Reid amendment would speed up disability payments for veterans

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, June 16, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Retired veterans with a 100 percent disability rating may not have to wait until 2014 to get their retirement and disability payments, if the Senate approves an amendment by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.,

Last year, President Bush approved a $22 billion phased-in program to allow some disabled and retired veterans to receive both retirement and disability. Under the previous law, disabled veterans could only receive one type of payment.

Retired veterans with a disability rating between 50 and 100 percent will receive portion of their retirement pay and disability checks over the next 10 years. Most currently must forfeit a dollar of retirement pay for every dollar of disability pay they receive.

The program started Jan. 1 and those who qualify would see more money each month through 2014.

But the Senate could vote on Reid's amendment today that would eliminate the 10-year phase in for the most disabled veterans, giving them the full amounts of both benefits starting next year. About 26,000 veterans would be affected, according to Reid's office. The idea is simple because many of the veterans that would receive this benefit may not live long enough to get it under the current plan.

Reid's office has heard from a constituent who retired from the Air Force in 1991 and is 100 percent disabled. Under the phase-in plan, she still gives up $1,571 a month of her retirement pay and will give up about $80,000 over the next 10 years through the phase in program.

A Reid aide said there are also plans to offer a stand alone bill that would get veterans with a 40 percent disability rating and below both payments as well.