Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act This bill modifies provisions related to military retired pay. Specifically, the bill authorizes veterans with a service-connected disability of less than 50% to concurrently receive both retired pay and disability compensation. The bill also makes qualified disability retirees with less than 20 years of retirement-creditable service eligible for concurrent receipt, subject to specified reductions in retired pay.
Impact
The bill also extends eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with fewer than 20 years of military service. The modifications proposed would alleviate some of the financial burden on those who have dedicated their lives to military service but may not meet the threshold of 50 percent disability. This is considered a significant change that acknowledges and provides support for those military retirees who are often overlooked in existing compensation frameworks.
Summary
House Bill 333, known as the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act, aims to amend Title 10 of the United States Code. The bill permits retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated at less than 50 percent to concurrently receive both retired pay and veterans disability compensation. This change is intended to benefit a category of veterans who, due to their disabilities, may be facing financial hardships as they currently cannot receive these two forms of compensation simultaneously.
Contention
While the bill is largely seen as a positive step towards supporting disabled veterans, it may encounter resistance concerning fiscal implications and adjustments to existing veterans' benefits frameworks. Critics may argue that expanding eligibility could lead to increased government spending on veteran's benefits, which could spark debates on budget allocations and priorities. Additionally, such changes may raise questions about the criteria used to determine eligibility and the sustainability of these benefits in the long term.
Retired Pay Restoration Act This bill allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability. Under current law, only individuals with service-connected disabilities rated at 50% or more receive both without offset. Individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability shall be eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay.
Requires that present and former employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or death allowance receive a $2,000 increase per year.
Requires that present and former employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or death allowance receive a $2,000 increase per year.
Requires that present and former employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or death allowance receive a $2,000 increase per year.
Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Makes disabled persons receiving disability payments pursuant to federal Railroad Retirement Act eligible to receive homestead property tax reimbursement.
Veterans' True Choice Act of 2023 This bill allows covered veterans to receive coverage under TRICARE Select, a health care program of the Department of Defense (DOD). Veterans covered by this bill include those with service-connected disabilities, former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, Medal of Honor recipients, those discharged from service due to disability, and those entitled to disability compensation. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must reimburse DOD's costs of enrolling eligible veteran beneficiaries in the program. A covered veteran may not concurrently receive medical care from DOD and the VA.