any human endeavor, the political process is far from perfect. But in the end, it is what we make of it. Bu all means, contact your Members of the House and Senate to express your opinion on this or any other issue confronting veterans.
My apologies to all for sounding preachy.
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Obligation to be good citizens....as we were when we enlisted, and served...not one of US would disagree that all citizens should carry their fair share of the economic burden...however since the mid 70's a majority of the citizens are carrying more and more of an economic burden as the concentration of wealth, which has bought power pay less and less..."the fIsh rots from the head down"... years of trickle down, give the $$to the wealth creators etc has been handed to the citizens as corporations, "we are citizens to my friend"...and biz came up with games like "differed compensation", "off shoring"...downsizing... we have moved from a democracy to an oligarchy, as those with the $$$ to buy power havetaken advantage of "gerrymandering", capricious "voter ID" laws...
Your second point concerns allowing Veterans to use "local" healthcare resources sounds good...but it rapidly turned into, letting Veterans get in line with medicaid recipients...as doctor / hospital fees paid by VA are same as Medical reimbursements...and per the current budget proposal are being dramatically cut... sor where does that leave a verteran...? With the same...as the budget wackers can say, population at VA facilities are dropping and start closing VA facilities..
Sorry Mike, on this one I believe you have lived to long in the beltway...and have really lost touch with middle citizens struggling, with no real sunshine on the horizon...no draining of the swamp, no high paying coal or mfg jobs coming...
The fish rots from the head
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Paul - I believe VA pays MEDICARE rates, not the lower MEDICAID rates.
Regarding rotting from the head, and the concentration of wealth at the top, I tend to agree with you and to me the concentration is possibly the biggest threat to our long term constitutional survival, certainly more than the influx of aliens who generally take jobs most Americans don't want. Regarding offshoring, a business has 3 options to compete price-wise: move to low cost production overseas, freezing/reducing wages here, or getting import tariffs on foreign-produced goods which only results in other countries putting tariffs on our goods.
Unfortunately, globalization is a fact. We are no longer the sole surviving manufacturing giant that we were coming out of WWII and automation only adds to the challenge of finding good paying jobs outside of high tech industries and government bureaucracies (i.e. VA has gone from about 2005,000 employees in 2007 to 350,000 today).
Fortunately, today's vet coming out of the Services has programs that are much improved that lead to good paying jobs compared to what the Vietnam generation had. And that begins with a society that values the all -volunteer military service (if for no other reason than keeping their kids out of the military).
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There was an article in the stars and stripes yesterday stating that I U cuts are off the table. It states that this is due to pressure from all of the veterans service org. It also states theV A also recieved a letter protestingthe cuts that was signed by over 50 members of congress. I guess calling your congressional rep has an impact.
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There was an article in the stars and stripes yesterday stating that I U cuts are off the table. It states that this is due to pressure from all of the veterans service org. It also states theV A also recieved a letter protestingthe cuts that was signed by over 50 members of congress. I guess calling your congressional rep has an impact.
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Thanks for the post, and you are correct...in most cases, politicians respond.... bend, waiver, dbl talk...etc, so please keep your eyes and ears open...
Enjoy your day
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Can any one tell me what IU benefits mean? Is this the money the VA pays you every month if you have disability?
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Mike thanks for posting the link...thanks to service orgs, just another battle...the war goes on
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Locked
