Should veterans and retirees be "Triple Dipping?"

I never liked the term double or triple dipping. It sounds condescending. I collect Retirement for 29 years active duty, 80% VA Disability that does not reduce my retirement and Social Security retirement because I am 63 years old and paid into it. If that is triple dipping, I am surely for it.

First off, if you retire from active duty and you are the VA 100% permanent and total disabled. Then the govt. is most likely going to adjust one or the other. This is what I was informed from the VA. Concerning the SSI, if a SM has paid into the system for X number of years, then the SM is considered invested and will receive a monthly stipend base on how much was paid in. This is where it gets tricky, because I am 100% P&T and when I initially put in my claims, the VA informed me that I had to apply for SSI benefits as well. The SSI benefits kicked in before the VA decided to do anything concerning my claims. This was after I had been turned down 3 times and had to go before a SSI judge. Which they say is normal. The VA did not do anything for another 3yrs. The issue is I have 13yrs AD/13yrs guard time. So, I can't draw my retirement until I am closer to 60.
So, yeah if everything is on the up and up and by the book, let them get all they can. They have earned it. Especially, if they have deployed, been wounded, retired, medical or otherwise, and paid into the system.

The laws are written this way. If you qualify under the existing laws then I'm all for it. I served 23 years in the USMC. I GET 90% from the VA and 55% from the corps. If I find I rate more legally I'd be a fool not to take it.

The amount of bullshit we put our bodies through in service to our country the very least the government could do is make us as financially stable as possible. In the past two years since I got boarded I have maxed three credit cards trying to support my family because every service that is supposed to help disabled veterans; even social services like TANF has shit on me and said I don't qualify. I have an autoimmune condition and have nearly no feeling in my legs or feet and so can't drive myself. The VA in it's infinite wisdom has decided that a hand control modification is not warranted in my case. I am either forced to take public transportation or use my wife as a chauffeur. It's my opinion that you should take everything you are entitled to. It's the people that are still fully functional that have a problem with this in the first place. FUCK THEM, as soon as they are in the same position their attitude will change in a hurry.

due to our political system playing fuck fuck games. I don't look at it as a permanent guaranteed money and benefits. Both of my Grandfathers(army air corpWWII), grandmother(navyWWII), and great uncle(Army Paratrooper WWII) are proof of that. As soon as they needed their benefits the political system pulled the rug from under them. I spend what I can of my benefits on shelters for homeless vets. I was homeless for short bit after I got out and they helped me out. I like to give back to them with what I can when I can. If you can they need Socks and underwear(mens and womens). Not many people donate those items. they donate blankets, soap and shampoo, clothes. But no one thinks about socks and underwear

If you retire healthy you earned your retirement benefits, If you are injured in the line of duty you also earned your disability, you pay SS from the time you start working till the time you are old enough to collect it or become disabled, it is an insurance mandated and forced upon you by the government similar to a ponzi scheme that they put others in jail for. If you become disabled before you are the legal age to collect your SS benefits that you paid for then you collect the SSDI that you paid for, how anyone can think any of this is wrong they must be jealous or addled.

A civilian or Government Employee can draw a retirement check and Draw SSDI if Qualified. The military is unique in some ways in that it will pay you compenatation for injuries/ conditions recieved in service. Whats overlooked is that there are civilian jobs that pay addition benefits for health problems, often due to court action. My Grandfather drewpayments for black lung..
One thing overlooked by those who would try to cut off SSDI for those drawing VA Comp and Retirement in that military members PAY IN to the Social Security System. You pay in you should get something out when needed.

It's not hard. Tryed to be nice an look for work but SS and Mil., (VA) kept pushing this and that at me so I said ok ,let's do it. P.S. nobody wanted to hire me after 4 mths of looking. Benefits kept flowing in. Thanks to my V A Rep., one hell of a mean and a hard worker.

I see it as a non-issue. You did the job for the specified time - you get the benefits.

I was wounded twice in combat. Could have gone home the first time but chose to remain with my unit (as a Supply Sgt by MOS with a combat unit). I tried to stay in and not be retired. Second time was from an IED puncturing head wound with a prosthetic skull larger than the size of my hand with severe TBI and headaches all the time. I triple dip and hope to return to work some day (am going to school).

Let me share the reactions of a retired Marine.

He thought it was unfair that I was making more money than him because he had a longer service time than me.

My reaction was I would trade all the pain I have, the psychological/emotional trauma I have experienced and experience-PTSD, TBI symptoms that has dynamically affected and curtailed my quality of life, shortened my career, affected my relationships, and much else I cannot convey in a short time here-I would trade it all for the triple dip money I receive.

I get frustrated at my situation but do not wallow in self pity-that is not me. I am a fighter and work hard to get better, to overcome, to get better every day, to improve myself, to overcome, to live a better life, to take the gift of life God has given me and to live it well.

Hopefully this gives some perspective on us triple dippers.