THE VDBC Chairman wants to take away your Social Security benefits!

[Gimpy]

I tried to tell everyone this $hit was gonna happen, didn't I???

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April 24, 2006

Push to cut Benefits for Vets who get VA and Social Security Compensation

SHORT HEAD: Push to cut VA Benefits

by Larry Scott

Vets? Commission Chair, General Terry Scott wants to study if vets should get VA compensation and Social Security disability at the same time with the aim of reducing benefits. In an unconstitutional move, he asks Congress to interpret its own law so he would have the power to launch study.

The next step in dismantling veterans? benefits could be a payment reduction, known as an offset, for veterans receiving disability compensation and Social Security.

The Veterans? Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) was established by Public Law 108-136 and signed into being by President Bush in November 2003. The VDBC?s charter states they are to study ?whether a veteran?s disability or death should be compensated? and at what level if any.

Since the VDBC was first established it was obvious to veterans and veterans? service organizations (VSOs) that the Commission had one thing in mind and that was cutting veterans? benefits. The VDBC is made up of 13 political appointees. Four were appointed by Democratic Members of Congress, four more by Republican Members and the other five by President Bush. The VDBC is truly a 9-4 politically-stacked deck even though they like to refer to themselves as bipartisan. The legality of the VDBC has been questioned by some VSOs.

As the VDBC?s meetings progressed, veterans began to notice a ?secretive? quality to the workings of the Commission. Last fall the VDBC issued a list of questions they would study. They asked for input and gave veterans just a few days, over a Holiday weekend, to respond. The questions signaled the direction of the VDBC. One question was: ?Does the disability benefit provided affect a veteran?s incentive to work??

Now, ?secretive? has taken on a new meaning. In a recent editorial written by Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) we find: ?Optimism was in short supply at the Commission?s March 16-17 meeting as some of its members maneuvered to authorize collecting data about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits paid to veterans who also receive VA disability compensation. That was done with a view toward an offset [reduction] of disability insurance if the veteran receives disability compensation from the VA.?

Wilson continues: ?A move to sidestep proper procedures and hold a secret ballot on the matter was postponed, but the issue is expected to resurface at the commission?s meeting in May. If so, it could lay the groundwork for cutting or eliminating veterans? benefits as a way of saving the government money. The idea that disability compensation is some kind of income security or welfare program cheapens the service and sacrifice of disabled veterans. That kind of thinking might also open the door to cutting off VA compensation when a disabled veteran becomes eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. Veterans? benefits are separate and distinct from Social Security, so receiving payments under both programs is not dual compensation for the same disability, as some have tried to argue.?

It appears the VDBC is about evenly split on the idea of studying the SSDI issue. But the Chairman, retired Army Lt. General Terry Scott, is adamant about getting this on the agenda and wants the power to move forward. And, he wants the help of Congress to push his agenda. Scott has taken the liberty of writing to Congress asking them to interpret their own law that established the VDBC.

This presents a problem. It is unconstitutional for Congress to interpret its own laws. Congress passes laws and the courts interpret them. But, this hasn?t stopped General Scott.

In an email to the House and Senate Armed Services and Veterans? Affairs Committees, General Scott writes: ?Some Commissioners believe that this charge [the VDBC?s charter] should be interpreted broadly to mean all related benefits received by disabled veterans under the laws of the United States to include?SSDI payments?the Chairman would appreciate clarification of the intent of Congress in writing or in person during the next Commission public meeting May 19, 2006?


General Scott?s unconstitutional request has raised major concerns among the VSOs. Christopher J. Clay, General Counsel for the DAV, has written to the four Chairmen involved. In part, Clay?s letter states: ??[General Scott?s] request, if honored?would violate one of the fundamental principles which have guided the government of the United States for more than 200 years. That principle is the separation of powers?Congress exercises the sole power to enact laws while the Judicial and Executive Branches have the power to say what those laws mean?neither a committee of either the House or Senate nor the full Congress may interpret a statute after it is enacted, without passing a new law?The DAV is unaware of any precedent for the congressional interpretations requested by the Commission Chairman. If the Committee responds to the Chairman?s inquiry, it will set a precedent that the courts are no longer the sole arbiters of disputes over our laws.?

Now, veterans play the waiting game. Will any of the four Congressional Committees respond to General Scott?s request and interpret their own law? Will General Scott get enough votes from VDBC members to push ahead with his idea to study a Social Security offset (reduction) for veterans? disability compensation? We will know by May 19.

But, what we don?t have to wait for is the fact that General Terry Scott and other members of the VDBC want to cut veterans? benefits and will try to hold secret votes and try to get Congress to, unconstitutionally, interpret its own laws.

General Scott must be reminded that veterans? disability compensation is not welfare. It is not to be confused with welfare. It is not to be confused with any other sort of compensation. Veterans receive disability compensation because they earned it. Many earned it on the field of battle. They don?t deserve to lose it in a Commission hearing.

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Looks like everything I have been warning folks about this commissions 'secret' intentions is bearing out to be true!


Everyone had better get off their collective ass and start writing your Senators, Congressman, newspapers, local and national news media and anyone else they can to STOP THIS SHIT before it's too late!

[Boats]

Gimpy - they will take what they can get away with. Until there is a major revolt and no one backs them up they will continue to rape us every chance they can get.

