Senate Passes Big SBP, Concurrent Receipt Fixes

Last week the Senate overwhelmingly passed amendments by Senators Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., to the fiscal 2006 authorization bill to fix inequities in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and concurrent receipt. The actions would terminate the offset of SBP annuities by VA survivor benefit payments as of Oct. 1, 2005. The amendments also would move 30-year paid up SBP coverage for military retirees aged 70 or more from Oct. 1, 2008 to Oct. 1, 2005. Furthermore, they would provide full concurrent receipt of retired pay and VA disability pay to all retirees rated 100 percent unemployable by the VA. In a letter to constituents, Sen. Nelson thanked the Gold Star Wives of America and the Military Officers Association of America for their help with his amendment. The legislation will go to a joint conference with the House.