Welcome to the family here at WMRC Studios, Saturday Live With Sal Santori, and The Kay Zern Community and Veterans Outreach.
In addition to Veterans Day celebrations, our current issue we are working on which affects 64k+ persons directly, is the SBP/DIC offset. Please join the team by presenting your experience in as much as is comfortable. Also by presenting both historical and current information to give a clear understanding for folks to whom this issue might be new.
EVERYONE EVERYWHERE is invited to learn, understand, get involved and advocate for correction of this issue. We find that people who come to understand this issue, find it humanly impossible to not get involved to fix this.
Current affairs, SBP.DIC offset
at 1 pm East Coast. If you want to call the live show please call, (701) 802*5434, and use 6506932# for the access code.
I am the surviving widow of a 100% disabled veteran. My husband served on active duty in the Navy for 24 years. Upon retirement he paid into the SBP pension for 22 years and passed away in 2007. Every month I receive an online statement stating the receipt of approximately $2200 and then the offset $1258. after tax receipt of $868. So every month I am reminded of this unjust offset.
The following are reasons for the unfairness and injustice of the offset.
1. SBP is a purchased annuity. DIC is earned and an indemnity compensation. It is paid by the DOD and I understand why they are reluctant to pay the full annuity because of several years of sequestration and downsizing. But they believe it is double dipping!
It goes back to some Civil War ruling. I received a letter from Daryl Issa several years ago…that I cannot be paid twice.
2. Id I remarry I would not get the offset. How unfair to single widows.
3. If my spouse had been employed in a government job after retirement from the service, I would not have the DIC offset from my SBP.
4. I know of no insurance company that would legally not pay the annuity under these circumstances.
Congress knows that the situation and offset are unfair and that is why SSIA was created as a placeholder for the last 10 years. Unless a special bill is created outside the DOD I cannot see that the situation will improve. If Congress has created bills to aid war torn countries why can it not help the widows of those who fought there? Why are we helping India out and supplying them with toilet bowls so they can educated their citizens?
A special bill needs to be done in the halls of Congress.
Than you for sharing the story. This is for all of us that are fighting to end this stealing of military survivors paid-for income. Congress has admitted it’s wrong but not one of our elected officials will step up to become our advocate to correct this injustice. WE NEED A CHAMPION to help us to convey our message. Our group is fighting and making some progress but it might take a very long time without the public official that cares enough to assist us.