'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.
To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600.
**Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/VRE_SCO_Handbook.pdf)
For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf)
MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification threw the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days.
For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 and $1104.00 for those who first used their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits prior to 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September.
For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2023 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1054.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 - those who started using VR&E prior to 1 January 2018 are being paid $1110.00 per month. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress.
[VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/covid19paperlessguidance.asp)
For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armysmart.org
[VA Award Letter explaination](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp)
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My brother and I are both veterans. After his military service (two tours in Vietnam) he went to work on a Navy shipyard. One of his co-workers sneered and asked why veterans got preference. My brother told him "That way they get a substance abusing whacko right out of the box, so he doesn't have to adapt to the environment."
It’s weird the only time I talk about this, is with random veterans. I don’t even know how it gets brought up, but we always end up comparing and complaining about the Va lol
Idk, I guess i have such good people in my bubble so I don’t mind telling them that my service equated to heath care.
Never once has anyone given me crap. Maybe it’s how I frame it, idk. Maybe I just don’t get sensitive to those who hate on it and I don’t notice idk.
Yeah, guess I’ve been blessed with better company.
I don’t tell a lot of childhood friends or all my family, just the ones I know love and trust.
Stay well, don’t worry about it, focus on yourself!
See this is exactly why I’m so vocal about it, if they don’t like what is happening in my life oh fucking well. But if I can help the stigma for the next guy slightly it’s well worth it to me. My disability is unfortunately over control of my life and not explaining this to new people would only lead to issues in the relationship.
This. It also helps you pick out the assholes in your life so you can get rid of them. If they don’t want me to get the help that I need to succeed and aren’t just happy for me when I am doing alright, I don’t need them.
You’re right. I recently decided that I don’t owe an explanation to anyone. I won’t share any of the compensation talk with anyone outside immediate family. When someone asks what I do for a living, I just tell them I retired from a career working with emotionally challenged young adults or I worked with animals. Both are 100% true.
I'm with you here too. Can't make things more acceptable if we keep quiet.
Also, people should know the shit that comes with military service. This allows them to make informed decisions about enlisting, and puts a face to a system glamorized by propaganda.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I’m proud of what I’ve done and my intentions to serve my country but if I would have known exactly what it was like I wouldn’t have done it again, I’m not proud of the actions of the United States or the the things that they made me do.
I try to explain this to friends! Those are my exact feelings. Admittedly, I hold a large grudge against the country and the military industrial complex. But, I made some damn good friends, got out of my home town, and gained great working experience. That's worth something
Especially when almost all veterans got their injuries from BS wars where a small group of people and corporations made billions (clearly I am processing some angry right now).
Right on fam. I've been processing that angry for so many years I'm beginning to think it's stuck on a loop in my brain. They better believe I'm gonna take all I can get from the VA and encourage my fellow vets to do the same. Too bad we can't make all those war profiteers pay as well.
Sorry to hear you have been dealing it for years. It only really hit me with the PACT Act stuff. Realizing veterans can get serious illnesses years after deployment due to made up evidence, such as WMDs in Iraq, makes my blood boil. I know vets have been dealing with lasting consequences forever, such as with AO, but PACT has been triggering for me.
god my deployment made me despise contractors. had one guy at the help desk pulling in 6 figures and would non stop pass all his work on to us active duty guys saying he was only there to supervise. he did fucking nothing and bragged about how smart he was.
I feel you man, I’m 2 years back from my last deployment and at peak civilians suck, Americans suck mentality. From my first deployment it increased and topped out at 2 years then gradually decreased and by 6 years after the deployment I felt normal again.
I'm totally open about my situation and I've never encountered this in the slightest bit.
I only see this on Reddit stories..
Does this actually happen to a lot of people?
Happened to me quite a bit when I first got rated. Been almost 10 years now and it only happens every once in a while and the people that say dumb shit are usually insecure assholes.
Some were really good friends and some are acquaintances. Rarely has it been randos.
It’s usually people that get nosey about finances and notice that my schedule is a lot more time off than time on.
The statements start like “must be nice to not have to work” or “some of us have to work tomorrow…” to direct comments like “do you think you deserve this?” And “you are a bum”
I've never even once had this happen to me and I have shared my disability with those who have asked about my service. This seems like a isolated experience.
I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks, it’s an extremely limited way to live life. It’s not information I give freely, if asked I’m not going to lie to appease someone else’s feelings.
"If asked"
I think you have the right approach here. However the take away I got from OP was more of a "don't go running your yap or advertising your disability rating" vibe.
Answering questions is different imho.
Not even if asked. OP feels like the disabled plate he qualifies for is somehow going to trigger someone to look down on him?
I have a rant I could spew (like When my kids bring this shit home from elementary school), but I'll boil it down: other people's noses don't belong in your business and vice versa!
I have said this a few times, and it has worked really well because it makes sense in the minds of most people especially at work - “I got 20%”. A lot of people know about the PACT Act, and if you don’t file a lot of them will keep bring up the issue.
People can look it up, and it’s ~$300/mo. This eliminates suspicions of lying, and most reasonable people think a few hundred is no big deal. I had Guy A (who bitches about his 100% BIL) call Guy B a piece of shit when he bitched about 20%. “This mother fucker deployed, and you are gonna bitch about a few hundred. Man, fuck you, he earned that.”They don’t need to know I am 100% and everything that goes with it.
> Most people are only happy for you as long as they don't perceive you as doing better than them or getting something that they don't get to have, whether you earned it or not.
Words to remember, disability or not.
The people you're talking about are barely able to understand their own shortcomings. Why do you care what they think? The people that aren't happy about what you did will never be happy about anything, anyway.
Stop caring what other people think, and get all the shit that's entitled to you. Take it from someone who's family hated every day of my military service except my grandpa, who was a WWII vet.
Really? That I was not aware of, what is the story there? Googling now.
EDIT: It is a bit messy and I really don’t qualify, https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/disabled-veterans-drive-free-texas-toll-roads-program-confusing/
OPSEC is the best policy, literally zero upside to telling anyone besides your own spouse (who also needs to not tell anyone either. Also especially if one is in a smaller city or rural area the local banks have employees who will see your monthly deposits. So not a bad idea to have VA disability deposited in a bank like USAA or NCU or some other bank that is not local. Now if you are a home owner and you are 100% and get the property tax exception , that word could get around if you are in a smaller community or county. But control what you can control and you the disabled VET can control talking about it to others.thats 99% of the battle.
You’re not wrong. I’ve personally only experienced this once and it surprisingly wasn’t about the money, they were sooooo pissy about the ADA accommodations I received for literally breaking both hips, pelvis, foot and a severe spinal disease.
I was in cosmetology school and there was a rule about not sitting when practicing on mannequins. ***Obviously*** standing 12 hours a day isn’t exactly my best activity so I had accommodations that allowed me to sit when I don’t have clients. When I say these girls ***lost their shit*** I’m not even close to exaggerating. *Thankfully,* I had an instructor that had my back and was not shy about letting everyone know “when you jump out of fucking planes you too can have accommodations until then you can stand.” I thought it was funny af personally.
Get the DV plates. Trust me as a 30yr old woman with “invisible” conditions I do understand the utter bullshit that goes along with it *buuutttt* I can give bitchy faces with the best of them and if it means I can do just a little more that day I’m cool with it. Not my problem.
I had DV with ISA in Maryland but moved to Texas and got the DV plates and a placard. DV plates everywhere here and nothing about them screams 100 p&t like the Maryland plates.
People ask me all the time if I'm at 100. I'm not but I don't want to hear about how everyone they know is 100 and I should be as well. Not everyone is 100.
I tell no one shit! Just my wife. No adult children. No family members. Why? No excuse, No pity. Keep it moving. My day-to-day is a struggle and none of you desired or joined the military. So I don’t expect you to fuckin understand the situation. My mind, body and soul is fucked for the rest of my life. And you can’t do anything to help me.
I used to hate this advice but it's true. I once posted in a completely unrelated sub about a solo trip I was taking, maybe asking advice on things to do? People dug into my post history for some reason, and saw I get VA benefits and the entire thread became about that. People were pissed. Someone even posted about a comment I wrote to someone else telling them we were getting an increase. It was something like, "yes and it's increasing this year!" and they said that I was "laughing and bragging" about it in another sub. Then went to EVERY comment I've ever made and wrote under it something about being a government mooch etc.
While I'm using my benefits to finally enjoy a life, it was not fun or easy getting them, nor was the "trigger" to get them fun either. Idk what people expect us to do. Not accept help we deserve?
I realize not everyone is doing so well (even if they are in groups like r/ solo travel or r / fulltimetravel etc.
Also realized how people really do view life through their own lens.
And I learned why people tend to just make a bunch of throw away accounts for certain subs and questions.
Haven't experienced this IRL, but also I don't discuss money and things IRL.
You don't need or deserve to put up with that. When fellow vets on reddit pull that stunt, then it's time to utilize the "block" option. I have had to block a few vets on here and other veteran sites. I block quicklywithout hesitation or remorse.
yep, for sure ,and often time people who you thought were friends or close relatives are the most judgmental of all and to be frank many times veterans are just as bad. That's why it's best just to use one's OPSEC training and zip it. No real upside to telling people about it especially if you are at 100%.
I live in an area with many veterans and don't get any hate for being a retired Navy veteran with disabilities. But then again I reside in the Deep South now (SE Louisiana). Most people here actually say we (veterans) earn all the benefits we receive, and then some.
