VA Recoupment of Disable Veterans SSB/VSI Payments

I agree with the statements made here. I was offered this SSB to break my contract and go into the ready reserves. Not only did DFAS recoup the SSB, they also took back the taxes I had to pay when I got it. Now to make the situation worse, the VA is also recouping the SSB, even though DFAS has already taken all of it back. This pay was to separate from active service, and was not for injuries or a disability. This is the most unfair recoupment ever.

SEND THIS LETTER TO ALL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE -- AND VA SECRETARY, COLLINS AND SECWAR HEGSETH Honor American Veterans by Restoring our Benefits David S. Howey, Col, US Army (Retired) I am calling on President Trump and Congressional leaders of both parties to honor our nation’s veterans this Veteran’s Day by returning and restoring ALL veterans benefits and entitlements which have been taken from us. For years, our nation’s veterans have been subjected to policies and laws which effectively “nickel-and-dime” away our benefits through a slow-drip of bureaucratic double-talk and “fine print” which in some cases force veterans to pay back more than they originally received. Congress authorizes certain benefits by law and then the bureaucracy swoops in and devises ways to water down the entitlement and change what the entitlement was originally meant for. Separation bonuses are meant to ease the transition from a stable military career to a civilian one. Disability payments are meant to compensate veterans for physical and emotional traumas of military service. Retirements are meant to honor veterans who have faithfully served for decades. They are all meant for different purposes, but government bureaucrats decide which of those benefits veterans can receive. If we qualify for bonuses, disability, or retirements give us all of what we earned. If we received a bonus decades ago, as soon as we receive another entitlement, the bureaucracy comes for their share. The veteran never sees the money. It’s taken off the top by the bureaucrats at the IRS, the VA, and the Pentagon. Where is the logic and fairness in these policies? Why would we want to take ANY pay or benefit away from those who have defended our country? Shouldn’t Congress want to protect the entitlements that Congress themselves authorized? It’s as if Congress wants the political “feel-good” of voting for benefits but they turn a blind eye when the bureaucracy claws that same m

I knew I could not renter the military. Also if I retired as a federal employee there would be a payback. However until I received an increase in disability there were no repayments taken. Why today?

In 1993 I received the SSB and was "required" to enlist in the IRR for a minimum of 3 years and thus was still subject to recall. That is what I was paid the bonus for. The Navy basically got out of paying me 3 more years of active duty BAQ ... BAS ... base pay ... providing medical coverage, etc ... for a smaller one time lump payment. The recoupment from disability should be illegal as there was an enlistment component to receive the payment.

Separation pay was for convenience of the military. Getting va disability comp is supposed to be to ease my transition. Both benefits are for entirely different reasons. Considering them from the same bucket of money means the source of where it comes from needs to change instead of stealing what was already earned.

Please change this law. I separated from the Army in 1992 and it was a mad house rushing us out. We wasn’t told about paying it back if we later qualified for VA compensation, only if we rejoined the military and earned a retirement. We wasn’t told about rushed out of the Army in a hurry with hardly and other information I feel like the first batch of us that took the ssb in 1992 at Fort Know was the ginny pigs and it was messed up , at least for us at that time. I personally don’t think anyone at that time knew the affects of taking the ssb including the out processing personnel while being rushed out that quick. Could someone please Address this and stop the hardship that we are enduring. This is two totally different things VA compensation and DOD separation pay. Thanks god bless everyone in this horrible situation.

I received SSBP in 1992. I joined the reserves and later retired in 2006. In 2023 I became eligible for military reserve retirement and was informed I will be deducted 40% of my retired military pension to pay back the money I received in 1992.

I was never told that if I received disability from VA my SSB would be recouped. $30000 SSB recouped from 10% disability. My career field was being downsized and I knew if I didn't take this option there was still the risk of being forced to seperate from USAF with nothing.

We are being taking for a ride l hope someone hear our cry for help

Just got my letter after hitting 50%, VA recoup of separtion pay.. err

I too am in the same situation. I’m now 61 years old and this will cause a significant hardship. VA should not recomp our disability that we deserve. We did not RETIRE. Therefore we done the military a favor, but at the same time unfortunately received injuries while serving.

I am as proud as I can be to add my name to this petition. These policies are a blight on our commitment to our veterans. First of all -- Congress apportioned money for the drawdowns (SSB/VSI) back in the 1990s. That money was supposed to go to the serviceperson who chose to leave service voluntarily. That money was NOT supposed to end up at the VA OR back in the Defense Budget and that is where it is. Then when the VA was taking my money to repay something to them that they never had, the VA was going back to Congress each year they were not paying me and then asking for money to pay VADC and counting me (and many of you) in their statistics to ask Congress for MORE money that they did not have to give us; so where did that money go -- presumably to pay bonuses for their executives. The government turned taxable income (SSB/VSI) into non-taxable VADC (just by saying make it so)but did we get the taxes back we had withheld when we got SSB/VSI? NO! Then for those of us who retired in the Reserve Component, Dod decided to get some of the money as well and so they just decided that the law says that the GROSS amount must be recouped. THE LAW DOES NOT SAY THAT. THE LAW DOES NOT SAY GROSS AMOUNT! THE LAW IS AMBIGUOUS! But the DFAS/VA interpretation is to screw the Soldier, honor the bureaucrat, lie to the taxpayer, and deceive Congress. I, like many of you, ended up repaying my SSB at the rate of 128%; 28% to the IRS, 72% to the VA, and 28% more to DoD. No other corner of American society would be treated this way -- only those of us who are now old and retired and our government knows they can treat us like crap now, because we are not in a unit anymore and no one will stick up for us, least of all, our elected representatives. Call your congressional reps and let them know how you feel and how you have been screwed over...because you HAVE been screwed over. 1. At a minimum, the recouping at reserve retirement should be limited to the after-ta

In Sept 1992 I was offered early out for reduction in forces from the USAF and I took SSB. My SSB document fails to state recoupment of SSB for VA benefits situation. I ONLY details if I were recalled to active duty OR received any reserve retirement. I am NOT a retiree. In April 2023 I was rated 50% disability. In March 2024 my VA acct reflects an attempt to now recoup the $34k I received in SSB. This is unfair and should NOT be related to my VA disability. OMG, think of all the money given to foreign countries as aid but our Congress wants to stick it to their own citizens and veterans.

I am in the same boat. Can't understand what the SSB I received has to do with my VA disability comp?

I was also taken for a FOOL like the rest of you from all the Branches of the Military. This has been another SCAM from our Govt. What does one thing like SSB / VSI have to do with the VA? That was a different program for Reduction in Forces. But our govt can send MILLIONS of our tax $$$$$ overseas, including claiming to wipe out the STUDENT Debt for people who NEVER Served this country. This is the gratitude we received for our Sacrifice, Dedication and INJURIES. Never thought this would be a LOAN and that our Govt and Politicians would turn into " INDIAN GIVERS" , Once again SWINDLED by my Own COUNTRY! and what about the TAXES already paid on this $$$$. Do we get that back??? Your DISABLED VETS WANT TO KNOW!

they are doing this to me soon because over the past 30 years my disability has increased

This is an injustice that I just today was informed I have to pay back my SSB

The biggest injustice on all of this is paying back taxes the government already took. So essentially we are paying A penalty and interest on money we never received.

I also fall into the same situation as this fellow veteran and I am now being "penaltized" for the SSB in entive because now I qualify for disability.

NOT FAIR AT ALL!!!!