How much do veterans earn?

Answer 1

One does not get paid simply for being a veteran. Those that have been discharged for medical reasons may be receiving a disability check. Other than those that have retired, they make whatever the job they obtain pays.

Answer 2

First of all a veteran doesn't just get a check or health care just because they are a veteran. You only get checks if you retired (twenty or more years on active duty) or were honorably discharged with a medical disability.

It's kind of like social security in that you have to fight for your benefits. A veteran is entitled to health care for service connected conditions if the local VA hospital still has open enrollment slots available. Next you file with the DVA (Department of Veteran's Affairs) for a pension or service connected disability (SCD) check. The amount of the check is based on the percentage of Service connected injuries.

For example I injured my back, my knees, my shoulder, and had a head injury on active duty. I also became diagnosed with depression (after a combat tour killed 19 comrades) and PTSD after my 4th combat tour but 2nd tour where we had been attacked. When I filed in 2008 I was rated ONLY for my shoulder and my headaches. I was rated at 40% for my headaches and 10% for my shoulder but my total rating (because they use some insane adding theory) is only 30%. I know it makes no sense. The DVA then decided that indeed my other injuries did render me disabled at 100% and because I could not make income I was finally awarded a veteran's pension. The pension is (as of 1/1/2013) $1360 a month. This pension requires that if I make ANY money it is deducted from my pension amount, in other words because I get the pension if I work I am penalized.

NOW I have the option of taking the service connected monthly payments (at the rating of 30%) and working if I so choose however I am, indeed, completely disabled so this isn't an option. If the DVA is left in charge of your choice they will automatically give you the higher amount you are entitled to (IE If my 30% pay was 400$ a month they would give me the pension @ 1360$ per month).

Your pay is based on your rating. If you have been unable to work for at least 5 solid years you can apply for "unemployability" which is a significantly higher payment. Currently I am fighting for either 100% service connected disabilities (meaning every injury I received in combat and stateside is the reason I cannot work) or Unemployability which means that all my combined injuries have resulted in me not being able to work at least half of them are a direct relation of my service. The ULTIMATE irony is that once I win my 100% or unemployability (because you cannot have both) I can then go and get a job as long as I don't make more than the income limit the VA has placed on those ratings...

I recently spoke to the VA and due to backlogs the average rating time period is 493 days. Additionally, I have been fighting for full benefits since 2003 (so in July it will be 10 years.) I know people who had to fight for 20 years to get what this country owed them. I really hope this helped it is a very confusing process.