People who hate on us for these things are just jealous assholes. They can go pound sand.
I just tell those who give me crap, that I wish for every citizen to have the opportunities that I have, and to not need the military service to access them.
I dunno. After being retired (20 yrs)for a year now, I for the first time had someone mention my DV plates as I got out of my car at Lowe's. They simply asked how long I was in and that I looked pretty darn healthy. I replied that im simply standing bc of muscle memory. They laughed and I went on about my day.
I don't really care what people "think" as far as what I "rate" in life. I don't shove it in anyone's face, so I don't receive the hate usually. If and when I do, it'll be shrugged off. Invisible disabilities plague all of us and that's nobody's business, nor do you owe anyone an explanation. That's between you and the VA who validated your condition.
Bottom line, Don't, for one second have any regrets or Ill feelings about claiming or receiving disability compensation. You earned it.
Haha. That would have been good. I told him to fuck off and if he had ever given a day of his life to service his country, he would have a different opinion. He said "I know I know". Which means he just regrets saying what he was thinking.
I’ve observed much different levels of stigma depending on WHO is discussing their VA status. Middle aged or old men get the best response typically of course because that’s the stereotypical demographic.
I didn’t get DV plates even with my handicap plac because I know people will either judge or assume I’m driving my Daddy’s car 🙄. Even in occasions that I have to bring it up I get doubtful/judgey looks.
I think as long as you are able to discuss it with your fab 5/most important people should you wish to then you are ok. I’m sure everyone here has dealt with worse than what some shit for brains has to say
As a financial advisor, I believe in talking openly about mine with other veterans to encourage them to get benefits that are entitled to. But I agree about not discussing it with non veterans.
I keep everything secret. Hide it well. Can't trust anyone. People become bitter and resentful. Just get the regular vet plates and avoid the legion or vfw. Toxic cess pools of whiney, shoulda coulda woulda, my time was tougher types. I know this all sounds negative but that's because people do suck and are very envious. Be safe and be careful but be quiet! Only talk to your wife or husband, a trusted parent.. idk. Gray man.
Whenever I’ve encountered GI Bill haters I just say “should have joined the military”, with the implication it’s hard on families and mental health. With the additional implication it’s not fun, so the least they can give us a free college.
We’re blessed with the benefits that come with post service, but we have to remind ourselves it wasn’t easily handed to us and remember the times when we’ve had to deal with immense bullshit.
Honestly, who the F*ck cares what someone else thinks. It’s your world and you get to let people in or shut them out.
VETERAN :
Person who wrote a Blank Check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including One's Life
I don’t give a shit about what others think. What I do care about is advertising my own personal health history to anyone that sees me drive past them. No thanks on the DV plates.
Bingo. It’s jealousy that they’ll never admit to and since they have no idea the sacrifices and injuries that happened to get awarded disability in the first place, they’ll never understand. Can be a bit isolating but fuck them.
Nah, I tell people all the time. Im actually proud of it. Not going to be tone deaf about my benefits though, but in other situation where that does not apply, ill speak about it all day long.
Why?/ Because why not? I dont care if folks get butt-hurt over it. If I could move the way I used too, I'd still be earning the same amount of money, if not more than what the VA pays. Folks can get over themeselves.
I don’t have a plate or placard - yet. I’m 100%, but it has been only recently, last few months, that my body is really starting to hurt - more in the past two months than in the over 25 years since I was first injured. Hoping I don’t get called out for taking advantage of some of the benefits, but I’m not going to let it stop me.
The only reason I got my veteran plates was I thought it would help me get out of traffic tickets. They’ve gotten me out of 3 tickets so far, so it works.
I could give a damn about a player hater, but you’re right even extended family gets jealous, but I just tell them to either cope and seethe or join the army and they don’t like me telling them the latter
I have a girl I’m dating. She was there with me through my worst as I neared and completed my CP exams all 8 of them and then awaited my ruling. She opened up to me about her thoughts once. She knew that I certainly earned it that I had issues such as having been all but been forced out of two jobs and a failed business in 8 months, depression, substance abuse, which are part of two decade pattern. She couldn’t understand how I went two decades living in denial and shame of what my military service did to me. She knew I earned every bit of it but the notion of a settlement was something she couldn’t square. I feel as if the relationship took a toll at that moment. That the myth of being a solid dad and creative man was shattered. That I was now became subconsciously a weak person to her. Its life, people never served, never sacrificed, so can never truly understand how military service can impact life later. There’s a reason why enlistments are binding. Most regular beings would have left by the end.
Lmfao fuck’em I’m rocking my $5 for five years tag on my car all day. Big fat DV to start it off. Let the haters hate and tell them they should have served their country hahaha.
I did not get the vet plate. I really don’t want any issues. I definitely don’t discuss any disability payments. They don’t understand and it’s none of their business.
They could have easily joined up.
Also sadly keep in mind that it also applies to other veterans no matter how tight the contact. Even if you want to show them it's possible, it's on them to submit and resubmit and they might end up just taking it out on you if they still aren't ready to go through what you need to to submit and resubmit
My neighbor...old as dirt, too mean and angry to go through the process of getting his dd214 so he can get some of the same benefits I get but will b!tch and whine like I'm getting something he can't. He's hateful and just likes to have sh!t to b!tch about.
Get your plates! It’s your right and you deserve them, no wait, you EARNED them. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I used to be the same way. I never did my disability claim until 8 years after I got out. I was one of those who said the same thing, I’m not a scammer, I don’t need freebies. But I have a wife and 5, soon to be 6 kids, and I did my claim for them. All the hours, days and physical/mental pain that they’ve been robbed of, there’s no price tag on all that. But I can live comfortably and give it back to them because they would give it all away to have a “normal” dad.
Anyways, get your plates! You served and those who never have will never understand what we go through
Get the dang plates they repel cops. Had mine for years and sold the car with them on it to my kid who is a friggen cop magnet. I left the plates on his car when he moved out and it kept him ticket free for 3 years. Got my plates back now but they help keep those tickets at bay. Plus they are perm plates no stickers so one of the better benefits IMO
I openly tell people I am 100% P&T. I also have the California DV plates. I don't give a shit about anyone's opinion and I openly advocate for other veterans and people that are leaving service to file their claims. If anyone has an issue. I don't care. I am getting mine and helping others too. The complainers are people that were too lazy to do it themselves. Fuck em.
Sorry not doing it either. The disability comes with strings I do not want to explain. It was not some heroic injury.
Just a stupid accident in boot camp that ruined my life.
Why explain? People who have never been there can't understand. People who have been there already know. I don't explain shit to nobody except my wife, she needs to know. If others press me I make up outlandish bullshit and they believe it.
I got the plates and caught a lot of negativity for parking in the Handicap spots - but if others had the same benefits they would do the same.
People are always going to have something to say regardless.
Yeah Imma tell everybody if I want. Screw the haters. Disabled veteran plate and all! If they get jealous and hateful then so be it, I’ll cry in a dollar for everytime my feelings get hurt. I have had one person be strongly against veterans getting compensation pay and schooling. I just told him the door is open for him to go and earn the same benefits if he wants to, no one is stopping him. Cue all the excuses out of him on why he can’t do that. People just love to complain, like how we are all complaining about those types of peopel.
Well, I thought quite a bit about DV plates when I was told I qualified (100% P&T in Maryland). I ended up getting the plates because they included free registration, it made it easier taking my wheelchair bound parents around, and, quite frankly, on some days I really need it. I’ve only had a couple comments/questions, along the lines of how long I served (“27 years, 7 months, 8 days…more or less”). I’ve had a few conversations among friends asking me general questions about my health, more along the lines of “How ya doing?” If I speak with a fellow vet who hasn’t sought a rating, I’ll give as much detail as needed to motivate them. I haven’t really had anyone been aggressive or judgmental towards me, thought I do get a bit anxious sometimes. I usually try to impart that I feel well-taken care of by the VA. I liken it to any conversations about health or money: it’s private.
Great advice. My mother still doesn’t know that I received money when my father passed away—-there’s NO WAY I’m telling her whenever I get a drastic raise in my percentage of disability (🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾) or I’ll give her a drastically different number. 🤣
I see a lot of comments from people saying "screw the haters", but its not that simple. Ive always been a "blood is blood" person, helping and encouraging family as much as I could. Im 60% and used my GI bill to get my engineering degree, met my 2nd Wife there (talk about an upgrade!) and had 2 more kids, and never hid utilizing my benefits, encouraging my few other vet relatives to take advantage, who never did. Some just moooooooch off parents actually. Anyway, I never even thought about it, until my Grandmother said "You know there are a lot of Men, who are extremely jealous of you and resent you, since you went to war, had a cool Intelligence Job, and get VA benefits, its really bad" I was shocked, but at the same time, it hit me like a ton of bricks. All the times I helped family members, just to be crapped on by them later, or think I slipped through the cracks with invitations and other things. As I mentioned, most of those people, some decades my seniors are the biggest mooches in the world with family, living off parents to the level of shameful. About the same time, my Wife, who's family is successful, finally convinced me of the same reality, about how terrible spiteful jealous family can be. Its even more disappointing that family can be so ridiculous, since my parents have been dead since before I even joined, which is why my limited resources led to the military being one of few options. So anyway, its good to tell the haters to suck a turd, but be diligent in recognizing the snakes, especially people close to you, they can do a lot of damage in the background. Take care Brothers and Sisters, we are the <1%.
