Should veterans and retirees be "Triple Dipping?"

I paid into my military retirement with blood sweat and tears. I get a retirement from a civilian company they paid in with hard work and matching dollars. I paid into Social Security because the government said I had to. The VA gives me a disability payment. Because the American people and all their wisdom said that I deserve it for the disability that I received in the Vietnam war. I guess I’m in quad dipper because I get four checks I don’t feel guilty about any of them I earned each one honorably and each one is authorized by a government or business that I have very little control over. For those that question the pension checks I asked them did they feel guilty when they get the check at the end of the month. They earned it so why shouldn’t they get it

The disability pay is to reimburse you for the functions that you can no longer perform. This is separate from the time you served towards retirement as well as the amount you contributed towards social security. Each are separate. I payed into SSI my entire working career. I also worked my time to earn my retirement. I didn’t ask to be hurt in combat or to feel pain each day. The disability paynent is to reimburse for the bodily functions that I no longer have. Not to take place of my retirement that I also earned.

You guys are talking about me again; I earned what I get paid. I did not enlist in the military to get rich and believe me, that hasn't happened. But, I did spend 20 years and during that time, I sustained some injuries, which I live with everyday, and without any medications. Until early 2000, veterans were only able to draw either their disability pay or their retirement pay, not both. According to what I've read and been told, Pres. Reagan noticed that, except for the military veteran, other federal employees were able to draw their pension as well as disability and social security and he changed it so that we could be paid both, our disability and retirement. This took effect in early 2004, and I believe it was called the CDRP Program. So YES!!!! If you've served and were honorably discharged, then yes, you deserve every bit of your pay, whether disability, retirement, or social security, and you deserve all three, not just one or the other. Blessings.

I'm not following you where you said they will stop one and start another. I'm retired after 21years. I get 52%, I'm disabled through VA at 70%, and I'm 100% with social security. No one has stopped or anything of mine. SSN told me because of my mil. Retirement that 70% VA was all i would get. But they passed a bill that said you can draw disability from VA and Social security also.

I won't ever blame a Soldier for finding the easiest possible way to accomplish something, including making a living.

All of the "triple dip", is earned. SSI everyone pays into (that's employed), so everyone has this "dip", 20+ year retirement = earned (although only 17% of active Duty serves 20+). VA benefits are also earned thru sacrifice and are payable to anyone who serves one day on AD if injured, exposed, or killed. But I am speculating concurrent receipt is what SSG Hendrix is really asking about. As I explained above, each portion is earned separately by those who qualify, so why should anyone be denied a benefit simply because the earned and are receiving something. That is discrimination...

It's called "earned", not "entitlement".

You earn it - you deserve it. They didn't make the rules.

Don't hate the player, hate the game. If you're unemployable, you deserve whatever you can get. I'm at 100% service connected. I'd give it all back if I could have my health back and be able to work on aircraft again.

Service members are not the only ones who can do this. If a civilian works for more than one company long enough they can earn a pension or retirement at some rate or level and move on to another. Once they move on they can start all over again. If you earn your "dip" for meeting a set requirement or standard then it is yours to keep.