Why Withhold Va Disability Pay Until Severance Recouped?
I was involuntarily separated from the Navy in February 2007 for physical fitness failures after almost 15 years of service. I filed a compensation claim for service-connected disability with the Department of Veterans Affairs. That’s when I learned that, because I received severance pay, VA disability compensation would be withheld until, in effect, my severance pay was recouped. So basically, VA is withholding $16,300 in disability compensation from me and my family. I have written to members of Congress and to Navy leaders about this. No one seems to care. They say, “Well, that’s just [the ban on] concurrent receipt” of severance pay and VA disability compensation Service members aren’t provided this information before leaving service. The Navy would like them to think that receiving severance pay is a good deal. It really isn’t. Certainly it isn’t a good deal when the money runs out and no employer wants to hire you. I recommend that Congress lift this ban on concurrent receipt of
