7 Small Changes That Will Make A Big Difference In Your Veterans Disability Litigation

7 Small Changes That Will Make A Big Difference In Your Veterans Disab…

Klaudia 0 7 04.12 04:35
How a veterans disability attorneys Disability Settlement Can Affect a Divorce Case

Jim's client, a 58-year-old man, is permanently disabled as a result of his military service. He is able to receive a monthly pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He would like to find out if a verdict from a jury will impact his VA benefits. The answer is that it will not. But it will have some impact on his other sources of income.

Do I have the right to receive compensation for an accident?

If you have served in the military but are now permanently disabled due to injuries or illnesses, you may be eligible for a veterans disability settlement. This settlement will help pay you for medical expenses, lost income and other costs that resulted from your injury or sickness. The type of settlement you'll receive depends on whether your medical condition is service-connected, or not connected, which VA benefits you qualify for, as well as the amount your injury or accident will cost to treat.

Jim, a 58-year old Vietnam veteran, was diagnosed as having permanent disabilities as a result of his two years of service. He does not have enough working space to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits but the VA Pension benefit which provides medical care and cash based on financial need. He would like to know if a personal injury settlement could affect his ability to get this benefit.

The answer depends on whether the settlement is in the form of one lump sum or a structured settlement. Structured settlements require installments over time instead of a single payment. The amount paid by defendant is calculated to offset the existing VA benefits. However, a lump sum payout is likely to impact any benefits already in place because the VA considers it to be income and will annually calculate it. In the event that there are any excess assets remain after the twelve-month period when the settlement is annualized, Jim could be eligible for a new Pension benefit but only if his assets fall lower than a threshold with which the VA accepts as establishing financial need.

Do I need to hire an attorney?

Many spouses, service members and former spouses are confused about VA disability compensation and its impact on the financial aspects of a divorce case. Some people believe, for instance, that Department of Veterans Affairs compensation payments can be divided like an army retirement in divorce proceedings or that they're "off limits" in calculating child support and alimony. These misconceptions may lead to grave financial errors.

While it is possible to file an initial claim for disability benefits by yourself, the majority of disabled veterans benefit from the help of a qualified attorney. A skilled veteran's disability lawyer will review your medical records and gather all the necessary evidence needed to build a strong case to the VA. The lawyer can also file any appeals that you may need in order to receive the benefits you deserve.

The majority of VA disability lawyers do not charge for consultations. Additionally the lawyer will typically be paid by the government directly from the retroactive past-due benefits. This is an advantage of the Equal Access to Justice Act. The percentage of retroactive past-due benefits that your lawyer will be paid should be outlined in your fee agreement. For example an agreement on fees could stipulate that the government will pay the lawyer up to 20% of retroactive benefits or provide. You will be accountable for any additional amounts.

Can I Garnish My VA Benefits?

When a disabled veteran receives compensation from the VA, it comes in the form of monthly payments. The funds are meant to offset the effects of diseases, injuries or disabilities sustained or aggravated during a veteran's time of service. Like all incomes, veterans disability benefits can be subject to garnishment.

Garnishment is a court-ordered procedure that an employer or government agency withhold money from the wages of a person who is in the process of paying an amount and then pay it directly to the creditor. In the event of divorce, garnishment could be used to pay for spousal support or child support.

There are some situations where the benefits of a veteran can be repaid. The most frequent scenario involves a veteran who waived their military retirement to receive disability compensation. In these instances, the portion of pension that is allocated to disability payments can be garnished in order to fulfill the family support obligations.

In other cases, a veteran's benefits could be garnished to cover medical expenses or federal student loans that are over due. In these instances a court may be able to go straight to the VA to get the required information. A disabled veteran should hire an experienced attorney to safeguard their disability benefits. This can help them avoid being forced to rely on private loans and Veterans Disability payday lenders.

Can I Represent Myself in a Divorce Case?

VA disability settlements can be a big aid to veterans and their families, however they do come with their own set-of complications. If a person divorces and receives a VA settlement, he or she should be aware of the implications to the benefits they receive.

One of the major issues in this regard is whether or not disability payments count as divisible assets in divorce. This question has been addressed in two ways. A Colorado court of appeals decision found that VA disability payments were not property and could not be divided in this way. Another option is an U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Howell which ruled that garnishing the veteran's VA disability benefits to pay for an alimony payment is a violation of the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act (USFSPA).

Another issue that is related to this issue is the treatment of disability benefits for child maintenance and support. The USFSPA and the Supreme Court both forbid states from claiming disability benefits as income to be used for this purpose. However, some states have adopted a different approach. For instance, Colorado adds up all sources of income to determine how much in support a spouse will need and then adds disability benefits to take into account that they are tax-free.

It is also important for veterans disability attorney to be aware of how their disability compensation will be affected if they are divorced and how their spouses who divorced them can take advantage of their benefits. If they are aware of these issues, veterans can safeguard their earnings and Veterans Disability avoid any unwanted consequences.

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