PSP Questions   Question #109       I recently read the article where VA is going to stop Unemployability to those veterans who are drawing Social Security. This is ridiculous. By the time a veteran has a condition that is worsening like heart disease and he has depleted his life savings is the time he needs the 100% disability to live his life out. Each case needs to be looked at seriously and also looked at the impact on the veteran and his family.  Is this true?   A1:  Congress has been debating this in subcommittee for a couple of years.  (RJ)  7/30/2016 A2:  You may be confusing benefits.  If a service-connected vet, with say 40% rating, is unemployable due to that disability, then VA may provide 100% unemployable benefits.  Once the veteran finds a job or (as proposed) becomes eligible for Social Security, the vet would return to the original disability rating (less than 100%) and collect both disability and Social Security.  (SH)  7/30/2016 A3:  I have heard that VA may stop unemployability in it's entirety but those people who are getting unemployability or both unemployability and social security will be grandfathered.  In other words, if you already have either and/or both UI and SS, it wont effect you.  (RC)  7/30/2016    A4:  The VA cannot stop IU only Congress can change the rules. The VA can take away IU if they can prove you are employable or working in a full time job. Second, the VA does not control SSDI or full retirement benefits. If you worked you paid FICA taxes to pay into Social Security. IU and SSDI are two completely different program each with different requirements.   Now there has been talk of stopping IU at age 65. This is being bantered around lately. If this does become law, at the time of the law, it would only affect future IU recipients. Those over age 55, would continue with the IU benefit.  (PW)  7/30/2016     A5:  Write or visit your state representative , and the office of DAV.  (DS)  7/30/2016     A6:  Personally I don't think it's going to happen, there's too much pressure on Congress not to do such a thing.  I did see a CBO report discussing different options for reducing benefits but it was dated 2013.  I would not sweat it at all.  (PBL)  7/30/2016     A7:  I have heard some rumblings about it but I doubt if it is true. The VA is tweeking the criteria to make it more difficult to obtain the compensations for IU. As of right now out of the many millions of veterans that are receiving disability compensation there are only less than 300,000 that are receiving IU compensation. Check with your local veterans service officer at your local Veterans Affairs office.  (TVH)  7/31/2016 If you can help please respond to this question. Full name: Email address: Comments:   Question #110   I'm a Vietnam vet (Navy). I was not disabled during my service, but someone told me that I may be able to receive a monthly amount from the VA by filling out some paperwork, is this true? A1:  Simply stated, the answer is "maybe".  Contact your local veteran service officer for details.  (RJ)  7/30/2016 A2:   Doubtful.  Unless you have a disease or disorder identified within one year of release from active duty, that can be confirmed through medical records or other means that it is service-connected, then filling out paper won't get you anything.  Of course, the same can be said for those with clear service-connected disabilities, who file claims and wait a decade (or longer) for VA to make a determination.  (SH)  7/30/2016 A3:  I believe the only thing you could maybe receive a low income pension if you meet guide lines.  (NB)  7/30/2016     A4:  Any veteran who feels they suffered injuries or illness because of miltary service can file claims. However, you must have medical evidence and your best bet a VA doctor indicate your disabilities were due to military service.   If you are speaking of a VA pension you can apply, but one must know a Pension is income sensitive and based at or below the poverty level.  (PW)  7/30/2016     A5:  All depends. Did you do brown water service as in country duty? If you did and set foot in the jungle and are type 2 diabetic then presumptive agent orange exposure will get you there!  (DD)  7/30/2016     A6:  Some simple quick questions need asked first.  Were you Blue Water Navy, Brown Water, or foot on the ground Seabee, Hospital Corpsman?  If so and you have one of the presumptive conditions for exposure to Agent Orange and were on shore or in the rivers of Viet Nam then you were presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange.  See a County Veteran Service Officer and take a copy of your Service Record (201 file) and Service Medical Records along with a complete list of your diagnosis today.  Good Luck.  (CKP)  7/30/2016     A7:  If you sustained an injury that can be tied to your time in service (service-connected)even performing your job then yes you could file a claim for that injury or symptoms as the result of that injury.  (TVH)  7/31/2016     A8:  Yes, it is called Non-Service Connected Pension.  It is income based.  In other words, if you make more than $1000 a month, you are not eligible, UNLESS you have medical bills.  Those medical bills (including insurance premiums and co-pays) will be subtracted off your income to assist you to meet the income qualifications.  If you need the assistance of another person (NSC with Aid and Attendance) the VA will increase that payout to $1788 a month, also calculated after subtracting medical expenses.  (JS)  8/1/2016      If you can help please respond to this question. 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