EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF DISABLED VETERANS DEEMED UNEMPLOYABLE, TO BE EXAMINED THURSDAY
October 25, 2005
Contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093
(Washington, DC) On Thursday, October 27, the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs will hold an oversight hearing titled: "The Rising Number of Disabled Veterans Deemed Unemployable: Is the System Failing? A closer look at VA's individual unemployability benefit."
The hearing will begin at 2 p.m. in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building. It will be webcast live and archived on the committee's website (see Current Hearings), and may also be audiocast ? during the hearing only ? on C-SPAN's hearings website, located at http://www.capitolhearings.org.
Earlier this year the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission held its own review of the IU system and members were told that approximately 200,000 veterans with disability ratings of 60 percent to 90 percent are now deemed unemployable, but paid as if they are 100 percent disabled. Between 1999 through 2004, the number of individual unemployability (IU) grants more than doubled.
"With today's modern technologies, individuals with disabilities have more opportunities than ever to become productive members of society, and I want to hear what VA is doing to make sure these opportunities are made available to our disabled veterans. When our veterans joined the armed services, they wanted to be ?all they could be' and as they return from service to their country with injuries, we need to make sure they have the opportunity to be ?all they can be' by empowering them with employment and the ability for financial growth," said Chairman Larry Craig.
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PANEL I
? Renee Szybala, Director, VA Compensation and Pension Service
? Judith Caden, Director, VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services Director
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PANEL II
- Rick Surratt, Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans
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