Veterans
Related: About this forumquestion re vet benefits
My friend receives 100% medical disability from the Army. If we marry, will my income effect his benefits?
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HDSam
(251 posts)I’m assuming the compensation is from the Veterans Benefits Administration for service connected injuries. This compensation does not vary base on household income. I am 60% service connected and household income has never entered into the equation.
Of course, I always recommend talking to a Veteran’s Services Officer, they are the subject matter experts.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,336 posts)It will likely impact his V.A. pension, if he gets one.
From the VA web site:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/pencalc.asp
Hypothetical Example VA Pension Benefit Calculation
Your pension is calculated to be an amount equal to the difference between your countable family income and the annual pension limit set by Congress.
If, for example, the annual income limit on December 1, 2005, for a Veteran and spouse, as set by Congress, is $13,855 and your income combined with your spouse's income is $10,855, your VA pension will be $3,000 ($13,855 - $10,855 = $3,000) paid in monthly installments.
If your total countable family income is more than $13,855 in this example, then you are not eligible for a VA Pension for that year. You may reapply again at any time your countable income falls below the limit.
Silver Gaia
(4,542 posts)Veteran's disability benefits have nothing to do with anyone's income, neither his nor yours. They are based on the nature and severity of the disability, not income. If anything, his benefits should INCREASE if you marry, because he will get an additional amount for a spouse. Children would add yet more to his compensation. You could also receive health and education benefits if he is classified 100%. This is based on almost 20 years experience with the VA in this area. My recommendation is to call the DAV (Disabled American Veteran's). They can help you and there is no cost for their services. If you two are in love and wanna get married, I don't see a downside in relation to your partner's VA disability. Go for it!
deek
(3,414 posts).
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)I have been 100% service-connected disabled since 1995. In that case, what he gets does not have anything to do with your income nor his as long as he is not working, by that I mean he can have income as long as it is not from working such a mutual fund is okay. Also you are eligible for CHAMPVA. If you are working and have insurance then CHAMPVA becomes your secondary insurer. You should have CHAMPVA even if you have a policy at work, because it pays all your deductible and if you get meds by mail through CHAMPVA there isn't a copay. If you get your meds from a pharmacy, CHAMPVA pays 75%. Children are also covered until they are 18 or 22 if in school. Check that last sentence to make sure about the college. Also, there are many other discounts such as buying travel and vacations at a base ticket office, doesn't matter what service. Example 5 of us went to Disney World. 4 days and all areas for $99 total for each of us. If you fly, your DoD ID makes it easier to get, in a program where you do not have to take off your shoes etc and forget those little bottles for shampoo your regular bottle and others can go in your carryon as well as your computer. Bags go on conveyer belt and you walk through the scanner. This is getting long so 2 short things. If you have your DoD ID, and you should go to nearest base to get yours, whenever you shop, ask if they give a military discount. Lowes Home Depot and many stores and restaurants give 10 %. Last, go online and check to see what state discounts you can get. I love my DV plate. Not so I can park easier, but because I speed. Yes see you VAO in your county. If you reply to this with a question, I will be glad to help. Almost forgot. even as a wife, if you need to help him get dressed or take a bath or he can't cook, my problems, he can receive extra money for A&A or housebound. Totally we received $3,790 per month.
deek
(3,414 posts)Yes, 100% service related disability. No SSDI or SSI because he didn't submit paperwork in timely manner. I am on ObamaCare with a $25/mo copay, Express Scripts RX coverage. I also pay $200/yr for vision. I am relieved to hear it's secondary as to not create too much of a bureaucratic maze. I see a number of specialists and am on many medications.
He's not needing personal assistance at this point in time, but for future reference, A&A stands for...?
