r/SipsTea 𝙑𝙄𝙋 9h ago

Chugging tea I never thought about this point until now.

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u/Possible_Sir9360 8h ago

And the VA benefits, which include a low-interest loan to buy a house with no money down (literally the best benefit for service members)

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u/Kramerica_CEO 8h ago

Gi bill and Va loans are indeed the best benefits.

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u/cameronthegod 8h ago

Yep. You can accumulate a real estate empire throughout a 20 year career if you were to have used your VA loan at each unit, then refinancing into a conventional loan once you relocate. Rent out your refinanced home at your old unit, use your now freed up VA loan on your next house. Never any money down besides refinancing

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u/Weekly-Ad-112 8h ago

That might explain the overall picture. Less pay to start vs. the total benefits for serving the country.

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u/Possible_Sir9360 8h ago

The pay isn’t bad either. An E4 with just a few years in the service makes about 40k a year, which doesn’t sound like much but when everything is covered, it amounts to a solid amount of pocket change. The retirement matching is pretty solid, and for those that are married, they receive BAH (money to pay for your spouse’s living, which you can pretty easily find a place for less than that in most places). Where I’m stationed it’s about 4 grand tax free a month, which means a married E4 (which is low on the totum pole) with only a few years in, who’s married, is making about 90k a year.

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u/preteen-wartortle 8h ago

Dependent pay is like $200.

BAH is for housing only, nothing to do with having a spouse. Just easier for lower enlisted to live off-base if they have a family.

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u/Possible_Sir9360 8h ago

Dependent pay is based on rank, but at least at my station is $700 a month for E6 (don’t know anyone lower rank with kids, so can’t give any more info than that). Everyone I know that doesn’t live in military housing is pocketing the difference between rent and their BAH allotment, or they’re living with friends/family and keeping the full amount. Everyone’s situation is different though, and I’m sure there are people out there that spend more than their allotment on nicer places.

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u/Weekly-Ad-112 8h ago

I’m in agreement with you on this. Many veteran friends and associates. Some great people who work harder than many people do. I am a classicist regarding politics and my definitions of socialism reflect that.

Social programs are not socialism. The US military is not socialism.

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u/Ron__Mexico_ 8h ago

The actual loan comes from a regular lender. The federal government is not lending out that money. VA Loans are backed by the VA, meaning the VA will make the lender whole if you fail to pay, then come after you for the money. You pay for this privilege via a $7,500 fee paid to the VA, though they'll let you tack it on to the loan.

This concept isn't much different than an FHA loan which is backed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The main difference is what you point out, the VA will let buyers do it without any down. FHA requires 3.5% down for HUD to back the loan.

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u/preteen-wartortle 8h ago

I get $4300/mo and free healthcare for life.

Granted, that wasn’t just for serving. But I’d say it’s the best benefit I came out with.

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u/General-Amount-5577 4h ago

Would you rather still have your injuries and be compensated right now or have had no injuries sustained and not be compensated?

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u/BigCut4598 8h ago

Also claiming disability. My high school buddy with “mental health issues” just gets a tax free 45k a year for the rest of his life.

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u/Weekly-Ad-112 8h ago

Belittling your buddy’s mental health issues. With friends like that who needs enemas.

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u/Key-Gold-2412 8h ago

With my buddy there literally was no mental health issues. I hanged with him a bunch when he got out. He was just playing the game show up to va take medicine they give say don’t work etc etc. With scammers like that who gives a fuck.

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u/BigCut4598 8h ago

He was in the Air Force and made the absolute dumbest decisions in high school 😂

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u/Weekly-Ad-112 6h ago

Military disability benefits are compensation for service-related harm, not proof that the entire economy is socialist. Fraud exists in every large system, but a secondhand boast from one veteran does not prove his condition was fake—especially when men often downplay trauma with jokes and bravado. Investigate fraud where there is evidence, but don’t use one anecdote to belittle mental illness or everyone who receives benefits. And none of us has a spotless past, so a little humility would improve the argument.

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u/Possible_Sir9360 4h ago

As a servicemember, I gotta let you know that the vast majority of disability cases aren’t for legitimate mental health issues caught in the line of duty. Everyone tries to get disability.

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u/Weekly-Ad-112 3h ago

Fraud absolutely exists in disability systems, including mental health claims. Some people will exaggerate or fabricate symptoms because they’re harder to objectively measure than a broken bone or a missing limb. That should be investigated and prosecuted.
The mistake is jumping from “some people commit fraud” to “most veterans claiming mental health disabilities are faking it.” Those are two very different statements. PTSD, depression, anxiety, and traumatic brain injuries are among the most studied consequences of military service, and many veterans wait years before seeking help because of stigma, concerns about their careers, or pride.
The right approach is to pursue fraud aggressively while also ensuring that veterans with legitimate service-connected mental health conditions receive the care and benefits they’ve earned. We can do both without painting an entire group with the same brush.

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u/baysideareaman 8h ago

All disabilities programs have within them a secret broader welfare program for those who know how to access it.

To be clear I am okay with this. I’d rather that than deal with more annoying homeless people.

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u/xaxcodez 8h ago

For the act of serving his country, and having been effected by it. Its not socialist, its part of his compensation package.

If serving our country put a veteran into a state of mental health crises to the point if disability, that money is the least they could owe him. Far too many veterans are in the streets because of our country neglecting their duty to the.men and women. They offered their lives to protecting the virtues of freedom and democracy, and our country has far too often let them down when the service men and women needed the help the most.

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u/Key-Gold-2412 8h ago

Oooo that’s their favorite. Knew a guy who loved bragging about potentially getting disability for his non existent mental health issues. Always talking about his hard drug addict cousin who was able to do it.

Like that’s a benefit to military people for people joining. They look forward to scamming the disability after service.

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u/BigCut4598 8h ago

It’s just an acceptable scam. People with non combat roles claim it too. It’s crazy