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The Department of Veterans Affairs has clawed back billions of dollars that countless veterans were given as incentives to leave the military, including when it needed to downsize, according to new data obtained by NBC News. Disabled veterans have been told in the last 12 fiscal years to return nearly $3 billion in special separation pay — lump-sum incentives that were offered when the U.S. had to reduce its active-duty force or release slightly injured service members, the data shows. The justification of the recoupment rule carried over in the 1990s when other forms of special separation payments — unrelated to disabilities — were authorized. Those payments, including the Special Separation Benefit (SSB), were designed instead to help the Defense Department manage its force size. He was told to pay back the money in 2017 after he filed for VA disability for PTSD and other conditions.

Persons: ”, Damon Bird, “, ” Salahudin Majeed, Bird, Salahudin Majeed, ” Majeed, ‘, ’ ” Majeed, —, ” Marquis Barefield, Marquis Barefield, ” Barefield, John Colage, Terrence Hayes, Hayes, Colage, ” Colage, Domenick Fini, Denis McDonough’s, Majeed, recoupment, Ruben Gallego, Gallego Organizations: of Veterans Affairs, NBC News, Disabled, NBC, Army, ” Army, Congressional Research Service, Defense Department, DAV, American Veterans, ” Navy, U.S ., Appeals, Veterans, Veterans ’ Appeals, RAND Corporation Locations: U.S, —, Haslet , Texas, USS Iowa, Missouri, Texas, Iraq

☆ A little-known law has forced over 120,000 veterans to return the money they got to leave the military, new data shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | Melissa Chan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

He said the VA is legally bound to recover special separation benefits from veterans before those eligible can begin receiving disability payments. The VA had to recoup separation pay from 8,130 veterans in fiscal year 2020 and 8,550 in 2021. In 2021, the Veterans Benefits Administration began scanning all veterans’ service and medical records into electronic files, which “reduces the likelihood of this situation reoccurring,” Hayes said. Unique exceptions to the lawVeterans have a chance to pursue a waiver of their recoupment responsibilities for only certain special separation benefits under the law. In 2023, the Navy authorized reducing the amount of disability pay that is withheld while voluntary separation pay is recouped, Navy spokesperson Charlie Spirtos said.

Persons: “, ”, Vernon Reffitt, recoupments, Terrence Hayes, Shawn Teller, Teller, ” Teller, “ It’s, Reffitt, ‘, Hayes, ” Hayes, Erika Yepsen, Yepsen, recoupment, ” Yepsen, Charlie Spirtos, Marquis Barefield, ” Barefield, Ruben Gallego Organizations: NBC News, Army, U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs, NBC, “, VA, Veterans, Administration, The Air Force, Air Force, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, DAV, American Veterans, ” Veterans, recoupment, RAND Corporation Locations: U.S, Storm, Walnut Creek , California, Twin City , Georgia, United States

It was a one-time, lump-sum special separation benefit offered to service members when the U.S. had to reduce its active-duty force. Courtesy Vernon ReffittThousands have found themselves in Reffitt’s position due to a little-known law that prohibits veterans from receiving both disability and special separation pay. Under the law, the VA has to recoup special separation benefits from veterans before those eligible can begin receiving disability payments. Army veteran Daphne Young said she would not have taken the separation pay had she known. Under the law, veterans have a chance to pursue a waiver of their recoupment responsibilities for voluntary separation pay, but the standards are high.

Persons: Vernon Reffitt, Reffitt, Stephanie Rennane, Rennane, it’s, Daphne Young, Daphne Young Young, Young, Marquis Barefield, Barefield, Shane Collins, Collins, Ruben Gallego, Gallego, I’ve Organizations: Department of Veterans Affairs, RAND Corporation, NBC News, Army, Young, DAV, American Veterans, Veterans, recoupment, RAND, Marine, Marines, Pentagon, Defense Locations: U.S, Twin City , Georgia, Panama, Honduras, Germany, Columbus , Georgia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Twin Falls , Idaho, United States

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