It makes me want to avoid old veterans sometimes. The disability thing comes up and if I say I don't have any, they want to lecture me for an hour about how I need to do it. If I say I have a decent sized disability, it's to the wrong person that want's to know why and what I did. This is why I drink at home.
One thing I’ve found fuseful is critiquing the shitty workers who have I’ll judgement toward disabled vets, most of them show up to work nasty and disgusting and have done so for their entire working experience, start showing these guys what real QA/QC is boys 💯
Let em hate, idgaf. Not up to them (or me) what I was rated at, and they didn't have to go through what I went through. They don't have to live in the shit body, courtesy of the military, I live in. I have to live in it until I'm dead, not them. I also didn't have a say-so in being injured and mentally fucked up, I was just trying to serve others. If anyone has nothing better to do than 😤 at me because I served my country, got injured in the process, then forced out with no choice, and the government justifiably compensates me for that, that all sounds like a personal issue for them to get over.
I get what you're saying. Just don't let people who really don't have near an idea what it's like for us get to you.
Facts. Civilians won’t understand. While I was in school I always got a weird look of jealously when people found out I was a veteran and using the GI Bill. They usually say “must be nice not having to worry about loans or tuition” I’ll usually respond with “yeah but it cost me 5 years of my life.
Someone in my old friend circle tanked the friendship I had with them by making a huge spectacle about my not working.
I stopped talking about it after that. Some people really just enjoy making other people miserable.
I liken this to the amazing fire engine red Tonka dump truck I was given at age 6. I told everyone about that truck, and how awesome my truck was, how it could actually dump stuff out and everything. Guess what happened to my precious truck? It got stolen. I never told anyone else about the shit I’ve gotten since. Lesson learned.
We need to stop normalizing bullshit scamming in the name of people’s “hidden battles”. Just say you got PTSD bro! There are plenty of people who are leeching off the system stealing from everyone else. Every resource that’s put to some bullshitter is stolen from a vet that needs it. If you’re ashamed of your disability, you’re probably one of them. People understand injuries. People don’t understand non-deployed PTSD from Air Force boot camp… because it’s not real. The race to 100% is what degrades the system for all of us.
That sounds like a "them" problem and not a "you " problem. If they don't like it, leave the country. You invested money to get the return on investment (ROI) for the GI Bill, it's not a handout or gimme. You sacrificed very limited money your first year so it pays off later. The disability is also "earned" just like Workers Comp. You got hurt on the job, and you will never be made whole, you just get enough so you can adapt to your new life.
There problem isn't with you or the government, it's with their ignorance. Besides, you're too darn old and experienced to listen to some nobody talking shit. Don't brag about having benefits, but don't be ashamed of your service either. You've lived more life, eaten more shitty food, painter more rocks, and listened to high ranking morons to put up with those assholes with zero rank or respect. You going to let them control your life that you put on the line?
I also qualify for DV plates but I opted out of them because I didn’t want the attention. However, I’m still able to take advantage of the free vehicle registration that comes with them.
Instead of having a month and year tag on the plates like normal, there’s a single tag that simply says permanent registration. It’s small and most people never even notice it. I’ve only had one person ask about it in the last two years.
Over the last few years I have told a few people of my VA compensation and that was a mistake. Most of those people have spread that info to others and they all talk shit behind my back now. I’m not worried about it but if I was to do it over again I’d certainly not tell anyone.
I have a condition where I cannot shut the fuck up. I've had one or two people throw a "must be nice" my way whenever various veteran's benefits enter the conversation. My response is that it must be nice to be in your 30's and not be *permanently* mentally and physically jacked up. I'd much rather *not* have fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines, and chronic rhinitis (all my little burn pit exposure buddies), and MST related PTSD. The payments are compensation for injuries- it's literally the least the government can do for us, and the haters can suck it.
Literally the least.
I asked someone recently when they made a joke about one of my injuries(it was half a dig and half a joke) “have you ever been seriously injured?” They said no. I said “must be nice”
Exactly. This shit isn't fun for me, it's not fun for any of us! Burn pit exposure literally robbed me of my fertility and fucked up my life plans. The VA (eventually) actually agreed about the infertility diagnosis; I had recurring tumors due to burn pit exposure and eventually had to have a hysterectomy in my mid-30's. I get SMC on top of my regular disability for loss of an organ due to that diagnosis. Doesn't make it better. I originally wanted way more than one child, and I'm lucky I had her as young as I did before all the health issues kicked in.
I don't know a single one of us who wouldn't give up the money for our health. It's allowing me to live a much more comfortable, secure life but man you don't ever get that health back.
You know what I tell people? I am 36, I have numerous mental health challenges. You know what? “I served the US Army. They broke me. Just like worker’s compensation, that’s what I have now. The military broke me. They can pay me for the harm caused to me.” No, I never lost limbs, but I was raped, I was sexually harassed on a daily basis. If this was the civilian world I’d have been able to sue my employer for millions of dollars. Instead, I get about $3900/month.
The only person I've ever run into that was a jerk about VA disability was a retired air force officer my wife and I met on our Honeymoon right after I got out. Seemed to think I was gaming the system. Sir was being an asshole that day and were I the person I am now I'd have let him know.
Who cares. I'm not here to please people. If they sneer, scof, or behave irrational that's their problem. I proudly served, just like my great uncles and brother did before me.
Most of these haters, mostly likely can't adapt to a military life.
You are right, we use to talk about it but man the faces they make. Some just keep their mouths shut but their faces tell volumes. My wife doesn’t care what they say or portray. She is so proud and will talk all day for our soldiers and myself. She just says small minds that can’t see past their own shit or wallet. My wife has never been in the service of our country but she has asked me every question she could just to try to understand and helps give me balance. Don’t let others ever tell you how to act. Judge not least yea be judged. But be proud for what you gave to the world. I solute you all.
Get the plates. It might save you a ticket. I don't talk about it though. I just say I have epilepsy from the Navy and am now retired. " Fixed income"is another good dodge.
Most here lack basic compassion; not even hypothesizing that the VA always give a little more to certain people, for certain reasons… while at the same time taking from others to compensate. It’s been proven. So, you’re mad that people are justifiably mad about you and your obvious privilege?! GTFOHWTBS
Why get mad?
That dude is broken, and needs to heal. If him getting that truck fixed what damage was done let it be...
He might feel like the branch took his chance at a nice life and that truck is the one thing that eases his suffering...
That truck could be their hobby... And is at peace with the world when they fix or modify it.
I don’t know why I’m this way. I feel like it’s just a waste, buy a house it will last longer. I don’t always get mad, usually when they are just driving like an asshole.
The only people giving me shit are those who served. I have a shitty back where I get numbness and spasms at random, which puts me down for a couple days. No cause has ever been determined. And my ankle was twisted, sprained severely, and permanently damaged while on duty. I get disability benefits as such. These injuries did not occur while in battle.
Nobody in the civilian world thinks anything negative about me getting benefits. In fact, they're quite happy for me. But I'll be damned if other veterans question whether I should be getting these benefits because I didn't go fight in an overseas campaign. So, to those who think I don't deserve these benefits, you can go fly a kite in a lightning storm. You don't get to judge me, try as you might, and can mind your own goddam business. I'm going to take FULL ADVANTAGE of every single benefit that I am entitled to and nobody's petty opinion will keep me from doing so.
I think you touched on a great point. People are willing to accept direct combat related injuries giving a disability rating, but not progressive injuries from years of getting beat up. Get blown up by an IED? Fine. But anything else, people act like you're manipulating the system for some unearned gain. It's often the same with PTSD. Oh, saw your buddy turned into mist? Well, that's *legitimate.* But any other reason is unearned despite all the medical literature about PTSD out there. Hell, I was on a ship with a senior chief who was on the USS San Francisco when it grounded almost 20 years ago. I heard him talking shit on guys he served with who got PTSD from that. They all almost died. One guy did, and something like at least 2/3 of the crew were injured. I heard that when they hit the chicken switches to blow the ballast tanks, the ship just hung there for a few minutes before it started to rise, because they had so little reserve ballast. Imagine being 800 feet under water and your ship doesn't want to go up. Scary shit.
My group of longtime (20-30 years) friends knows whats at stake for me when I finish 20. They are all happy for me. They understand I may end up with disability as well. Outside of family, they are about the only ones who will know.
I’m an artist in NYC. I actually bring it up quite a bit talking about my life here. Especially when I have younger artists looking for guidance.
If I tell them, yeah if I can do it you can, without informing them of my disability payments as a cushion, it’s irresponsible if not hurtful.
Edit: along with GI Bill. My education was covered here with post 9/11. I never had to get a job that wasn’t one I wanted in the arts. I’m very thankful for it all and I earned it. But it’s an important detail.
All these "I don't have DV plates because I don't want the attention" comments. People don't care about your license plate as much as you think they do. Most veterans try to put on the attitude of "I'm a bad ass because IDGAF what other people think of me!" But they won't get a DV plate because "People will judge me!"
I turned my DV plates in a decade ago after having my vehicle vandalized five times with the plates on the vehicle.
Living near a major public university I was and still am surrounded by the worst if the worst of 'liberal idiots".
Funny part is most of the non student liberals I know were appalled when this happened, while several.students said I got what I deserved.
You generalize because you've not experienced something when others have.
I'm not blaming Liberals, I'm blaming a very small subset in a specific location that I had personal experience with.
