Report says 60K veterans get triple benefits
It’s a rare triple play of government benefits.
Nearly 60,000 veterans collected more than $3.5 billion last year in military retirement pay, disability benefits from Veterans Affairs and disability checks from Social Security.
That’s according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.
The arrangement is legal. But some lawmakers say the report shows the need for better coordination among government programs that are facing severe financial constraints.
Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma requested the review. He says officials should fulfill promises to veterans but work to streamline duplicative programs.
Veterans groups say the retirement money was earned for years of service in the military, while disability payments are compensation for service-related injuries.
In most cases, veterans who receive multiple benefits are severely disabled.
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