Congressional Auditors Issue Report Showing “Double Dipping” for Veterans Benefits and Social Security Disability

A new report issued by Congressional auditors shows numerous cases of “double dipping” involving veterans who receive both veterans benefits and social security disability money.

The average payment from the veterans benefits was about $59,000 annually, but around 2,300 (about 4% of the total) receive $100,000 per year. The highest payment was $208,757 in combined veterans benefits and social security disability benefits, and retirement income, according to the Government Accountability Office.

While receiving both veterans and social security benefits – including social security disability – is perfectly legal, the report suggested the need for the Office of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration to communicate better to prevent such large payments. Congressional lawmakers have expressed concern recently that the Social Security Disability fund will run out of money by 2016.

However, veterans groups strongly disagree that there is a problem with veterans receiving benefits from both Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration. Those groups explained that the veterans benefits are retirement funds offered to those who served in the military, while social security disability is compensation for those who suffered service-related injuries; and in most of these disability cases, 4 out of 5 of the veterans who receive social security disability benefits have a disability rating of at least 50%.

Prior to 2001, a statute written just after the Civil War prevented veterans from receiving both social security benefits, either retirement or disability (sometimes both), and veterans benefits at the same time. The Pentagon docked retirement pay dollar-for-dollar up to the amount of disability benefits from the VA, meaning veterans did not “double dip” or “triple dip.” In 2002, however, Congress intentionally changed that law to allow overlap for military personnel to receive both veterans benefits and social security benefits – most importantly, social security disability.

“Our nation’s status as the world’s only superpower is largely due to the sacrifices our veterans made in the last century,” Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in March 2002 when the bill was being debated.

“Rather than honoring their commitment and bravery by fulfilling our obligations, the federal government has chosen to perpetuate this longstanding injustice,” Reid said. “Quite simply, this is disgraceful and we must correct it.”

Twelve years later, Senator Tom Coburn, a long-time critic of government spending who requested the study, suggests that the laws allowing for “double dipping” end.

“We should fulfill our promises to the men and women who serve, but we need to streamline these duplicative programs,” Coburn said.

Other critics of the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration suggest that austerity measures are not the best way to maintain funding for those programs, because it punishes the needy without finding the causes of real fraud.

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If past problems with your records affect your ability to apply for Veterans Disability in the state of South Carolina, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. Veterans Disability can be complex.  Not understanding the basics and not having counsel can leave you in a bind.  We understand that you need your benefits.  We will put our years of experience to work for you to ensure that you have the representation necessary to actively pursue your claim.  Call the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm today to discuss your Veterans Disability case today.  We will be glad to discuss any questions you may have during our free, confidential consultation.  Call the experienced attorneys at the Strom Law Firm at (803)252-4800.