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Senior Member
Disability payment question
When I started my 30% I was a single guy. Now for 10 years I have had a wife and child.
Last night I was trying to find if we are getting an increase and ran into a VA disability benefits table that showed increased benefits with child or wife and child.
Was I supposed to tell the VA when there were changes in my life like this?
Am I due for an increase and/or "back pay"?
BISHOP
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Administrator
Unfortunately you had to tell the gov of the changes and they do not make up payments that could have been made. I too got bit by another theft agency, social insecurity. When I filed for benefits at age 62 the person I spoke to was surprised I hadn't filed survivor benefits at age 60. How was I to know? Two years that would have totaled almost 40,000 in lost money. (I retired early and used my own money not knowing about the survivor payments)
As for you, I believe you can refile for the change of life but payments most likely will only be from time of filing.
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Senior Member
I never new there was a difference or increase for having dependants. When I first got the % I was given a VA booklet and it only had one list of benefits (That I remember).
Many times I have mentioned wife and child to my PCP, you'd think that would have been a question they would ask. HECK I am asked about travel pay all the time.
BISHOP
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Administrator
Makes me wonder if some agencies are told not to be of help when it comes to increasing payments.
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Senior Member
I don't understand why not. My uncle was never in the system for action in Vietnam. He had a Heart attack in his 60s and some-how the VA got involved (I have no knowledge of how or why) and in the end he ended up getting back pay of lost benefits of over 100K.
BISHOP
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Administrator
Your uncle was lucky. My father was wounded in WWII and upon return he told me how long he fought the VA before finally giving up. By that time I was born and remember his frustration and later hatred for them.
Can't hurt for you to file and try getting back monies. Worst that can happen is you get a benefit increase, best is they write a check for back money! Good luck.
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Senior Member
WHO do I got to?
Back in the mid 90's I went to the American Legion through advice from Vets that worked in the VA mail room (I serviced their mailing machines) and was told they can help you up your %. That guy told me what I needed to do (see sport injury Drs, and pay for it on my own) and filled out all the paperwork for me and sent it in.
It took me a long time just to get service related medical. They kept denying that it existed TO MY FACE. It wasn't until I heard on the radio that there was an organization that will be at "some parking lot at some mall" that helps veterans get VA health care.
I went there and they had all the forms and told me what to do with them.
BISHOP
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Administrator
Can't help you there. I guess vets here don't know how good they really have it as we have a major VA hospital downtown Indy. I could almost ride my bike there from where I live. Keep forgetting not all are that lucky.
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Senior Member
I've had a rating of 30% since about 1997, but didn't know how or was lied to about getting health care until about 2009-10.
I haven't had bad experiences with the VA, they just don't outwardly tell you about benefits or "upgrades".
Every year I get a letter stating my Disability rating and or compensation, but nothing about changes in your life.
BISHOP
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