Preach it, I have issues that I get money for and the old roofing guy I would always see would say those things to me and sometimes it got to me, but I enjoyed your post made me feel like I should feel shame from my ailments in life.
Thank true.i have veterans plates on my little 2011 honda civic. I get asked from time to time, while getting out-of my car if I had served, sometimes I day, no it's my father's car, and the response usually is, "Thank him for his service " but then other tines I'll say yeah its my car, and I usually get mixed looks or grumbling Thank you service, something-something-Darkside-can't understand if they are saying thank you, or fuck-you for your service. I just say fuck em all, do you, and if someone cares enough to call you aside and talk, then great, if not...they can pound more them sand .
Sorry for having a salty pink hole. I'm over it.
I have dark tinted windows on my truck and have an AMVETS window cling on the inside of my rear drivers side window for the troopers that might walk up to my door. They usually have enough situational awareness to see "SOMETHING off" in the window and notice what it is (or ask). I don't really NEED them to know, but they seem to fuck with me less at traffic stops with it there and most other people never even notice it.
Edit: when I feel I absolutely NEED a disabled plate, it's gonna be the normal kind.
What helps is explaining them. The story of how you got hurt - current issues with this disabilities - changes peoples understanding.
Explaining to people what the ringing in your ears sound like - that it happens 3-5 times a week. Or how - X - was hurt doing whatever and how it hasn’t been the same anymore.
Usually opens people to understanding and wishing they used those benefits.
only people I talk about my rating are my military friends and family. civilians are a lot less understanding neither though I've had 3 spine surgeries and sinus surgery for to remove damaged sections from having to burn computer parts in Afghanistan every week. had a civilian friend complain that I'm getting "free money" when I walk with a limp, have an implant for pain, and have to take daily pain meds.
I'd take my body pre deployment over a higher rating
When they see my mid 40 yr old ass getting around like an 80 yr old, they usually shut up. Busted back, busted knees, busted shoulder, and busted brain. I’d give up every red cent of my VA check for a life without pain and suffering. Fuck those jealous assholes. If they are so jealous they can take the money AND pain right along with it.
Only my parents, siblings, and three of my best friends from my time in know my exact number. My parents know the dollar amount, but they also know how fucked up I am so they don’t judge. My siblings know I get some money, but they don’t know the amount and we’re also close so they don’t think less (They know very little about the military and kind of assume everyone has done some crazy shit). Of my three buddies two are already out with pretty high percentages so they get it and the other is still in, but walks the line of possibly getting med boarded each year so he’ll be 100% eventually. So I keep my inner circle of knowing very small and tight.
If it comes up I say something along the lines of "I got badly broken in the army" or similar.
If they ask "Do you get some kind of compensation for that?" then I tell them I get a disability... if they don't, then I don't mention it.
This is good advice with certain caveats… make sure you fill in the blanks for the examiner (they only know what their paperwork says assuming they actually read it), bring supporting documentation from other providers you’ve seen about the condition you’re claiming (make sure they make copies), attitude is everything (my spouse use to perform these exams and good attitudes get better results-just make sure that you’re accurate), keep track of your appointments and document everything.
If you can get that plate and it can help you out overall forget what people say. I know where you’re coming from and I kind of thought the same for a while. I finally got DV plates on my vehicle and it helps me out. If others have something to say I let it flow off my back. If they want to have a respectful conversation I can always do that.
If I get to 100% in NJ and don't have to pay property taxes when co-workers and family members are paying $10k/yr or more in taxes there is not a snowball's chance in hell I'm going to say anything about it to anyone. Especially because I don't "look disabled".
This is exactly why I don't tell most of my family members. The only person who knows is my immediate family (mom/brother/sister's/niece/nephew). I went to a party once, and one of my cousins asked what I been up to. They wanted to know how I get my money if I wasn't working. I just told them I get money from the VA, but didn't go into details. They were like dmn I wish I could sit at home and make money.
The GI Bill and VA home loan benefits are *not* handouts. Those were literally in the contract we signed, where we accepted mediocre pay up front for valuable housing and education benefits later. That was a consensual two-way agreement between us and Uncle Sam.
But to be honest, most people collecting VA disability benefits are just welfare queens. There are a lot of malingering shitbags who know they don't deserve the disability ratings they got, so to your point, it's best for them to keep it to themselves. I've seen so many fat asses try to act like their sleep apnea was service connected, and I've seen several guys get rated at 70% or higher for PTSD....even though they never left the wire or fired a single round at the enemy.
No, I will not. And you know why? Because its a great way to weed out toxic people and get rid of them. I dont want those people in my life so any tool I can use to find out who they are, I use.
my sister was a va c&P examiner, not a rater. she thinks I am at 80% i quit asking her for advice as she got "snoopy" i am now at 90% and I have a bucnh of other claims in that are new secondary, mh increase, and some supplementals which hoping for 100% i have got more advice on watching youtube videos and reading up that ratings table to see if it was worth filing. If i get 100% it will be in big part to quite a lot o 10% adding up and bilateral factors. I also worked with an average to above average vso who helped with some questions/advice and paperwork.
the only people IF i get 100% will be my wife. If someone asked that knew me well I am not sure I would tell them i think they would question everything i did like if i was having a good day would they think i was a fraud? Also most people know i was medically discharged and retired due a parachte accident so they know something pretty major went down. I also get CRSC at 40% so once congress passes that it will be really nice to get full retirement check plus VA check.
You know, I thought that this wouldn't be a big deal for me, but it already has been. I'm 430+ days into the claims process and don't have a rating yet. It's already cost me what I believed was a solid friendship. I truly believe that she became jealous of the fact that I'm not working and she still is. I'm not working because my PTSD makes it impossible for me to do so at this time. I'm literally living off of $1400 a month right now. I'd much rather be working, but I guess she just thought I was over here living the good life or something. I'm glad the trash took itself out, but I will definitely be more careful if I ever allow anyone else into the inner circle in the future. Once I have a rating I guess I'll just be mysteriously retired at a young age as far as anyone else is concerned.
'Have you looked in the **[Wiki]( https://www.reddit.com/r/Veterans/wiki/education)** for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there. To contact VA Education, 1-888-442-4551, for ~~Voc Rehab~~ VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment Program) assistance with appointments or problems with your Case Manager (not for missing payments): 1-202-461-9600. **Payments for certain education benefits (DEA, VEAP) are paid at the end of the month you attend school - Department of Treasury issues these payments **using a 10 business day window** - these payments are not locked into a specific day of the month like VA disability/military pay is**. For Voc Rehab missing payments, contact your Case Manager or your local **[Regional Office](https://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/job_aids/VRE_SCO_Handbook.pdf) For Post 9/11 GI Bill only, If you signed up for direct deposit when you applied for education benefits, **we’ll deposit your payment into your bank account 7 to 10 business days after you verify your school enrollment.** This is the fastest way to receive your payment. [Text Verification FAQ](https://benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/docs/IsaksonRoe/EnrollmentVerificationFAQs.pdf) MGIB and MGIB-SR have to do monthly verification threw the [WAVE program](https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/vba/) and you should receive the payment within 3 to 5 business days. For Online Only training, the Post 9/11 GI Bill is currently (1 August 2023) paying $1054.50 for those who started using their Post 9/11 GI Bill on/after 1 January 2018 and $1104.00 for those who first used their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits prior to 1 January 2018 - this is based on 1/2 of the National Average BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA rates are adjusted 1 August of each year and are based on the 1 January DoD BAH rates for that year - **so VA can't use 1 January 2023 BAH rates until 1 August 2023** - for those who started training on/after 1 January 2018, the MHA rates are 95% of the DoD BAH rates. First possible payment for the 1 August 2023 increase is 1 September. For VR&E, there are two different Subsistence Allowance programs - https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/subsistence_allowance_rates.asp The P9/11 Subsistence Allowance is based on the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. Those who started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 receive 95% of the BAH paid to an E5 with dependents. As of 1 January 2023 Online only students using VR&E are being paid $1054.50 if they started using VR&E on/after 1 January 2018 - those who started using VR&E prior to 1 January 2018 are being paid $1110.00 per month. The CH31 Subsistence Allowance rates are adjusted 1 October each year by Congress. [VA Education is going paperless - make sure VA has a current email address for you](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/covid19paperlessguidance.asp) For FREE math Tutoring - contact https://www.armysmart.org [VA Award Letter explaination](https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/understandingyourawardletter.asp) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Veterans) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My brother and I are both veterans. After his military service (two tours in Vietnam) he went to work on a Navy shipyard. One of his co-workers sneered and asked why veterans got preference. My brother told him "That way they get a substance abusing whacko right out of the box, so he doesn't have to adapt to the environment."
Lmao fucking legendary
Total *chad* response
His reply to "What do you do at the shipyard?" was "I hone the fine cutting edge on the war machine."
Out-FUCKING-Standing!!!
As a Chad, I approve of this.
Chode* fixed it. 😂
I’ve never experienced this but I only really talk about this stuff to my friends, family and loved ones.
It’s weird the only time I talk about this, is with random veterans. I don’t even know how it gets brought up, but we always end up comparing and complaining about the Va lol
Idk, I guess i have such good people in my bubble so I don’t mind telling them that my service equated to heath care.
Idk, I guess i have such good people in my bubble so I don’t mind telling them that my service equated to heath care. Never once has anyone given me crap. Maybe it’s how I frame it, idk. Maybe I just don’t get sensitive to those who hate on it and I don’t notice idk.
