VA defends plan to cut thousands of dollars from elderly vets' benefits

[wishstar]

16. I believe he was only referring to the overall 6% increase in VA budget (not other non-VA cuts)

He had previously voiced support for the VA Budget increase of 6% announced a couple of months ago, before the details were known involving this drastic cut to vets payments.

When Trump's proposed cuts to Meals on Wheels, housing and other community programs were announced earlier, several veterans and military publications issued articles criticizing those cuts and emphasizing that those other programs help many vets.

But I personally know several Vets who get thousands per month in generous payments (Civil Service and/or Soc Security retirement plus service connected VA payments) and have incomes too high to qualify for any low income programs. They are shocked over this proposed cut since it involves service connected Vets. Many service connected Vets had long careers in civil service or private sector because their service connected disabilities were minor but they have had their ratings increased due to worsening medical or PTSD conditions as they became older and retired. The Vets I know were so sure their benefits would never be touched by Trump while they strongly supported Trump and Repubs' cuts to low income social safety net programs, Medicaid, Food Stamps and Obamacare subsidies.