Policy change would benefit disabled vets

Policy change would benefit disabled vets
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, June 18, 2008



WASHINGTON — About 20,000 veterans forced out of the military early by a combat-related injury could be eligible for hundreds in special compensation pay under new rules outlined by the services this month.

The change, mandated by Congress last year, makes veterans who served less than 20 years eligible for Combat-Related Special Compensation payments from the Defense Department.

Those funds are designed to restore money deducted from troops’ military retirement accounts because they also receive veterans’ disability payouts. The offset can trim a significant portion of the military retirement pay, and veterans groups have lobbied for years to end the deductions.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Moose said that since 2002, servicemembers with 20 years of military service and a combat-related injury have been receiving monthly Combat-Related Special Compensation, but those with fewer years were not eligible.

Now, the new change is effective back to Jan. 1 of this year, making all combat veterans eligible to apply for six months of retroactive payments and future monthly compensation, he said.
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