VA Disability Benefits Are Not To Be Taken As Retirement Benefits

In order to meet the needs of the veterans and their families who have been rendered disabled or lost their lives serving the United States, the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission was incorporated with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2004. The Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission is an independent body which conducts its own independent surveys of various laws of the nation regarding compensation and assistance for the veterans and the disabled survivors and their deaths which occur because of their military service.

The benefits provided to the veterans are known as VA (Veteran Administration) disability benefits. There benefits are meant specifically for the veterans who have served the country with true spirit and never hesitated to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the nation. Now, when they had displayed their loyalty and courage and had unfortunately become disabled or died, it should be the duty of the state to take due care of them and their family. However, these benefits are not the same with what they receive after retirement. Nearly 70 million people in the United States are eligible for VA disability benefits as they represent veterans, family members or survivors of veterans.

The VA disability benefits are based on a number of factors. These benefits are not the same for everybody and are determined on the merit of the case. The plan also takes care of the requirements of the needy and considers supplementary income source if there are any. The amount of compensation to be paid for temporary disability depends on the type of injury and the time required for recovery from the injury. There are a few criteria which are used when the amount of money provided under the VA disability temporary benefits is calculated.

In case the injury received by someone is severe and the disability is long term or permanent, then the benefits are usually accustomed to various heads. In such cases, the VA disability benefits are like pensions where the individual or his beneficiaries are subjected to monthly benefits. These benefits also include medication expenses as well as other family expenses.

The VA disability benefits are different from the severance pay that a veteran receives when working in the military. Severance pay is in fact a one-time lump sum payment that is provided to the veteran as compensation for disability acquired when in action. If a veteran gets severance pay for any type of disability, the veteran has to waive off further compensation related to that specific disability. However the veteran remains eligible for disability benefits that may arise later because of disabilities acquired on account of illness or old age. So, one should not confuse VA disability benefits with severance pay.

In a similar way, many people mistake VA disability benefits as retirement benefits even though they are completely different. When a person is retired and is enjoying the retirement benefits from the state, that person cannot apply for the VA disability benefits. These benefits are meant only for those veterans who become disabled while on duty. So, the VA disability benefits should never be confused with retirement benefits.





  • Matt Thompson
  • 15/06/2009, 3:59 PM
  • 0 Comments