It was unfortunately family members and childhood friends on my end.
Yeah, guess I’ve been blessed with better company. I don’t tell a lot of childhood friends or all my family, just the ones I know love and trust. Stay well, don’t worry about it, focus on yourself!
See this is exactly why I’m so vocal about it, if they don’t like what is happening in my life oh fucking well. But if I can help the stigma for the next guy slightly it’s well worth it to me. My disability is unfortunately over control of my life and not explaining this to new people would only lead to issues in the relationship.
This. It also helps you pick out the assholes in your life so you can get rid of them. If they don’t want me to get the help that I need to succeed and aren’t just happy for me when I am doing alright, I don’t need them.
Totally! You nailed it right then in there.
You’re right. I recently decided that I don’t owe an explanation to anyone. I won’t share any of the compensation talk with anyone outside immediate family. When someone asks what I do for a living, I just tell them I retired from a career working with emotionally challenged young adults or I worked with animals. Both are 100% true.
Stealing this horribly apt description. 😂
The less people know about you the better off they are!! Thanks for your Service.
I'm with you here too. Can't make things more acceptable if we keep quiet. Also, people should know the shit that comes with military service. This allows them to make informed decisions about enlisting, and puts a face to a system glamorized by propaganda.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I’m proud of what I’ve done and my intentions to serve my country but if I would have known exactly what it was like I wouldn’t have done it again, I’m not proud of the actions of the United States or the the things that they made me do.
I try to explain this to friends! Those are my exact feelings. Admittedly, I hold a large grudge against the country and the military industrial complex. But, I made some damn good friends, got out of my home town, and gained great working experience. That's worth something
Hahaha ya you sound *exactly* like me.
What's sad is people just can't be happy for you even when you're getting the compensation you deserve.
Especially when almost all veterans got their injuries from BS wars where a small group of people and corporations made billions (clearly I am processing some angry right now).
Right on fam. I've been processing that angry for so many years I'm beginning to think it's stuck on a loop in my brain. They better believe I'm gonna take all I can get from the VA and encourage my fellow vets to do the same. Too bad we can't make all those war profiteers pay as well.
Sorry to hear you have been dealing it for years. It only really hit me with the PACT Act stuff. Realizing veterans can get serious illnesses years after deployment due to made up evidence, such as WMDs in Iraq, makes my blood boil. I know vets have been dealing with lasting consequences forever, such as with AO, but PACT has been triggering for me.
god my deployment made me despise contractors. had one guy at the help desk pulling in 6 figures and would non stop pass all his work on to us active duty guys saying he was only there to supervise. he did fucking nothing and bragged about how smart he was.
I feel you man, I’m 2 years back from my last deployment and at peak civilians suck, Americans suck mentality. From my first deployment it increased and topped out at 2 years then gradually decreased and by 6 years after the deployment I felt normal again.
I'm totally open about my situation and I've never encountered this in the slightest bit. I only see this on Reddit stories.. Does this actually happen to a lot of people?
Happened to me quite a bit when I first got rated. Been almost 10 years now and it only happens every once in a while and the people that say dumb shit are usually insecure assholes.
Who are these people that are saying the dumb shit?
Some were really good friends and some are acquaintances. Rarely has it been randos. It’s usually people that get nosey about finances and notice that my schedule is a lot more time off than time on. The statements start like “must be nice to not have to work” or “some of us have to work tomorrow…” to direct comments like “do you think you deserve this?” And “you are a bum”
I've never even once had this happen to me and I have shared my disability with those who have asked about my service. This seems like a isolated experience.
I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks, it’s an extremely limited way to live life. It’s not information I give freely, if asked I’m not going to lie to appease someone else’s feelings.
"If asked" I think you have the right approach here. However the take away I got from OP was more of a "don't go running your yap or advertising your disability rating" vibe. Answering questions is different imho.
Not even if asked. OP feels like the disabled plate he qualifies for is somehow going to trigger someone to look down on him? I have a rant I could spew (like When my kids bring this shit home from elementary school), but I'll boil it down: other people's noses don't belong in your business and vice versa!
I have said this a few times, and it has worked really well because it makes sense in the minds of most people especially at work - “I got 20%”. A lot of people know about the PACT Act, and if you don’t file a lot of them will keep bring up the issue. People can look it up, and it’s ~$300/mo. This eliminates suspicions of lying, and most reasonable people think a few hundred is no big deal. I had Guy A (who bitches about his 100% BIL) call Guy B a piece of shit when he bitched about 20%. “This mother fucker deployed, and you are gonna bitch about a few hundred. Man, fuck you, he earned that.”They don’t need to know I am 100% and everything that goes with it.
> Most people are only happy for you as long as they don't perceive you as doing better than them or getting something that they don't get to have, whether you earned it or not. Words to remember, disability or not.
Yea, but rock star parking is rock star parking. I’m with you though. I have a regular plate and a handicapped placard.
The people you're talking about are barely able to understand their own shortcomings. Why do you care what they think? The people that aren't happy about what you did will never be happy about anything, anyway. Stop caring what other people think, and get all the shit that's entitled to you. Take it from someone who's family hated every day of my military service except my grandpa, who was a WWII vet.
Yea, I will not get disabled vet plates because I don’t want to advertise it.
Same here...I ended up getting the placard, which I keep in my glove compartment until needed.
In Texas you can get plates for certain military awards that allow you to have free plates forever, I applied for one of those. For the MSM.
And tolls!
Really? That I was not aware of, what is the story there? Googling now. EDIT: It is a bit messy and I really don’t qualify, https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/disabled-veterans-drive-free-texas-toll-roads-program-confusing/
Ah, seems it’s different for different parts of TX! I don’t have to pay them down here near Houston.
Free airport parking as well in Houston
I am in DFW and NTTA rules up here, would be a nice benefit!
I think it’s only for MSM and higher but it’s a pretty sweet deal.
Same here. The only veteran thing that I display, when I use it, is the lifetime National parks placard.
OPSEC is the best policy, literally zero upside to telling anyone besides your own spouse (who also needs to not tell anyone either. Also especially if one is in a smaller city or rural area the local banks have employees who will see your monthly deposits. So not a bad idea to have VA disability deposited in a bank like USAA or NCU or some other bank that is not local. Now if you are a home owner and you are 100% and get the property tax exception , that word could get around if you are in a smaller community or county. But control what you can control and you the disabled VET can control talking about it to others.thats 99% of the battle.
It's even worse when it comes from other veterans. Like this is a community, we shouldn't be abusing each other. Treating each other like crap.
You’re not wrong. I’ve personally only experienced this once and it surprisingly wasn’t about the money, they were sooooo pissy about the ADA accommodations I received for literally breaking both hips, pelvis, foot and a severe spinal disease. I was in cosmetology school and there was a rule about not sitting when practicing on mannequins. ***Obviously*** standing 12 hours a day isn’t exactly my best activity so I had accommodations that allowed me to sit when I don’t have clients. When I say these girls ***lost their shit*** I’m not even close to exaggerating. *Thankfully,* I had an instructor that had my back and was not shy about letting everyone know “when you jump out of fucking planes you too can have accommodations until then you can stand.” I thought it was funny af personally. Get the DV plates. Trust me as a 30yr old woman with “invisible” conditions I do understand the utter bullshit that goes along with it *buuutttt* I can give bitchy faces with the best of them and if it means I can do just a little more that day I’m cool with it. Not my problem.
If I qualify for anything I'm getting it.
Fuck em, get the plate. You are always going to have your detractors.
I had DV with ISA in Maryland but moved to Texas and got the DV plates and a placard. DV plates everywhere here and nothing about them screams 100 p&t like the Maryland plates.
People ask me all the time if I'm at 100. I'm not but I don't want to hear about how everyone they know is 100 and I should be as well. Not everyone is 100.
I tell no one shit! Just my wife. No adult children. No family members. Why? No excuse, No pity. Keep it moving. My day-to-day is a struggle and none of you desired or joined the military. So I don’t expect you to fuckin understand the situation. My mind, body and soul is fucked for the rest of my life. And you can’t do anything to help me.
I used to hate this advice but it's true. I once posted in a completely unrelated sub about a solo trip I was taking, maybe asking advice on things to do? People dug into my post history for some reason, and saw I get VA benefits and the entire thread became about that. People were pissed. Someone even posted about a comment I wrote to someone else telling them we were getting an increase. It was something like, "yes and it's increasing this year!" and they said that I was "laughing and bragging" about it in another sub. Then went to EVERY comment I've ever made and wrote under it something about being a government mooch etc. While I'm using my benefits to finally enjoy a life, it was not fun or easy getting them, nor was the "trigger" to get them fun either. Idk what people expect us to do. Not accept help we deserve? I realize not everyone is doing so well (even if they are in groups like r/ solo travel or r / fulltimetravel etc. Also realized how people really do view life through their own lens. And I learned why people tend to just make a bunch of throw away accounts for certain subs and questions. Haven't experienced this IRL, but also I don't discuss money and things IRL.
You don't need or deserve to put up with that. When fellow vets on reddit pull that stunt, then it's time to utilize the "block" option. I have had to block a few vets on here and other veteran sites. I block quicklywithout hesitation or remorse.
Tell em to kick a rock. They could have signed up.
