{"id":76607,"date":"2024-03-06T16:12:18","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T16:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/03\/06\/advocates-push-for-congress-to-move-long-stalled-vets-benefits-fix\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:17:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:17:18","slug":"advocates-push-for-congress-to-move-long-stalled-vets-benefits-fix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2024\/03\/06\/advocates-push-for-congress-to-move-long-stalled-vets-benefits-fix\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocates push for Congress to move long-stalled vets benefits fix"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: Due to a reporting error, this story originally contained an inaccurate description of how military and veterans disability benefits are handled. That information has been updated.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army veteran James Powers loses out on about $1,400 a month because of how the federal government calculates his veteran disability benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s money that could be getting my kids into baseball or basketball or dozens of other activities that could improve our quality of life,\u201d Powers said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got enough money to survive, so I\u2019m lucky that way. But after the military, we shouldn\u2019t just be thinking about surviving. It should be about helping veterans thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powers traveled from Ohio to take part in a rally outside the Capitol Tuesday in support of the Major Richard Star Act<\/a>, legislation that could provide a windfall of disability payouts<\/a> to nearly 50,000 veterans. More than 100 advocates took part in the event, pushing for renewed action on the long-stalled bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advocates say the money is intended to establish a more fair process for how the government handles compensation for individuals injured during their time in the ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\t