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Editor, News-Register:
In 2022 a totally disabled veteran with no dependents is compensated at the ridiculous rate of $39,984.72 dollars annually. The National Average Wage Index for 2020 was $55,628.60 per annum and the median income for 2020 was $67,521. The per capita GDP in 2020 was $63,416, among the highest in the world. This rate of compensation to disabled veterans is deliberate and cruel.
Veterans have been asking various administrations and Congresses for fair compensation since the end of WWI in November 1918. That was 103 years ago.
In my opinion the basic reason for their gross under-compensation situation is because they are only compensated for projected loss of wages due to their disabilities. They are not compensated for their low quality of life. Quality of Life Compensation is routine in the U.S. courts when awarding compensation to injured parties in personal injury cases.
I ask Congress to pass legislation this year to compensate them fairly, especially the totally and permanently disabled among them who should be compensated at least at the level of the NAWI.
This is now a grave national problem.
Once there is full realization among our youth that serious disability in the armed forces will mean a life of near poverty due to low veterans' compensation then the armed forces will collapse. In fact, that is already happening. Be warned.
Congress must act now.
Rupert Berard
Pittsburgh