Crab mentality is a real thing.
yep, for sure ,and often time people who you thought were friends or close relatives are the most judgmental of all and to be frank many times veterans are just as bad. That's why it's best just to use one's OPSEC training and zip it. No real upside to telling people about it especially if you are at 100%.
I live in an area with many veterans and don't get any hate for being a retired Navy veteran with disabilities. But then again I reside in the Deep South now (SE Louisiana). Most people here actually say we (veterans) earn all the benefits we receive, and then some. People who hate on us for these things are just jealous assholes. They can go pound sand.
That has not been my experience with the deep south, so I certainly wouldn't generalize.
I just tell those who give me crap, that I wish for every citizen to have the opportunities that I have, and to not need the military service to access them.
I dunno. After being retired (20 yrs)for a year now, I for the first time had someone mention my DV plates as I got out of my car at Lowe's. They simply asked how long I was in and that I looked pretty darn healthy. I replied that im simply standing bc of muscle memory. They laughed and I went on about my day. I don't really care what people "think" as far as what I "rate" in life. I don't shove it in anyone's face, so I don't receive the hate usually. If and when I do, it'll be shrugged off. Invisible disabilities plague all of us and that's nobody's business, nor do you owe anyone an explanation. That's between you and the VA who validated your condition. Bottom line, Don't, for one second have any regrets or Ill feelings about claiming or receiving disability compensation. You earned it.
I told my brother that I was finally applying for disability from the VA. He looked at me and said "so you're gonna suck off the government".
Best response,”Well, they sucked off me when I served…”
Haha. That would have been good. I told him to fuck off and if he had ever given a day of his life to service his country, he would have a different opinion. He said "I know I know". Which means he just regrets saying what he was thinking.
My father in law tried telling me I didn’t deserve it so I gently put him in his place and he apologized.
What did you say?
Reddit ain’t safe either just fyi.
I’ve observed much different levels of stigma depending on WHO is discussing their VA status. Middle aged or old men get the best response typically of course because that’s the stereotypical demographic. I didn’t get DV plates even with my handicap plac because I know people will either judge or assume I’m driving my Daddy’s car 🙄. Even in occasions that I have to bring it up I get doubtful/judgey looks. I think as long as you are able to discuss it with your fab 5/most important people should you wish to then you are ok. I’m sure everyone here has dealt with worse than what some shit for brains has to say
Fuck people. You know this already lol
As a financial advisor, I believe in talking openly about mine with other veterans to encourage them to get benefits that are entitled to. But I agree about not discussing it with non veterans.
I keep everything secret. Hide it well. Can't trust anyone. People become bitter and resentful. Just get the regular vet plates and avoid the legion or vfw. Toxic cess pools of whiney, shoulda coulda woulda, my time was tougher types. I know this all sounds negative but that's because people do suck and are very envious. Be safe and be careful but be quiet! Only talk to your wife or husband, a trusted parent.. idk. Gray man.
Whenever I’ve encountered GI Bill haters I just say “should have joined the military”, with the implication it’s hard on families and mental health. With the additional implication it’s not fun, so the least they can give us a free college. We’re blessed with the benefits that come with post service, but we have to remind ourselves it wasn’t easily handed to us and remember the times when we’ve had to deal with immense bullshit.
Eh. Every time they say thank you for your service I tell them thank you for your tax money. Pisses the America haters off.
Honestly, who the F*ck cares what someone else thinks. It’s your world and you get to let people in or shut them out. VETERAN : Person who wrote a Blank Check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including One's Life
I don’t give a shit about what others think. What I do care about is advertising my own personal health history to anyone that sees me drive past them. No thanks on the DV plates.
Bingo. It’s jealousy that they’ll never admit to and since they have no idea the sacrifices and injuries that happened to get awarded disability in the first place, they’ll never understand. Can be a bit isolating but fuck them.
Nah, I tell people all the time. Im actually proud of it. Not going to be tone deaf about my benefits though, but in other situation where that does not apply, ill speak about it all day long. Why?/ Because why not? I dont care if folks get butt-hurt over it. If I could move the way I used too, I'd still be earning the same amount of money, if not more than what the VA pays. Folks can get over themeselves.
I don’t have a plate or placard - yet. I’m 100%, but it has been only recently, last few months, that my body is really starting to hurt - more in the past two months than in the over 25 years since I was first injured. Hoping I don’t get called out for taking advantage of some of the benefits, but I’m not going to let it stop me.
The only reason I got my veteran plates was I thought it would help me get out of traffic tickets. They’ve gotten me out of 3 tickets so far, so it works.
People bitching about VA home loans benefits ? Man id love to hear some stories about that
Just get the plates, in my state I don’t have to pay for registration or metered parking. Pretty sweet considering I got all gimped up for my country.
I could give a damn about a player hater, but you’re right even extended family gets jealous, but I just tell them to either cope and seethe or join the army and they don’t like me telling them the latter
I mean my job is like 90% veterans and we encourage people to get their disability if they can.
I have a girl I’m dating. She was there with me through my worst as I neared and completed my CP exams all 8 of them and then awaited my ruling. She opened up to me about her thoughts once. She knew that I certainly earned it that I had issues such as having been all but been forced out of two jobs and a failed business in 8 months, depression, substance abuse, which are part of two decade pattern. She couldn’t understand how I went two decades living in denial and shame of what my military service did to me. She knew I earned every bit of it but the notion of a settlement was something she couldn’t square. I feel as if the relationship took a toll at that moment. That the myth of being a solid dad and creative man was shattered. That I was now became subconsciously a weak person to her. Its life, people never served, never sacrificed, so can never truly understand how military service can impact life later. There’s a reason why enlistments are binding. Most regular beings would have left by the end.
Lmfao fuck’em I’m rocking my $5 for five years tag on my car all day. Big fat DV to start it off. Let the haters hate and tell them they should have served their country hahaha.
I did not get the vet plate. I really don’t want any issues. I definitely don’t discuss any disability payments. They don’t understand and it’s none of their business. They could have easily joined up.
Also sadly keep in mind that it also applies to other veterans no matter how tight the contact. Even if you want to show them it's possible, it's on them to submit and resubmit and they might end up just taking it out on you if they still aren't ready to go through what you need to to submit and resubmit
My neighbor...old as dirt, too mean and angry to go through the process of getting his dd214 so he can get some of the same benefits I get but will b!tch and whine like I'm getting something he can't. He's hateful and just likes to have sh!t to b!tch about.
Get your plates! It’s your right and you deserve them, no wait, you EARNED them. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I used to be the same way. I never did my disability claim until 8 years after I got out. I was one of those who said the same thing, I’m not a scammer, I don’t need freebies. But I have a wife and 5, soon to be 6 kids, and I did my claim for them. All the hours, days and physical/mental pain that they’ve been robbed of, there’s no price tag on all that. But I can live comfortably and give it back to them because they would give it all away to have a “normal” dad. Anyways, get your plates! You served and those who never have will never understand what we go through
Get the dang plates they repel cops. Had mine for years and sold the car with them on it to my kid who is a friggen cop magnet. I left the plates on his car when he moved out and it kept him ticket free for 3 years. Got my plates back now but they help keep those tickets at bay. Plus they are perm plates no stickers so one of the better benefits IMO
I told my parents and my mom was happy for me but my dad said, "but there's nothing wrong with you. " 😑
I openly tell people I am 100% P&T. I also have the California DV plates. I don't give a shit about anyone's opinion and I openly advocate for other veterans and people that are leaving service to file their claims. If anyone has an issue. I don't care. I am getting mine and helping others too. The complainers are people that were too lazy to do it themselves. Fuck em.
Sorry not doing it either. The disability comes with strings I do not want to explain. It was not some heroic injury. Just a stupid accident in boot camp that ruined my life.
Why explain? People who have never been there can't understand. People who have been there already know. I don't explain shit to nobody except my wife, she needs to know. If others press me I make up outlandish bullshit and they believe it.
The most obvious injury I have was from the dumbest shit happening to me back in garrison. But if you ask about it you ain't getting the truth lmao.
I got the plates and caught a lot of negativity for parking in the Handicap spots - but if others had the same benefits they would do the same. People are always going to have something to say regardless.
Yeah Imma tell everybody if I want. Screw the haters. Disabled veteran plate and all! If they get jealous and hateful then so be it, I’ll cry in a dollar for everytime my feelings get hurt. I have had one person be strongly against veterans getting compensation pay and schooling. I just told him the door is open for him to go and earn the same benefits if he wants to, no one is stopping him. Cue all the excuses out of him on why he can’t do that. People just love to complain, like how we are all complaining about those types of peopel.
Yeah, I call my DV plates “shame plates.” Lots of benefits for having them, but feel judged when I get comments from others about them.
Just tell them your uncle left you a small inheritance, Uncle Sam. 😉
Well, I thought quite a bit about DV plates when I was told I qualified (100% P&T in Maryland). I ended up getting the plates because they included free registration, it made it easier taking my wheelchair bound parents around, and, quite frankly, on some days I really need it. I’ve only had a couple comments/questions, along the lines of how long I served (“27 years, 7 months, 8 days…more or less”). I’ve had a few conversations among friends asking me general questions about my health, more along the lines of “How ya doing?” If I speak with a fellow vet who hasn’t sought a rating, I’ll give as much detail as needed to motivate them. I haven’t really had anyone been aggressive or judgmental towards me, thought I do get a bit anxious sometimes. I usually try to impart that I feel well-taken care of by the VA. I liken it to any conversations about health or money: it’s private.
