Be afraid.......be VERY afraid!

[Gimpy]

Of the Bush Administration and their "plans" for your "future" if you're a "disabled veteran"!

Don't believe me?

If anybody doubts the tenacity of this Administrations goal to undermine the very people it is using to gain their agenda to make the rich richer and the poor poorer just read below.

How can this amount of money being taken from the Veterans themselves that have fought for the so called Democracy of other Countries as well as their own, mean that much to the Bush Administration. The proposed savings for 2006 if this is enacted would be 1.5 Billion.


Trying to put this into perspective for the hundreds of thousands Vets that have gone to service for this country and obviously applied for and received benefits, no I should say, entitlements for disabilities received during that service, I can?t begin to fathom this administrations arrogance!

I can?t even imagine that this Administration can stand there and promote Patriotism so loudly and then after they are done with you, stick it to you when you need it most. This is clearly a back door approach to undermine the very people that this Country is about.


I bring your attention to the 2nd to the last sentence in this proposal that really scares the hell out of me. ?However, opponents view this option as subjecting veterans' disability benefits to a form of means-testing (they are currently considered an entitlement) ? Its another example of how underhanded this Government is becoming. Perhaps these (currently) entitlements may become gifts or alms to the poor.

I mean after all, I did nothing to earn my disability benefits, did you?


Be afraid my friends.....be VERY, VERY AFRAID of this administration and this republican led Congress and their "targets" for cutting "spending" in the Federal budget!

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From The Congressional Budget Office


This volume--one of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO's) regular reports to the House and Senate Committees on the Budget--presents options for altering federal spending and revenues. The volume aims to help policymakers in their annual tasks of making budgetary choices, setting priorities, and adapting to changes in circumstances.

The options discussed in this report stem from various sources. They are derived from legislative proposals, the President's budget, Congressional and CBO staff, other government entities, and private groups.


Veterans Benefits and Services

700-01 Narrow the Eligibility for Veterans' Disability Compensation to Include Only Veterans with High-Rated Disabilities


700-02 Narrow the Eligibility for Veterans' Disability Compensation to Veterans Whose Disabilities Are Related to Their Military Duties


700-03 Increase Beneficiaries' Cost Sharing for Care at Nursing Facilities Operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs


700-04 Reduce Veterans' Disability Compensation to Account for Social Security Disability Insurance Payments


04--Mandatory

Reduce Veterans' Disability Compensation to Account for Social Security Disability Insurance Payments

http://www.cbo.gov/bo2005/bo2005_sh...fm?index=700-04

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Millions of dollars) 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2006-2010 2006-2015
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in Outlays -1,451 -1,505 -1,556 -1,610 -1,669 -7,792 -17,114

Approximately 2.6 million veterans--about 1.7 million of whom are under age 65--receive compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disabilities associated with their military service. The amount of compensation is based on a rating of an impairment's average effect on a person's earning ability. Additional allowances are paid to veterans whose disabilities are rated 30 percent or higher and who have dependent spouses, children, or parents.

Veterans with disabilities may also qualify for cash payments from other sources, including workers' compensation; means-tested programs such as Supplemental Security Income; private disability insurance; and, for veterans under 65, Social Security's Disability Insurance (DI) program. An estimated 120,000 veterans who receive disability compensation from VA also receive DI payments from the Social Security Administration.


When Social Security beneficiaries are eligible for disability benefits from multiple sources, ceilings usually limit their combined disability benefits from public sources to 80 percent of their average earnings before they were disabled. Those DI payments--after any reduction, if applicable--are adjusted periodically for changes in the cost of living and the average wage level nationwide. Veterans' compensation payments for disabilities, however, are not included and do not apply toward the limit, nor do means-tested benefits and certain benefits based on public employment .


This option would limit veterans' disability compensation for individuals receiving both that compensation and DI payments. Under the option, disability compensation would be reduced by the amount of the DI benefit. Applying that change to both current and future recipients of veterans' compensation would affect an estimated 126,000 recipients in 2006, saving almost $1.5 billion that year and an estimated $7.8 billion over the 2006-2010 period. Applying that change only to veterans who were newly awarded compensation payments or DI payments would affect an estimated 2,500 recipients in 2006, saving $30 million in outlays that year and an estimated $850 million over the 2006-2010 period.


This option would eliminate duplicate payment of public compensation for a single disability. However, opponents view this option as subjecting veterans' disability benefits to a form of means-testing (they are currently considered an entitlement).

Moreover, to the extent that this option applied to current recipients of DI benefits, some disabled veterans would see their income drop.
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NOW.....................do you SEE what they're going to try next???

If this passes, and you are receiving Social Security disability and your VA disability compensation...............you will LOSE the amount paid to you from Social Security by having it "deducted" from your VA disability compensation!

And you thought Bush and the Republicans were "supporters" of sick & disabled veterans, huh??

Don't you think it's about time you WOKE UP and see the TRUTH for a change???


__________________

[Gimpy]

to write you Senators and Representatives about!

More "news" from the Congressional Budget Office and their "recommendations" for the Presidents new VA Budget Proposals!


This volume--one of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO's) regular reports to the House and Senate Committees on the Budget--presents options for altering federal spending and revenues. The volume aims to help policymakers in their annual tasks of making budgetary choices, setting priorities, and adapting to changes in circumstances.


The options discussed in this report stem from various sources. They are derived from legislative proposals, the President's budget, Congressional and CBO staff, other government entities, and private groups.


Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Veterans Benefits and Services

700-01--Mandatory

Narrow the Eligibility for Veterans' Disability Compensation to Include Only Veterans with High-Rated Disabilities


(Millions of dollars) 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2006-2010 2006-2015
Change in Spending Budget authority -76 - 138 - 183 - 256 -320 - 973 - 3,608
Outlays ------------------------------ 73 - 133 - 177 - 250 -315 - 948 - 3,559


Approximately 2.6 million veterans who have service-connected disabilities receive disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The amount of compensation is based on a rating of an individual's impairment that is intended to reflect the resulting reduction, on average, in earnings capacity.

Veterans' disability ratings range from zero to 100 percent (the most severe). Veterans who are unable to maintain gainful employment and who have ratings of at least 60 percent are eligible to be paid at the 100 percent disability rate. Veterans who have disabilities rated 30 percent or higher and who have dependent spouses, children, or parents are paid special allowances because of their dependents.


The Congressional Budget Office expects at least 45,000 more veterans with disability ratings below 30 percent to begin receiving compensation of $70 to $200 per month each year over the 2006-2015 period. This option would, for all future cases, narrow the eligibility for compensation to include only veterans with disability ratings of 30 percent or higher. That change would reduce federal outlays by $948 million over the 2006-2010 period.


By not awarding new compensation to veterans with disability ratings below 30 percent, VA could concentrate spending on the most impaired veterans. Furthermore, the need for compensating the least impaired veterans may be lessening. Performance in civilian jobs depends less now on physical labor than it did when the disability ratings were originally determined in 1924, and improved reconstructive techniques are now available.

Thus, physical impairments rated below 30 percent may not substantively reduce veterans' earnings. Examples of low-rated impairments include conditions such as mild arthritis, moderately flat feet, or amputation of part of a finger--conditions that would not preclude working in many occupations today.


However, veterans' compensation could be viewed as career or lifetime indemnity payments that the federal government owes to people who were disabled to any degree while serving in the armed forces.

Moreover, some disabled veterans might find it difficult to increase their working hours or otherwise make up for the loss of expected compensation payments.

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Get ready my friends................it's coming, just like I've been saying all along !