DISABILITY COMPENSATION. THIS FEDERAL LAW HAS NOW BEEN AMENDED TO ALLOW STATES THE OPTION TO OFFSET THE UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR THOSE RECEIVING RETIREMENT INCOME. MOST STATES STILL REQUIRE AN OFFSET BY RECEIPT OF VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION. I MAINTAIN THAT THIS COMPLETELY REFUTES THE INTENTION OF THE CONGRESS IN PROVIDING THE DISABILITY COMPENSATION. I STRONGLY URGE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE TO FAVORABLY CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO CORRECT THIS ANOMALY.. I BELIEVE THAT VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION SHOULD BE JUST THAT, AND SHOULD NOT BE THE BASIS FOR REDUCTION IN OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE ENTITLEMENTS TO WHICH THEY MAY OTHERWISE IS ELIGIBLE. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL NOW ADDRESS THE DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION (DIC) PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES BENEFITS TO THE SURVIVORS OF MEMBERS OR FORMER MEMBERS WHOSE DEATH OCCURS ON ACTIVE DUTY OR AS A RESULT OF A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY. THE MONTHLY RATES PAID TO A SURVIVING SPOUSE ARE BASED ON THE PAY GRADE OF THE SERVICE MEMBER AT THE TIME OF DEATH OR RELEASE FROM MILITARY SERVICE. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BENEFIT SCHEDULE BE TRULY INCREASED, AS NECESSARY, TO REASONABLY INSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SURVIVORS' STANDARD OF LIVING EXISTING AT THE TIME OF DEATH OF THE SERVICEMEMBER. OUR NATION HAS A LONG OUTSTANDING RECORD IN PROVIDING BENEFITS TO THE SURVIVORS OF THOSE WHOSE HUSBANDS AND 37-086 0-84--5 FATHERS MAY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY. FOR THIS, OUR NATION AND THIS COMMITTEE, IN EXERCISING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THIS REGARD, CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD. TO ESTABLISH THE INCOME LEVEL EXISTING AT TIME OF DEATH, THE CURRENT BASIC PAY SCHEDULE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE AMOUNT OF BASIC MILITARY COMPENSATION OR BMC. THIS MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS TRUE INCOME AND IS COMPARABLE TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES SALARY. THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION SHOULD BE FIFTY PERCENT OF BMC. FIFTY PERCENT OF SALARY IS AN ACCEPTED REPLACEMENT LEVEL FOR FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WHO SUFFER A JOB RELATED DEATH. THE COMPENSATION FOR THE DEPENDENT OF MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS SHOULD NOT BE LESS. CURRENT DIC IN CERTAIN INSTANCES (I.E. WIDOW OF AN 05 WITHOUT CHILDREN) REPLACES LESS THAN 18 PERCENT OF THE PRE DEATH INCOME. THIS AMOUNT WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE THE MORTGAGE PAYMENTS IN MOST CASES. TERMINATION OF DIC BENEFITS UPON REMARRIAGE UNDER OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS (SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION PROGRAM) BENEFITS ARE PAYABLE UNTIL DEATH, OR REMARRIAGE IF THE BENFICIARY IS UNDER AGE 60. THE CIVIL SERVICE SURVIVING WIDOW CAN RECEIVE THE BENEFIT UNTIL DEATH OR UNTIL SHE REMARRIES BEFORE REACHING AGE 60. I RECOMMEND THAT THE CONGRESS AUTHORIZE SURVIVING WIDOWS, WHO ARE RECEIVING BENEFITS UNDER THE DIC PROGRAM, TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THESE BENEFITS IF THEY SHOULD REMARRY AFTER AGE 60. OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY, MILITARY SURVIVORS BENEFIT PLAN AND THE CIVIL SERVICE SURVIVORSHIP ANNUITY PLAN HAVE BEEN MODIFIED ΤΟ PREVENT THE NECESSITY FOR THESE OLDER BENEFICIARIES FROM "LIVING IN SIN". I URGE YOU TO PROVIDE THE SAME CONSIDERATION FOR THE DIC WIDOWS. THE COSTS OF SUCH A PROPOSAL WOULD BE MINIMAL. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS (COLA) THE CONGRESS HAS PERIODICALLY INCREASED THE RATES OF THE VA COMPENSATION PROGRAMS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI). THIS PROCEDURE SHOULD BE CONTINUED BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, EXPRESSED THROUGH FUTURE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION THAT THE DISABLED VETERANS AND THE SURVIVING DEPENDENTS, OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE DEFENSE OF THIS COUNTRY, WILL BE PROPERLY COMPENSATED FOR THEIR LOSSES. I AGAIN WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ALLOWING ME TO PROVIDE THE VIEWS OF THE RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ON THESE IMPORTANT MATTERS. I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THE NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION, PENSION AND INSURANCE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES on COMPENSATION PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT June 14, 1984 NATIONAL CAPITAL OFFICE 219 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Tele: (703) 549-0311 NCOA Mr. Chairman: I am Charles R. Jackson, National Veterans Service Director for the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA. Please accept my thanks for allowing me to appear today to present the views of the more than 250,000 associated members of NCOA on several areas of compensation oversight. Among the issues concerning NCOA are the structure of the DIC program and concurrent receipt of military retired pay and disability compensation. However, before engaging in a discussion of these issues, let me acquaint the committee with the Association's veterans service program. Since it was recognized as an accredited veterans service organization by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs in February 1980, NCOA has strived to provide the best possible service to veterans seeking assistance. Our 86 service officers have assisted veterans in the filing of thousands of claims during the past four years. The Association is now capable of providing veterans' services in more than forty locations serving ten states and the District of Columbia. We are proud of our program and our service officers and are continually striving to expand our services to other areas of the nation. During the past several years representatives of the Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA have appeared before this committee and its Senate counterpart a number of times to request a reorganization of the DIC program. The position of the association has not changed, nor has the reasoning behind our position. |