May 18, 2008

Fairness for Disabled Veterans

Under current law, most military retirees with disabilities incurred during service have their retirement pay reduced by the amount of their disability compensation.  As a result, most retired veterans with disabilities fail to receive disability pay. 

Senator Wyden has voted repeatedly to change the law and allow all veterans to receive both their military retired pay and veterans’ disability payments.  This is known as concurrent receipt. 

Senator Wyden supported full concurrent receipt as part of the fiscal year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, however, the House of Representatives refused to agree to full concurrent receipt and a compromise was reached.  Unfortunately, this compromise only authorized concurrent receipt for retired service members with at least a 50 percent disability - regardless of the cause of disability - phased in over the next ten years. 

Senator Wyden supported an amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Defense Authorization bill which allowed for immediate concurrent receipt for 100 percent disabled veterans.  Although this is a step in the right direction, Senator Wyden continues to work for full concurrent receipt for all veterans.

Moreover, despite authorization of these limited concurrent receipt benefits, there have been problems in implementation.  Tens of thousands of fully disabled veterans have been excluded from receiving concurrent receipt by the Bush Administration because their disability rating is due to wounds or ailments that make them “unemployable.”  Because Senator Wyden believes that these veterans should be treated equally and receive the full concurrent receipt Congress authorized, he sent a letter to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness requesting they honor the wishes of Congress. 

If you feel that you or a family member are entitled to receive concurrent receipt benefits, please visit:  http://www.dod.gov/prhome/mppcrsc.html to learn more and apply.

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