August 21, 2008 • June Walbert
Q: An ex-Marine portrays himself as paralyzed due to being shot in the back in Iraq. The truth is he was only slightly injured during basic training. The facade continues as he collects military disability directly from the government stating that he still in a wheelchair. He does not need assistance with walking, and is in fact very healthy. Is this a fraudulent claim? Should he still be receiving these benefits? Is there somewhere else I should go to gain more attention to this matter? Any assistance is appreciated. Thank you for your time.
--Name withheld
A: If your story is true, it’s very upsetting to me too - both as a servicemember and a taxpayer. I’ve served as an Internal Review officer at the division level and I’m sure they would be very interested in your story. Also the division Inspector General or the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General might be able to help or point you in the right direction. Contact them at 1-800-488-8244. Fraud, waste and abuse are taken very seriously in the armed forces. As taxpayers, we all pay when this sort of stuff goes on!
Continue reading »
About USAA
USAA or its affiliates do not provide tax advice. Taxpayers should seek advice based upon their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. The information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for obtaining professional financial advice. Please thoroughly research and seek professional representation before acting on any information you may have found in this article. This article is in no way attempts to provide advice that relates all personal circumstances.
Examples given are hypothetical illustrations and not an indication of the benefits or features of any USAA product. You should seek policies and advice based upon your own particular circumstances. Sample loans are for illustration purposes only and are not a rate quote, pre-approval, or commitment to lend.
June Walbert is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM practitioner with USAA Financial Planning Services, one of the USAA family of companies.
USAA Financial Planning Services® refers to financial planning services and financial advice provided by USAA Financial Planning Services Insurance Agency, Inc. (known as USAA Financial Insurance Agency in California), a registered investment adviser and insurance agency and its wholly owned subsidiary, USAA Financial Advisors, Inc., a registered broker dealer.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner TM in the United States, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. Banking products provided by USAA Federal Savings Bank. Credit cards provided by USAA Savings Bank. Both Banks Member FDIC.
Comments