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)If he needs any help now or in the future, have the VA Officer closest to you put in the paperwork. Even if they say he won't get it, have them put in the paperwork anyway. I found that certain things are not really know about A&A and SMC, Special Monthly Compensation. I have look them up in the past and found that one veteran gets them and another veteran with the same disabilities does not. Okay, I just talked to my wife. We made out the paperwork for CHAMPVA as soon as we got married. Since she did not have any medical insurance CHAMPVA became her primary and they gave us a list of good insurance companies for secondary. The only time I know of that CHAMPVA becomes secondary is if you have Medicare. The cost for the secondary insurance depends on your age. Really check this out for yourself. You maybe able to have CHAMPVA and a secondary. It is nice not having to pay for medications, they mail you a 90 day supply at a time. Your husband should be covered for everything through the VA and you with those two plans you are covered for almost everything. Vision I know is not covered. I know there is a lot of information in my posts, but it can save you money. Not something I like to write, but it is important. With divorce or death of the veteran, the spouse keeps CHAMPVA. NOW FOR ANY VETERAN OR SPOUSE READING MY POSTS, IF THERE ARE ANY ERRORS, PLEASE POST THEM. And if your VAO says you are not eligible for something, put in for it anyway. The only way that veterans and their families will get what they deserve is for other veterans to help them. This is not charity or government assistance. You held up your part of the contract, make the government hold up its.
Silver Gaia
(4,542 posts)regarding whether or not the veteran can work depending on the type of 100% rating. If the rating is 100% service-connected permanent and total, then working according to whatever the disability might physically allow one to do is fine and does not affect the rating or the amount. However, sometimes the rating is given as 100% service-connected due to unemployability, and in that case, since the rating of 100% was given due to the fact that the disability makes one unemployable, working would negate the reason for the 100% rating, and an adjustment would be made.
You are correct about CHAMPVA. I'm not sure about keeping it in the case of divorce, though. It might be that the ex-spouse keeps it unless the veteran remarries, but then it would go to the new spouse. It is kept if the veteran dies, though (along with a small portion of the disability payment). And it does become your secondary when you are old enough for Medicare. The only catch is that you have to have both Medicare Part A and Part B to keep CHAMPVA, and there's a fee for Part B, so keep that in mind. The prescription benefit is super, though! Meds by Mail is cost-free.
There's no vision plan and no dental, but CHAMPVA recipients are now eligible for Delta Dental, a plan previously only available to Medicare recipients. It's cheap, and they pay like most dental insurance.
The other thing you should have are educational benefits under Chapter 35. They will pay college tuition for a spouse and dependent children. Between this and Pell Grants, our daughter's BA was cost-free. The same would apply to you should you want or need to get a degree.
I agree that this is NOT charity or government assistance. It is an EARNED benefit. The veteran gave of him or her self in service to our country, and the country is obliged to repay them for what they lost in that service. They did their duty to protect us, now it is the duty of citizens to protect them in return.
And finally, yes, veterans helping veterans is how things work, so don't be afraid to ask questions! As I mentioned above, we found the DAV to be an excellent advocate organization for disabled vets. They are based on veterans helping veterans. They will help you file your paperwork and be your advocate to argue your case if need be. They're good people, in my experience.
I hope all of this helps!
Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)You are correct that there are two different 100% service-connected disabled. I am 70% disabled due to a service-connected disability, but I am 100% disabled because I am not able to work. As far as divorce and remarriage goes, this applies to the spouse. A spouse that gets a divorce may still keep their CHAMPVA. If the spouse remarries the spouse loses CHAMPVA, but if that marriage ends in divorce or spouse dies, they may get CHAMPVA back. I should have written about the DAV and The American Legion, I have been a member of both since 1999 and they have members that have more knowledge than your VAO in some areas. Work with all three can save you a lot of headache. One other thing for veterans who read this. I am 100% service-connected disabled, but my disability does not have anything to do with being in the service. In other words, even if I had not enlisted in the army, I would still be 100% disabled the difference being in that case, I would be living on $800 SSI, food stamps and Medicaid.