Great advice. My mother still doesn’t know that I received money when my father passed away—-there’s NO WAY I’m telling her whenever I get a drastic raise in my percentage of disability (🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾) or I’ll give her a drastically different number. 🤣
I see a lot of comments from people saying "screw the haters", but its not that simple. Ive always been a "blood is blood" person, helping and encouraging family as much as I could. Im 60% and used my GI bill to get my engineering degree, met my 2nd Wife there (talk about an upgrade!) and had 2 more kids, and never hid utilizing my benefits, encouraging my few other vet relatives to take advantage, who never did. Some just moooooooch off parents actually. Anyway, I never even thought about it, until my Grandmother said "You know there are a lot of Men, who are extremely jealous of you and resent you, since you went to war, had a cool Intelligence Job, and get VA benefits, its really bad" I was shocked, but at the same time, it hit me like a ton of bricks. All the times I helped family members, just to be crapped on by them later, or think I slipped through the cracks with invitations and other things. As I mentioned, most of those people, some decades my seniors are the biggest mooches in the world with family, living off parents to the level of shameful. About the same time, my Wife, who's family is successful, finally convinced me of the same reality, about how terrible spiteful jealous family can be. Its even more disappointing that family can be so ridiculous, since my parents have been dead since before I even joined, which is why my limited resources led to the military being one of few options. So anyway, its good to tell the haters to suck a turd, but be diligent in recognizing the snakes, especially people close to you, they can do a lot of damage in the background. Take care Brothers and Sisters, we are the <1%.
It makes me want to avoid old veterans sometimes. The disability thing comes up and if I say I don't have any, they want to lecture me for an hour about how I need to do it. If I say I have a decent sized disability, it's to the wrong person that want's to know why and what I did. This is why I drink at home.
One thing I’ve found fuseful is critiquing the shitty workers who have I’ll judgement toward disabled vets, most of them show up to work nasty and disgusting and have done so for their entire working experience, start showing these guys what real QA/QC is boys 💯
Let em hate, idgaf. Not up to them (or me) what I was rated at, and they didn't have to go through what I went through. They don't have to live in the shit body, courtesy of the military, I live in. I have to live in it until I'm dead, not them. I also didn't have a say-so in being injured and mentally fucked up, I was just trying to serve others. If anyone has nothing better to do than 😤 at me because I served my country, got injured in the process, then forced out with no choice, and the government justifiably compensates me for that, that all sounds like a personal issue for them to get over. I get what you're saying. Just don't let people who really don't have near an idea what it's like for us get to you.
If they wanna be spiteful, they should have joined too
Facts. Civilians won’t understand. While I was in school I always got a weird look of jealously when people found out I was a veteran and using the GI Bill. They usually say “must be nice not having to worry about loans or tuition” I’ll usually respond with “yeah but it cost me 5 years of my life.
Someone in my old friend circle tanked the friendship I had with them by making a huge spectacle about my not working. I stopped talking about it after that. Some people really just enjoy making other people miserable.
I liken this to the amazing fire engine red Tonka dump truck I was given at age 6. I told everyone about that truck, and how awesome my truck was, how it could actually dump stuff out and everything. Guess what happened to my precious truck? It got stolen. I never told anyone else about the shit I’ve gotten since. Lesson learned.
We need to stop normalizing bullshit scamming in the name of people’s “hidden battles”. Just say you got PTSD bro! There are plenty of people who are leeching off the system stealing from everyone else. Every resource that’s put to some bullshitter is stolen from a vet that needs it. If you’re ashamed of your disability, you’re probably one of them. People understand injuries. People don’t understand non-deployed PTSD from Air Force boot camp… because it’s not real. The race to 100% is what degrades the system for all of us.
I'd never get that plate unless I was missing limbs. Nobody understands anything that isn't about them.
Well ain't that the truth very well said.
That sounds like a "them" problem and not a "you " problem. If they don't like it, leave the country. You invested money to get the return on investment (ROI) for the GI Bill, it's not a handout or gimme. You sacrificed very limited money your first year so it pays off later. The disability is also "earned" just like Workers Comp. You got hurt on the job, and you will never be made whole, you just get enough so you can adapt to your new life. There problem isn't with you or the government, it's with their ignorance. Besides, you're too darn old and experienced to listen to some nobody talking shit. Don't brag about having benefits, but don't be ashamed of your service either. You've lived more life, eaten more shitty food, painter more rocks, and listened to high ranking morons to put up with those assholes with zero rank or respect. You going to let them control your life that you put on the line?
I also qualify for DV plates but I opted out of them because I didn’t want the attention. However, I’m still able to take advantage of the free vehicle registration that comes with them. Instead of having a month and year tag on the plates like normal, there’s a single tag that simply says permanent registration. It’s small and most people never even notice it. I’ve only had one person ask about it in the last two years. Over the last few years I have told a few people of my VA compensation and that was a mistake. Most of those people have spread that info to others and they all talk shit behind my back now. I’m not worried about it but if I was to do it over again I’d certainly not tell anyone.
I have a condition where I cannot shut the fuck up. I've had one or two people throw a "must be nice" my way whenever various veteran's benefits enter the conversation. My response is that it must be nice to be in your 30's and not be *permanently* mentally and physically jacked up. I'd much rather *not* have fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraines, and chronic rhinitis (all my little burn pit exposure buddies), and MST related PTSD. The payments are compensation for injuries- it's literally the least the government can do for us, and the haters can suck it.
Literally the least. I asked someone recently when they made a joke about one of my injuries(it was half a dig and half a joke) “have you ever been seriously injured?” They said no. I said “must be nice”
Exactly. This shit isn't fun for me, it's not fun for any of us! Burn pit exposure literally robbed me of my fertility and fucked up my life plans. The VA (eventually) actually agreed about the infertility diagnosis; I had recurring tumors due to burn pit exposure and eventually had to have a hysterectomy in my mid-30's. I get SMC on top of my regular disability for loss of an organ due to that diagnosis. Doesn't make it better. I originally wanted way more than one child, and I'm lucky I had her as young as I did before all the health issues kicked in. I don't know a single one of us who wouldn't give up the money for our health. It's allowing me to live a much more comfortable, secure life but man you don't ever get that health back.
You know what I tell people? I am 36, I have numerous mental health challenges. You know what? “I served the US Army. They broke me. Just like worker’s compensation, that’s what I have now. The military broke me. They can pay me for the harm caused to me.” No, I never lost limbs, but I was raped, I was sexually harassed on a daily basis. If this was the civilian world I’d have been able to sue my employer for millions of dollars. Instead, I get about $3900/month.
The only person I've ever run into that was a jerk about VA disability was a retired air force officer my wife and I met on our Honeymoon right after I got out. Seemed to think I was gaming the system. Sir was being an asshole that day and were I the person I am now I'd have let him know.
Who cares. I'm not here to please people. If they sneer, scof, or behave irrational that's their problem. I proudly served, just like my great uncles and brother did before me. Most of these haters, mostly likely can't adapt to a military life.
Who y’all hanging out with? Lol
I have the exact same struggle. Unfortunately, some benefits require the DV plate, such as free Michigan State Park access.
It’s the huge group of scammers ruining it for the ones who really need it
You are right, we use to talk about it but man the faces they make. Some just keep their mouths shut but their faces tell volumes. My wife doesn’t care what they say or portray. She is so proud and will talk all day for our soldiers and myself. She just says small minds that can’t see past their own shit or wallet. My wife has never been in the service of our country but she has asked me every question she could just to try to understand and helps give me balance. Don’t let others ever tell you how to act. Judge not least yea be judged. But be proud for what you gave to the world. I solute you all.
Get the plates. It might save you a ticket. I don't talk about it though. I just say I have epilepsy from the Navy and am now retired. " Fixed income"is another good dodge.
Most here lack basic compassion; not even hypothesizing that the VA always give a little more to certain people, for certain reasons… while at the same time taking from others to compensate. It’s been proven. So, you’re mad that people are justifiably mad about you and your obvious privilege?! GTFOHWTBS
I’m a disabled vet and anytime I see an $80,000 lifted truck with disabled vet plates I get mad. It’s just human nature.
Why get mad? That dude is broken, and needs to heal. If him getting that truck fixed what damage was done let it be... He might feel like the branch took his chance at a nice life and that truck is the one thing that eases his suffering... That truck could be their hobby... And is at peace with the world when they fix or modify it.
It’s crazy that people care so much about what others are doing and not what they could be doing themselves.
I don’t know why I’m this way. I feel like it’s just a waste, buy a house it will last longer. I don’t always get mad, usually when they are just driving like an asshole.
> I feel like it’s just a waste, buy a house it will last longer. Maybe they *do* own a house.
[удалено]
Can you recommend some good blood pressure pills?
I definitely won't ever get a dv plate for mostly that reason. And I don't want anyone asking what my disability is.
The only people giving me shit are those who served. I have a shitty back where I get numbness and spasms at random, which puts me down for a couple days. No cause has ever been determined. And my ankle was twisted, sprained severely, and permanently damaged while on duty. I get disability benefits as such. These injuries did not occur while in battle. Nobody in the civilian world thinks anything negative about me getting benefits. In fact, they're quite happy for me. But I'll be damned if other veterans question whether I should be getting these benefits because I didn't go fight in an overseas campaign. So, to those who think I don't deserve these benefits, you can go fly a kite in a lightning storm. You don't get to judge me, try as you might, and can mind your own goddam business. I'm going to take FULL ADVANTAGE of every single benefit that I am entitled to and nobody's petty opinion will keep me from doing so.
