Support Senate Bill 935 part 1
To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes.
Below is an excerpt from
When troops die serving, U.S. lets down survivors
By Deanna Salie
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/26/07
Deanna Salie is the widow of Sgt. 1st Class David J. Salie, who was killed in Iraq on Feb. 14, 2005.
PLEASE honor our fallen and there survivors.
"DIC is a payment made to widows, their children and some parents who've lost a husband, father or son. Widows are entitled to the benefit for the remainder of their lives, unless they remarry. DIC comes from the Department of Veterans Affairs. SBP pays a deceased soldier's income, and it comes from the Department of Defense.
The offset, a dollar-for-dollar deduction, is supposedly intended to prevent double dipping from two similar benefit plans.
But the Survivors Benefit Plan and Dependents Indemnity Compensation are provided for different reasons, and the offset leaves many military families with no survivors' benefits at all. Others receive only the pittance that's left over after the offset is deducted.
One widow in West Virginia receives a service member's annuity of $4 a month. A disabled widow in Tennessee receives no Survivors' Benefits and still has to pay for Medicare and other medical expenses. A widow in California had to assign her lifetime SBP benefit to her three children because they can receive that money without the offset and she can clothe and feed them. After they're grown, she'll receive nothing from SBP.
Surviving spouses with children have the greatest needs. Many were unable to build careers and earn retirement credits of their own because of the constant moves and the other demands of their spouses' military jobs. Child-care costs are high. Their families were totally dependent on their service members' income.
A surviving spouse who's disabled has even greater needs. A service member's life insurance may be used up buying a home or financing college for his or her children.
As we try to rebuild our shattered lives, the offset deals us a second blow. Grief and loss are hard enough to handle, but now we have more important worries, such as providing homes, food, clothing and schooling for our families.
This is not a partisan political issue. This is not a matter of whether you're for or against the war in Iraq. This is about those who died serving our country, standing between our enemies and us and believing that their families would be cared for if they gave their lives.
It's a shame that that isn't true. Two bills are pending in Congress —- S 935 in the Senate, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and HR 1927 in the House of Representatives, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) —- that would eliminate the offset and help the families of our fallen. Please contact your senators and representatives and urge them to vote for these bills."
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWhen troops die serving, U.S. lets down survivors
By Deanna Salie
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/26/07
Deanna Salie is the widow of Sgt. 1st Class David J. Salie, who was killed in Iraq on Feb. 14, 2005.
PLEASE honor our fallen and there survivors.
"DIC is a payment made to widows, their children and some parents who've lost a husband, father or son. Widows are entitled to the benefit for the remainder of their lives, unless they remarry. DIC comes from the Department of Veterans Affairs. SBP pays a deceased soldier's income, and it comes from the Department of Defense.
The offset, a dollar-for-dollar deduction, is supposedly intended to prevent double dipping from two similar benefit plans.
But the Survivors Benefit Plan and Dependents Indemnity Compensation are provided for different reasons, and the offset leaves many military families with no survivors' benefits at all. Others receive only the pittance that's left over after the offset is deducted.
One widow in West Virginia receives a service member's annuity of $4 a month. A disabled widow in Tennessee receives no Survivors' Benefits and still has to pay for Medicare and other medical expenses. A widow in California had to assign her lifetime SBP benefit to her three children because they can receive that money without the offset and she can clothe and feed them. After they're grown, she'll receive nothing from SBP.
Surviving spouses with children have the greatest needs. Many were unable to build careers and earn retirement credits of their own because of the constant moves and the other demands of their spouses' military jobs. Child-care costs are high. Their families were totally dependent on their service members' income.
A surviving spouse who's disabled has even greater needs. A service member's life insurance may be used up buying a home or financing college for his or her children.
As we try to rebuild our shattered lives, the offset deals us a second blow. Grief and loss are hard enough to handle, but now we have more important worries, such as providing homes, food, clothing and schooling for our families.
This is not a partisan political issue. This is not a matter of whether you're for or against the war in Iraq. This is about those who died serving our country, standing between our enemies and us and believing that their families would be cared for if they gave their lives.
It's a shame that that isn't true. Two bills are pending in Congress —- S 935 in the Senate, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and HR 1927 in the House of Representatives, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) —- that would eliminate the offset and help the families of our fallen. Please contact your senators and representatives and urge them to vote for these bills."
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