-Supports Concurrent Receipt for Unemployable Veterans and an Increase in the Death Gratuity for Military Families-

U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) recently expressed his strong support for 100% disabled veterans who are considered "unemployable" by the Veterans Affairs Administration to receive their full benefits. Currently, those who receive disability pension payments find their military retirement pension reduced by the same amount. This legislation would allow veterans to receive their full concurrent receipt, not just one of the two.

Congressman Rahall supported a provision in Congress that secured full concurrent receipt for 100% disabled veterans, but it currently does not do the same for those considered 100% disabled due to their employment status.

"This makes perfect sense," said Rahall. "If a disabled veteran is owed $1000 for retirement and $500 for disability, they should receive all $1500. I want to extend this provision to those veterans who are 100% disabled because they are considered unemployable by the VA."

Rahall recently urged The White House Office of Management and Budget to express his strong support to include the veterans considered unemployable by the Veterans Affairs Administration among those who receive concurrent receipt.

"We should not short change our veterans who retire now by taking away the disability checks they deserve simply because these veterans are retired," continued Rahall. "I think we can all agree on this and I am urging the Office of Management and Budget to include unemployable veterans in this group who receives their full concurrent receipt."

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Congressman Rahall also is working on passage of two different bills in the House of Representatives that would raise the "death gratuity" to families of soldiers lost in battle. Currently the family of a fallen soldier receives $12,000, but the new legislation that Congressman Rahall is working for would raise that amount to $100,000.

"There is no way to put a dollar amount on the life of one of our sons or daughters," said Rahall. "And losing a loved one is never easy. However, I do hope that this raise in the tax-free death gratuity will help families of West Virginia through some of their toughest times."

"This legislation should have widespread support," Rahall concluded. "It is one more sensible thing that we can do to help the military families of this country and I am honored to give my full support."