[center]When will the schedule of Disability compensation rates be posted?[/center]

These will be posted in December. Do not expect much of an increase. VA only asked congress for 2.5% COLA increase for vets getting Compensation. That means that a single person getting 100% can expect a $63 per month raise and even less if your not at 100%

You can see the VA's Budget Proposal to congress for the coming year by clicking [url="http://www.va.gov/budget/summary/2009/Volume_1-Summary_Volume.pdf"][b]here[/b][/url] (.Pdf file) Page 1C-1

While at the same time, ( I have to rant) according to the Department of Labor, the Consumer Price Index (also known as the rate of inflation), from 2007 to 2008 was 6%. Check the inflation [url="http://www.bls.gov/bls/inflation.htm"][b]here[/b][/url].

So congrats, you will all be officially poorer than you were a year ago. (that is of coarse if you have been getting benefits for over a year). Its a nice little trick, to make you think you are getting an increase, when in reality you are getting less.

I inquired about this once, and I was told that the rest of the money (about 47% of the budget goes to Hospitals, Clinics and Doctors wages) . But my opinion is, if you have no need for those services than your getting jipped. Its like a person with 100% Comp paying approx. $1,250 a month for those services. That's some pretty darn expensive healthcare insurance, and they do this every year, and I for one am getting sick and tired of it.

I dont have a problem with having hospitals, dont get me wrong. But as I am writing this President Bush is proposing 700 Billion dollars to bail out a bunch of fat bankers, in the so called interest of the economy. While the VA's Budget is around a mere 50 Billion for the year. I think if they can afford that, they can afford another 25 Billion dollars a year to pay us at least 5% so we can at least keep up with the standards of living and inflation.

I think they all need a big glass of Tang with some agent orange mixed in it!

I also had to to add this:

These are stats of inflation from Jan to Aug 2008

Gas Prices rose 22.1%
Food Prices rose 7.5%
Natural Gas Prices rose 47% (This is going to be a tough winter for a lot of folks, expect higher energy bills)
other forms of energy rose 33%
Rent Prices have rose 4.6%


and we may get a 2.5% raise...oh my I think I wet my pants!

So why are our increases practically nothing? We need to start knocking down some doors and getting some things changed. Why are we putting up with this?

Go to Good Will and get a tin cup. Get some dark glasses and a cane. Get a sign and hang it around your neck "Disabled Vet, need help". This is what I am going to do since I am losing all my money via inflation. Oh, and if you can pick up an old wheelchair that helps on a busy corner. We are all slowly going broke. I spoke to a friend of mine who wants to pay off his mortgage just so he can drop the outrageous insurance here in Florida. $4000 bucks a year to insure your house. $1000 a year to insure your car. Life insurance $1000 a year so your spouse is not left in poverty.
It is a wonderful life.

Gasoline and other comnmodities are not used in calculation of the CPI. It is TV,s Autos, ect.

It is like calculating VA math. Convienient to the Government.

When Bush signed the bill it was to make the increase the same as Social Security.

It is around 6 percent according to the CPI and I expect to see the largest raise in SSA since 1982.

J

x
x
x

[size="3"]
Any news sources to cite? I'd like to se where the quote's coming from? ~Wings[/size]

Yes, food and energy are not part of the CPI. These are the things that are really going up in cost. We don't get an automatic cola. The buggers have to vote on it. Our cola is a political football. Every congressman likes to brag that he voted to increase vet benefits. Things like housing and big SUV's are part of the CPI which are falling price.

[quote name='Wings' date='Sep 27 2008, 11:54 AM' post='107848']
x
x
x

[size="3"]
Any news sources to cite? I'd like to se where the quote's coming from? ~Wings[/size]Adora, I have been reading this site.

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SocialSecurity/2008/20080916-SocialSecurityCOLA.htm

J

[quote name='jbasser' date='Sep 27 2008, 02:05 PM' post='107867']
[quote name='Wings' date='Sep 27 2008, 11:54 AM' post='107848']
x
x
x

[size="3"]
Any news sources to cite? I'd like to se where the quote's coming from? ~Wings[/size]Adora, I have been reading this site.

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SocialSecurity/2008/20080916-SocialSecurityCOLA.htm

J
[/quote]
[size="3"]
Thanks J. ~Wings[/size]

[b]Make sure to look at this:[/b] http://www.va.gov/budget/summary/2009/Volume_1-Summary_Volume.pdf

and a 2.5% Cola is all they are going for! Social Security has already been passed at 2.5%

The 2.5 percent increase is a proposed increase.
The Actual will not be disclosed until the middle of October.

Social Security increase has not been determined. Oct 15 is the Deadline.

Social security COLA is 5.8% for 2009.

Personally I would like to see them drop the decimal point to get closer to the actual inflation rate. That is the true value with food prices.

J

They have to give their buddies on wall st. 2 to 5 trillion for their unregulated practices that was set up a few yrs ago.
They also need a few million in party money, so theres little left over for meaningless spending like, the people of this nation on VA disabilities, SSA, etc.

I saw that the increase has been reported at 5.8% and the VA is usually and I have never seen it different. For me that will be about $160.00 per month.

Have a wonderful rest of the year.

These are the new rates, as computed by me. (Current rate X 1.058, then round down to nearest $.)
I believe these numbers are correct, but again, I computed them myself. Not from an "official source".