[Packo]

I will be involved in this, I can tell you. I'll be PHONING all my representitives about this outrage. I will also be showing my feelings at the ballot box. I'VE HAD ENOUGH!

Pack

[Gimpy]

et al.................This REALLY IS some serious shit my friends!

I'm in the process of contacting as many veterans here in Florida as I can to help expose the TRUE agenda of former General Terry Scott and a few of his co-horts on this Commission so we can hopefully not only show the military veterans community how insidious and unscrupulous these bastards are, but inform the entire nation as well!

We GOTTA STOP these jerks!

[MORTARDUDE]

Let me get this straight...it is "not practical" to deport umpty million illegal and law evading aliens, but it is OK to take away benefits from law abiding citizens who put their lives on the line to defend this country......George Orwell would love this.

Larry

I will contact my Rep Dan Londergren. Sick and tired of idiots who want to screw vets.

[Gimpy]

Take a look at what the regulations state.


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PURPOSE

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is wage replacement income for those who pay FICA taxes when they have a disability meeting Social Security disability rules. SSDI provides a variety of benefits to family members when a primary wage earner in the family becomes disabled or dies. SSDI is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers, and self-employed persons. SSDI benefits are payable to disabled workers, widows, widowers, and children or adults disabled since childhood who are otherwise eligible.


HISTORY

In 1935, the federal government established a retirement benefits program for older workers in commerce and industry. Most employees are required by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) to pay into the federal retirement fund through payroll deductions. FICA taxes are withheld from an individual?s salary to fund Social Security and Medicare programs. Self-employed individuals contribute to FICA through their federal tax returns.

In 1956, protection was established to cover "involuntary retirement" due to disability. Depending upon how long a person paid FICA taxes, an individual could access disability insurance.



How Workers' Compensation And Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Social Security Benefit

Disability payments from private sources, such as private pension or insurance benefits, do not affect your Social Security disability benefits.

However, workers? compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce your Social Security benefits. Workers? compensation benefits are paid to a worker because of a job-related injury or illness. They may be paid by federal or state workers? compensation agencies, employers or by insurance companies on behalf of employers.

Other public disability payments that may affect your Social Security benefit are those paid by a federal, state or local government and are for disabling medical conditions that are not job-related. Examples are civil service disability benefits, military disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits and state or local government retirement benefits that are based on disability.

If you receive workers? compensation or other public disability benefits and Social Security disability benefits, the total amount of these benefits cannot exceed 80 percent of your average current earnings before you became disabled.

Some public benefits do not affect your Social Security disability benefits:

If you receive Social Security disability benefits and one of the following types of public benefits, your Social Security benefit will not be reduced:


Veterans Administration benefits;

State and local government benefits, if Social Security taxes were deducted from your earnings; or

Supplemental Security Income (SSI).


www.ssa.gov/pubs/10018.html


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But now let us examine the "charter" of this Commision in a little better 'detail'.

Looks like they've 'slipped' another one in on us while we were sleeping behind the wheel of 'belief in the system', right?

Bunch of damn slime balls!


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www.vetscommission.org/documents/pl_108-136.pdf


The VDBC can't look at SS laws or programs for improvement or change because those laws are not for 'compensating' veterans.

All that said, there is the wording in 'blue' below that may of opened the door.

We will know soon enough if Congress allows these assholes on the Commision any further authorization to 'study' this issue!


The BIG enchilada is outlined below in blue:

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National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2004
TITLE XV--VETERANS' DISABILITY BENEFITS COMMISSION
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(c) Contents of Study .--The study to be carried out by the commission under this section shall be a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the benefits provided under the laws of the United States to compensate veterans and their survivors for disability or death attributable to military service, together with any related issues that the commission determines are relevant to the purposes of the study. The study shall include an evaluation and assessment of the following:

(1) The laws and regulations which determine eligibility for
disability and death benefits, and other assistance for veterans and their survivors.

(2) The rates of such compensation, including the
appropriateness of a schedule for rating disabilities based on
average impairment of earning capacity.

(3) Comparable disability benefits provided to individuals
by the Federal Government, State governments, and the private sector.


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So there you have it my fellow vets.............It appears that several members of this Commission and the ones who established it (guess who?) have once again used 'language' that could open up the opportunity to pursue an 'agenda' detrimental and totally destructive to our "earned" benefits as we know them!

I don't know about you, but I EARNED my VA compensation with blood, pain & suffering in the service of my country...........AND, I "earned" my SS Disability by PAYING INTO the system for more than THIRTY (30) YEARS!..........How about YOU?

[Packo]

I too...have paid. I'm with ya' Suthern Brother....see you soon!

Pack


Ps And so have the vast majority of our brothers from all wars! A fuc- - - g outrage!

[Gimpy]

my Suthern brother!

I'm bringing your 'Bucs" hat to the mountain like I promised!

I'll be headin out for Hotlanta early in the A.M........

Gotta stop by my sons' house for a birthday party for my 8 year old grandaughter on Friday and I'll be headin up to the mountain Saturday bright & early!

See ya then!

Have a safe trip.

Hell I payed into Social Secuirty for over 27 years. It is due me. I earned it, and since I'm 100% disabled screw Gen Scott.