Both MNGEA and EANGUS, along with our coalition partners, have fought hard on legislation addressing concurrent receipt of retirement pay and service-connected disabled pay. Currently, military retirees with a service-connected disability of at least 50 percent (as rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)) are able to concurrently receive all of their military retirement pay and all of their VA disability compensation without offset. Unfortunately, those with disabilities rated below 50 percent still lose one retirement dollar for each compensation dollar received from the VA.
With the support of our association, Senator Dean Heller, (R-NV), has reintroduced S. 66, the “Retired Pay Restoration Act,” which would provide full concurrent receipt for all military retirees having a service connected disability rating regardless of their VA disability rating level. There are currently two co-sponsors within the Senate.
Earlier last week, Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., D-GA., introduced H.R. 333, the “Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act,” to address this situation in the House side.
It is time to correct this unfair situation. If you feel strongly about this topic, please consider contacting your Senators and ask them to support S. 66.