Recouping Separation Pay from U.S. Service Members and Veterans Who Later Receive Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1159014 | Open PDF

Abstract:

When service members separate from the military, they may receive one of many types of separation benefits. Some of these service members later become eligible for other types of compensation, such as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability Compensation (VADC). To avoid paying more than one award of compensation to any person based on that individuals own servicewhat is sometimes called double-dippingVA is prohibited from paying compensation to a veteran who also received certain separation benefits from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) until the full separation amount has been withheld, or recouped. Because of concern about how recoupment affects veterans, Section 654 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 required the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to conduct a study to determine: (1) how many members and veterans who received separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive payments are affected by recoupment and (2) the aggregated amount of additional money members and veterans would receive in the absence of recoupment.

Author(s):
Rennane, Stephanie ; Asch, Beth J. ; Mattock, Michael G. ; Acheson-field, Hannah
Author Organization(s):
RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CA
Funding Organization(s):
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PERSONNEL AND READINESS) WASHINGTON DC, WASHINGTON , DC
Document Type:
Technical Report/Research Report
Publication Date:
2022 Feb 07
Pagination:
76

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Communities of Interest:
Human Systems
Descriptor(s):
national security, department of veterans affairs, law, congress, department of defense, public policy, active duty, military law, military personnel, financial management, corporations, governments, money, cold war, compensation, comptrollers, finance
Keyword(s):
double-dipping, recoupment, National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, Disability Compensation
Subject Categories:
Behavioral and Social Sciences; Behavioral and Social Sciences
Creation Date:
2022 Feb 08
Update Date:
2022 Feb 18