I was given $30,000 to leave the Army – but they’re demanding it back and cutting off my income 30 years later under a secret law

A DISABLED veteran has been ordered to pay back a large amount of money he received when leaving the army more than 30 years ago in order to continue receiving payments.

Vernon Reffitt received a $30,000 special separation benefit in 1992 when he left the Army as part of a program to reduce the active-duty force.

The Department of Veterans Affairs began withholding Reffitt’s monthly disability compensation in May under a law that prohibits it along with special separation benefits.

The VA will recover the $30,000, a process that could take the 62-year-old nearly 15 years.

A law requires Reffitt to repay his separation benefits before receiving disability payments.

“This is wrong,” said Reffitt of Georgia NBC News On thursday.

“You can’t just get up and take it back.”

BLIND

At least 79,000 veterans had to pay separation benefits between 2013 and 2020, with nearly 9,300 affected in 2023 alone, NBC News reported.

The actual number may be higher due to data limitations.

The VA allowed Reffitt to receive both benefits for more than 30 years due to an oversight.

This error was detected when Reffitt filed a complaint under the PACT Act.

Many veterans, including Reffitt, were unaware of the recovery requirement and felt surprised when the VA began withholding their disability payments.

This includes seniors Daphne Young and Shane Collins, who are now facing major setbacks because of their recovery.

“It was harrowing,” Young told NBC News.

“It took my legs right out from under me,” Collins told the outlet.

The recovery process has caused significant financial hardship for veterans, many of whom are totally disabled and rely on disability payments for primary income.

Supporters argue that the law unfairly ties unrelated benefits together, depriving veterans of earned compensation.

A bill introduced in 2022 aims to amend the recovery law, but progress has been slow due to cost concerns.

Veterans can request exemptions for their recovery responsibilities, but the standards are high and few get it.

Young was able to reduce the amount withheld with help from advocacy, although this extended his repayment period, according to NBC.

Reffitt had to tighten his budget, cutting back on the doctor visits needed to manage his health conditions while working out a repayment plan.

Veterans emphasized the need for a better system that does not place undue financial burdens on those who served.