Cheers,

dwilli12

Nice job and thanks

[quote name='dwilli12' date='Oct 27 2008, 12:22 PM' post='111244']
These are the new rates, as computed by me. (Current rate X 1.058, then round down to nearest $.)
I believe these numbers are correct, but again, I computed them myself. Not from an "official source".

Cheers,

dwilli12
[/quote]

Hi, just joined Hadit.com and was looking at the many posts. The new 2009 increase caught my eye. I keep trying to view the PDF but keep getting an error message saying I'm not authorized. I am registered, checked the help section but nothing on viewing PDF's. I do have PDF software installed on my computer and have no problem viewing them from any other sites. Could someone let me know the 'Trick' to open and view a PDF file on here please?

Any help much appreciated!

[quote name='dwilli12' date='Oct 27 2008, 11:22 AM' post='111244']
These are the new rates, as computed by me. (Current rate X 1.058, then round down to nearest $.)
I believe these numbers are correct, but again, I computed them myself. Not from an "official source".

Cheers,

dwilli12
[/quote]

[quote name='Old Timer' date='Nov 3 2008, 09:08 PM' post='112409']
Hi, just joined Hadit.com and was looking at the many posts. The new 2009 increase caught my eye. I keep trying to view the PDF but keep getting an error message saying I'm not authorized. I am registered, checked the help section but nothing on viewing PDF's. I do have PDF software installed on my computer and have no problem viewing them from any other sites. Could someone let me know the 'Trick' to open and view a PDF file on here please?

Any help much appreciated!
[/quote]
Try to right click ont he link. Select save as and save the file. Then open it from your C drive.

J

Old Timer,
click on the link and down load or cut and paste to your address bar then down load if clicking doesn't work, install and when you click on a PDF file it should just open right on your computer/Desktop without having to save it but you have that option too even after you open to view file. rich

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

I too cannot view the pdf. I have Acrobat reader 9 installed.
And I can view pdfs from any other website.
I am logged in & there was no login box on this page.
Hmmmm very strange.


Here's the error message I received:

[b]The error returned was:[/b]
Sorry, but you do not have permission to use this feature. If you are not logged in, you may do so using the form below if available.

It was 5.8% for 2008. It comes in the first check in Jan 09.

If I'm not mistaken the 5.8% COLA for Social Security is effective 1 Jan 2009 but the 5.8% Cola for VA Disability is effective Dec 1, 2008.

2009 rates (including 5.8% raise)
Percentage Rate
10% $123
20% $243
Dependent Status 30% 40% 50% 60%
Veteran Alone $376 $541 $770 $974
Veteran with Spouse Only $421 $600 $845 $1,064
Veteran with Spouse & One Parent $457 $648 $905 $1,136
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents $493 $696 $965 $1,208
Veteran with One Parent $412 $589 $830 $1,046
Veteran with Two Parents $448 $636 $890 $1,118
Additional for A/A spouse (see
footnote
$41 $55 $67 $81
Dependent Status 70% 80% 90% 100%
Veteran Alone $1,228 $1,427 $1,604 $2,673
Veteran with Spouse Only $1,333 $1,546 $1,739 $2,823
Veteran with Spouse & One Parent $1,416 $1,643 $1,847 $2,944
Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents $1,500 $1,739 $1,955 $3,065
Veteran with One Parent $1,311 $1,523 $1,712 $2,794
Veteran with Two Parents $1,395 $1,619 $1,820 $2,914
Additional for A/A spouse (see
footnote
$95 $108 $122 $136
Dependent Status 30% 40% 50% 60%
Veteran with Spouse & Child $453 $645 $899 $1,129
Veteran with Child Only $406 $581 $821 $1,034
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and
Child
$489 $692 $959 $1,201
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and
Child
$525 $740 $1,019 $1,273
Veteran with One Parent and Child $442 $629 $881 $1,106
Veteran with Two Parents and Child $478 $677 $941 $1,178
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age
18
$22 $29 $37 $44
Each Additional Schoolchild
Over Age 18 (see footnote a)
$71 $95 $119 $143
Additional for A/A spouse (see
footnote
$41 $55 $67 $81
Dependent Status 70% 80% 90% 100%
Veteran with Spouse & Child $1,409 $1,634 $1,837 $2,932
Veteran with Child Only $1,299 $1,507 $1,695 $2,775
Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and
Child
$1,492 $1,730 $1,945 $3,053
Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and
Child
$1,576 $1,827 $2,053 $3,174
Veteran with One Parent and Child $1,382 $1,603 $1,803 $2,895
Veteran with Two Parents and Child $1,466 $1,700 $1,911 $3,016
Add for Each Additional Child Under Age
18
$51 $59 $66 $75
Each Additional Schoolchild
Over Age 18 (see footnote a)
$167 $191 $215 $240
Additional for A/A spouse (see
footnote
$95 $108 $122 $136
70% - 100% With Children
30% - 60% With Children
70% - 100% Without Children
10% - 20% (No Dependents)
30% - 60% Without Children


Hope this helps those of you who can't download it...Rich

I have not received any increase in my disability compensation this year so far, will it come in February?

There will be "no" increase this year and probably next yr too!

pr

can I get a "raise" if I apply for the K award and aid and attendence?

Yup, if you qualify and don't already receive them.

pr

I have never applied for the K award and I have to hire everything done around hre, cut the grass, paint the trim all contractor type stuff I use to do myself like plumbing, electrical, etc I can't drive any more due to VA drugs etc, I think I would qualify for A&A I get housebound SMC S