Evening star., 1949-04-18
Veterans
Guide
By Moi. Thomos N. hioI

Read this and weep. 1t might
happen to you.
G Some time ago ! was
notified by the VA of an alleged
overpayment Of subsistence allow
ance in the amount of $271. I
Immediately began an appeal to
my regional Office against making
7 the repayment, because ] felt 4
was completely justified in having
accepted the $271.
MY plea was rejected, and
eventually ! appealed to the re-
gional Committee on Waivers and
Forfeitures.
tThe word eventually" should
! stick out like a sore thumb. as you
/ will see.)
while this appeal was pending
! was notified to contact the f.
nance officer of my regional VA
Office. He told me it would be
necessary for me to start making
repayments Of the alleged over
payment. His. reason was this:
If I didn't I might have trouble
picking UP supplemental certi-
ficate of eligibility for more CT
Bill training (Which I had applied
for). He also said failure to make
arrangements to repay the money
might hold up my application for
a CT Bill home loan, which was
already in the works.
$50 I made arrangements. I
was to pay the money back to the
VA at the rate of $40 month.
That was okay with the VA.
"At the end Of five months l
had paid 500 back. Just as I was
about to make the sixth payment
the VA finance officer notified me
that could quit paying it back,
that the Committee on Waivers
had considered me not at fault In
having accepted the $271 OVER
payment in the first place.
"The finance officer further
stated that the first four payments
made by me. totaling $50, could
not be refunded because they had
been deposited for credit to the
appropriation from which pay
nent was made and the regula-
tions prohibited refund to me.
"But they added the fifth pay
ment of $40 had not yet been de-
posted with said appropriation
and was still In the hands Of the
VA. It would be returned to me.
they said, in due time.
my reason for bringing this up
Is that If my appeal had not been
decided as soon as it was. ] might
have paid back the entire amount
and lost 1t all. So 1t Is my advice
to veterans in a similar position
not to start the repayment, If at
all possible, until the appeal is
settled"
The correspondent makes his
case clear, but here. are a few
points. They were developed by a
high official of the VA who knows
this situation inside out.
/. The regional Office finance
officer was stretching a point or
six when he said failure To repay
would affect the veterans applica-
ton for a supplemental certificate
Of eligibility and CT bill loan. 4.
2. The veteran should have ap-
pealed to the Committee on Waiv-
ers as soon as his regional Office
turned him down. AS long as an
appeal is pending no repayment Isl
necessary.
8. If the Committee on Waivers
gets an appeal on an overpayment
which is already being paid back
while the appeal Is being consid-
cred; and If the committee de-
cides the veteran should be re-
leased from repaying-only that
part of the overpayrnent which has
not been repaid is affected.
Waivers of overpayment are
given when the veteran shows that
he accepted the overpayment IN
good faith (thinking it was right
fully hisl and when he can show
hardship in paying 1t back.
It does seem unfair. no question,
but that's the way it is. 1t seems
unfair because If the correspond
ent quoted above had refused to
make repayment he'd be $50 bet
ter of today. The VA is not itself
responsible for the regulation pro-
hibiting refund. That was handed
down by the Controller General
OF the United States.
(From Associated Press Newsfeatures)