Thousands of veterans just received some shocking news. New legislation might require numerous brave veterans to repay money they received for their military service. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Some individuals may even have to repay sums reaching into the tens of thousands!
A recent report brought attention to this law, which prevents veterans from receiving government subsidies for both disability and special separation pay. For those unaware, special separation pay is essentially a one-time, lump-sum incentive given to service members when the U.S. needed to reduce its active-duty force.
One veteran shared a heartbreaking story, revealing that he was asked to repay $30,000 of money that he received three decades ago for his service. Another veteran claimed that it would take him a staggering 15 years to repay everything the government is requesting.
So the government that has given $175 billion to Ukraine is asking vets to pay thousands of dollars back.
Interestingly, the Department of Veteran Affairs was not even aware of this situation until the 2022 PACT Act was passed, which broadens the spectrum of benefits for certain types of veterans injured in combat. Two veterans disclosed that the VA discovered this error only after their PACT Act claims were filed. Consequently, thousands of veterans are now being asked to return the funds they received.
The reported number of vets being asked to return their benefits is genuinely concerning. In 2022, a worrying 7,940 veterans were told to return their benefits, and that number rose to 9,300 in 2023. If you’re keeping track, that’s a staggering total of nearly 122,000 veterans within the last 12 years.
👀🤯 The US Government has treated military veterans and their families poorly while giving taxpayer-funded handouts to people who entered the country illegally. This is messed up. We need patriotic Americans in charge of the government who recognize we are the home of the free…
— Michele Weslander-Quaid (@MWeslanderQuaid) August 7, 2024
The public’s reaction to this information has understandably been filled with frustration and disbelief. Many people have expressed their concerns on social media. One user lamented, “The US Government has treated military veterans and their families poorly while providing taxpayer-funded benefits to individuals who entered the country illegally. This is unacceptable. We need patriotic Americans leading who acknowledge that we are the home of the free because of the brave…”
Another user called out Congress, saying, “This needs to be rectified. Where’s Congress when you need them?” And yet another speculated, “Ah, this must be how they’re financing all those benefits to illegals.”
