Reid to announce benefits plan

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 | 10:21 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., intends to announce his plans to boost retired, disabled veterans benefits at a meeting with Las Vegas veterans Thursday.

The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center Community Room.

Last year Congress approved a $22 billion phase-in concurrent receipt program that allows retired veterans with a 50 percent disability rating to receive both retirement pay and part of their disability checks. Prior to the change most veterans had to forfeit a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of disability pay they received.

Reid agreed to the program but has fought for full benefits for all disabled, retired veterans and plans to do so again this year.

"There is still more work to be done as thousands of disabled veterans still need our help, so I will offer my concurrent receipt legislation again this year," Reid said in an invitation to the forum. "My bill will focus on helping many of the disabled veterans who were not covered under last year's agreement."

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