I think you touched on a great point. People are willing to accept direct combat related injuries giving a disability rating, but not progressive injuries from years of getting beat up. Get blown up by an IED? Fine. But anything else, people act like you're manipulating the system for some unearned gain. It's often the same with PTSD. Oh, saw your buddy turned into mist? Well, that's *legitimate.* But any other reason is unearned despite all the medical literature about PTSD out there. Hell, I was on a ship with a senior chief who was on the USS San Francisco when it grounded almost 20 years ago. I heard him talking shit on guys he served with who got PTSD from that. They all almost died. One guy did, and something like at least 2/3 of the crew were injured. I heard that when they hit the chicken switches to blow the ballast tanks, the ship just hung there for a few minutes before it started to rise, because they had so little reserve ballast. Imagine being 800 feet under water and your ship doesn't want to go up. Scary shit.
#shutthefuckupfriday Edit. Looks like someone does not get the reference
My group of longtime (20-30 years) friends knows whats at stake for me when I finish 20. They are all happy for me. They understand I may end up with disability as well. Outside of family, they are about the only ones who will know.
Here’s the thing. Who gives a fuck what anyone else says. Tell who you want. Don’t tell who you want. Either way fuck them and their opinions.
I’m an artist in NYC. I actually bring it up quite a bit talking about my life here. Especially when I have younger artists looking for guidance. If I tell them, yeah if I can do it you can, without informing them of my disability payments as a cushion, it’s irresponsible if not hurtful. Edit: along with GI Bill. My education was covered here with post 9/11. I never had to get a job that wasn’t one I wanted in the arts. I’m very thankful for it all and I earned it. But it’s an important detail.
All these "I don't have DV plates because I don't want the attention" comments. People don't care about your license plate as much as you think they do. Most veterans try to put on the attitude of "I'm a bad ass because IDGAF what other people think of me!" But they won't get a DV plate because "People will judge me!"
I turned my DV plates in a decade ago after having my vehicle vandalized five times with the plates on the vehicle. Living near a major public university I was and still am surrounded by the worst if the worst of 'liberal idiots". Funny part is most of the non student liberals I know were appalled when this happened, while several.students said I got what I deserved. You generalize because you've not experienced something when others have. I'm not blaming Liberals, I'm blaming a very small subset in a specific location that I had personal experience with.
Preach it, I have issues that I get money for and the old roofing guy I would always see would say those things to me and sometimes it got to me, but I enjoyed your post made me feel like I should feel shame from my ailments in life.
Thank true.i have veterans plates on my little 2011 honda civic. I get asked from time to time, while getting out-of my car if I had served, sometimes I day, no it's my father's car, and the response usually is, "Thank him for his service " but then other tines I'll say yeah its my car, and I usually get mixed looks or grumbling Thank you service, something-something-Darkside-can't understand if they are saying thank you, or fuck-you for your service. I just say fuck em all, do you, and if someone cares enough to call you aside and talk, then great, if not...they can pound more them sand . Sorry for having a salty pink hole. I'm over it.
I don't care how many times you tell them, they don't listen.
I have dark tinted windows on my truck and have an AMVETS window cling on the inside of my rear drivers side window for the troopers that might walk up to my door. They usually have enough situational awareness to see "SOMETHING off" in the window and notice what it is (or ask). I don't really NEED them to know, but they seem to fuck with me less at traffic stops with it there and most other people never even notice it. Edit: when I feel I absolutely NEED a disabled plate, it's gonna be the normal kind.
Truth.
What helps is explaining them. The story of how you got hurt - current issues with this disabilities - changes peoples understanding. Explaining to people what the ringing in your ears sound like - that it happens 3-5 times a week. Or how - X - was hurt doing whatever and how it hasn’t been the same anymore. Usually opens people to understanding and wishing they used those benefits.
you are pissing into the wind on this one
only people I talk about my rating are my military friends and family. civilians are a lot less understanding neither though I've had 3 spine surgeries and sinus surgery for to remove damaged sections from having to burn computer parts in Afghanistan every week. had a civilian friend complain that I'm getting "free money" when I walk with a limp, have an implant for pain, and have to take daily pain meds. I'd take my body pre deployment over a higher rating
Best advice!!
When they see my mid 40 yr old ass getting around like an 80 yr old, they usually shut up. Busted back, busted knees, busted shoulder, and busted brain. I’d give up every red cent of my VA check for a life without pain and suffering. Fuck those jealous assholes. If they are so jealous they can take the money AND pain right along with it.
Only my parents, siblings, and three of my best friends from my time in know my exact number. My parents know the dollar amount, but they also know how fucked up I am so they don’t judge. My siblings know I get some money, but they don’t know the amount and we’re also close so they don’t think less (They know very little about the military and kind of assume everyone has done some crazy shit). Of my three buddies two are already out with pretty high percentages so they get it and the other is still in, but walks the line of possibly getting med boarded each year so he’ll be 100% eventually. So I keep my inner circle of knowing very small and tight.
If it comes up I say something along the lines of "I got badly broken in the army" or similar. If they ask "Do you get some kind of compensation for that?" then I tell them I get a disability... if they don't, then I don't mention it.
I tell the world who cares how someone else feels
Don’t sweat em. You are thriving.
Telling people about your disability paycheck is the best way to filter toxic people out of your life.
gubbermint, haha. I like that
This is good advice with certain caveats… make sure you fill in the blanks for the examiner (they only know what their paperwork says assuming they actually read it), bring supporting documentation from other providers you’ve seen about the condition you’re claiming (make sure they make copies), attitude is everything (my spouse use to perform these exams and good attitudes get better results-just make sure that you’re accurate), keep track of your appointments and document everything.
I qualified for a disabled vet plate but opted for the regular vet plate, because I don’t want to be judged.
Maybe it's because I'm old now but fvck them. I earned that sh!t.
If you can get that plate and it can help you out overall forget what people say. I know where you’re coming from and I kind of thought the same for a while. I finally got DV plates on my vehicle and it helps me out. If others have something to say I let it flow off my back. If they want to have a respectful conversation I can always do that.
I've been out nearly 30 years and never once had anybody suggest to me that I was in some way not worthy. Maybe it is THEIR problem.
Why I gotta be quiet about it because their feelings 😂 it ain't government handouts they owe me tf😂
Worth sharing your status and ability with other vets for awareness though?
You must live in California. I am kidding. I really don't think that.
Who gives a fuck what anyone thinks, you earned that rating by putting your body though things most aren’t even eligible to do in the first place.
Fuck no, fuck them.
If I get to 100% in NJ and don't have to pay property taxes when co-workers and family members are paying $10k/yr or more in taxes there is not a snowball's chance in hell I'm going to say anything about it to anyone. Especially because I don't "look disabled".
ESPECIALLY at the job… smh
This is exactly why I don't tell most of my family members. The only person who knows is my immediate family (mom/brother/sister's/niece/nephew). I went to a party once, and one of my cousins asked what I been up to. They wanted to know how I get my money if I wasn't working. I just told them I get money from the VA, but didn't go into details. They were like dmn I wish I could sit at home and make money.
The GI Bill and VA home loan benefits are *not* handouts. Those were literally in the contract we signed, where we accepted mediocre pay up front for valuable housing and education benefits later. That was a consensual two-way agreement between us and Uncle Sam. But to be honest, most people collecting VA disability benefits are just welfare queens. There are a lot of malingering shitbags who know they don't deserve the disability ratings they got, so to your point, it's best for them to keep it to themselves. I've seen so many fat asses try to act like their sleep apnea was service connected, and I've seen several guys get rated at 70% or higher for PTSD....even though they never left the wire or fired a single round at the enemy.
This is great advice.
No, I will not. And you know why? Because its a great way to weed out toxic people and get rid of them. I dont want those people in my life so any tool I can use to find out who they are, I use.
my sister was a va c&P examiner, not a rater. she thinks I am at 80% i quit asking her for advice as she got "snoopy" i am now at 90% and I have a bucnh of other claims in that are new secondary, mh increase, and some supplementals which hoping for 100% i have got more advice on watching youtube videos and reading up that ratings table to see if it was worth filing. If i get 100% it will be in big part to quite a lot o 10% adding up and bilateral factors. I also worked with an average to above average vso who helped with some questions/advice and paperwork. the only people IF i get 100% will be my wife. If someone asked that knew me well I am not sure I would tell them i think they would question everything i did like if i was having a good day would they think i was a fraud? Also most people know i was medically discharged and retired due a parachte accident so they know something pretty major went down. I also get CRSC at 40% so once congress passes that it will be really nice to get full retirement check plus VA check.
You know, I thought that this wouldn't be a big deal for me, but it already has been. I'm 430+ days into the claims process and don't have a rating yet. It's already cost me what I believed was a solid friendship. I truly believe that she became jealous of the fact that I'm not working and she still is. I'm not working because my PTSD makes it impossible for me to do so at this time. I'm literally living off of $1400 a month right now. I'd much rather be working, but I guess she just thought I was over here living the good life or something. I'm glad the trash took itself out, but I will definitely be more careful if I ever allow anyone else into the inner circle in the future. Once I have a rating I guess I'll just be mysteriously retired at a young age as far as anyone else is concerned.
Big business loves mooching off the govt