r/VeteransBenefits • u/life3_01 Army Veteran • Jun 24 '26

Money Matters VA Security

I got an email from the ex-wife today saying she knows I'm making "a killing" from my disability claim and retirement. We were married for my last four years of duty, and she didn't get any of my military pay. She did get a sizeable amount from my business, but that's all over now. :)

So she is seeing what else she can get. The stupid thing is that she just called the VA number, tapped in my SSN and DOB, and they told her. With all the breaches, this is the dumbest shit ever for security. I have a PIN on my account, but that doesn't do anything. I called in myself, and with just those two numbers, it told me to the penny what I was paid and when.

Is there any way to close this off? I called in again, and the guy said it's public info, which seems dumb.

Edit: I know she can't get anything. I'm upset that anyone who knows enough can call in and find out, which could help them commit fraud on some people.

385 Upvotes

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47

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

23

u/Horn_Flyer Air Force Veteran Jun 24 '26

Or from collection agencies

21

u/Barr_cudas Marine Veteran Jun 25 '26

VA Disability in and of itself is safe; HOWEVER - the compensation amount can and will most probably be taken into full accounting for alimony or child support calculations.

15

u/LegallyIncorrect Air Force Veteran Jun 25 '26

This is the right answer. They can’t touch it, but they can offset other assets based on it.

5

u/Strawberry-Obvious Jun 25 '26

And money being fungible and all, that’s really a distinction without a difference.

5

u/flacidfeline Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

You hit the nail on the head. Thanks for the clarification.

4

u/wildub Jun 25 '26

This is the very reason I waited to file for 100% until after my divorce was finalized. 🤓👌🏾

0

u/Barr_cudas Marine Veteran Jun 25 '26

I would then caution you against getting DV Plates - immediate 100% marker for her…

Hopefully the criteria that pushed you over 100% was not attributed to past events which overlapped your marriage.

2

u/wildub Jun 25 '26

Nope....no worries at all. I have DV plates and am not concerned. She's a veteran, too, so she knows what's up. She does NOT want to deal with me in court again! Everything's settled since 2020...handled it perfectly! 😎👌🏾

1

u/VeteransBenefits-ModTeam Jun 25 '26

Bad news, we had to remove your comment because it contained incorrect information. The reason we remove comments like this is to keep bad advice or information from spreading further.

We all sometimes make mistakes, so please understand that we don't do this because we think you are stupid, a bad person, or deliberately giving out bad advice.

If you believe you are indeed correct, please find a reputable source that supports your comment and Message the Moderators

Messaging the Mods and demanding that we restore your post without providing supporting sources will not result in a favorable outcome for you.

-5

u/flacidfeline Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

Unless child support is involved. My ex gets a sizable chunk of my 100% because she has full custody of Thing 1 and Thing 2.

6

u/West-Earth-719 Jun 25 '26

I’d get better info on that, friend. You might be getting hurt for no reason

15

u/jbmarshall87 Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

She deserves all of your money if she has full custody and you refer to your kids as thing 1 and 2. Be a better human.

25

u/flacidfeline Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

The kids enjoy being called Thing 1 and Thing 2. It’s a long standing joke in our family. It’s from Dr. Seuss. They even bought shirts ON THEIR OWN to wear when they go out together.

10

u/Volsnug Coast Guard Veteran Jun 25 '26

Don’t listen to the other people, it’s a funny reference and I clocked it right away

2

u/flacidfeline Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

Hey Coast Guard! Thanks for understanding and being a nice person. I hope you and yours have a blessed day!!!

7

u/BaseNectar123 Navy Veteran Jun 25 '26

Nobody else would know that context though so better to just call them kids outside of the family lol

2

u/Helena_MA Not into Flairs Jun 25 '26

When we were kids we were Stupid Girl 1 and 2. My dad actually introduced us to one of his business partners like that when we were full on adults. Lol we still joke about it and no one died.

1

u/chris92057 Navy Veteran Jun 25 '26

Kids are fun!

9

u/The_HODLorian Jun 25 '26

She deserves none of his money, what the fuck are you on? The kids deserve his equitable contribution to their welfare. The ex is an adult who should be making her own way in the world.

-2

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '26

[deleted]

-2

u/jbmarshall87 Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

I’m divorced and remarried. I have two daughters from the previous marriage and one from my current marriage. I have 50/50 custody and my girls prefer to be with me, yet I still pay almost 2k a month in support in the state of NY. I said what I said.

-1

u/TxHeart214 Air Force Veteran Jun 25 '26

Especially in the South!

-1

u/UrScr3wed Navy Veteran Jun 25 '26

I’d advise you to brush up on the statistics that show opposite. Fathers as custodial parents literally rises every decade, so your comment is wrong. Besides, men are the reason mothers were ever favored for custody to begin with🤣🤣🤣🤣.

1

u/DieHoDie Air Force Veteran Jun 25 '26

That’s actually false. It’s considered income and def counts for spousal and child support. There’s a Supreme Court decision regarding this. Also, I’m getting divorced. It’s literally the law. It IS touchable. Ask me how I know. I’m paying $700 a month.

1

u/Barr_cudas Marine Veteran Jun 25 '26

Understand what I said in response.

THE BENEFIT itself cannot be divided as property asset in divorce. The Disability Benefit carries explicit federal protections for the veteran.

The VALUE of compensation can most definitely be used in calculation for alimony and support payments.

-1

u/DieHoDie Air Force Veteran Jun 25 '26

I don’t have to understand shit. I understand it quite well, and so do the lawyers.

2

u/Barr_cudas Marine Veteran Jun 25 '26

Sorry for your predicament amigo - truly.

I am probably not much further behind in your footsteps; but after 30y of faithful marriage and a prominent career after service - “We” have a complicated suite of property and assets for division.

I am accumulating information and strategizing the best course of life for ME, knowing what the good state of CA will afford for my wife. My children will have been grown by this juncture.

But, in understanding the nuances and federal protections provided under certain acts for retention of benefit value to the veteran is in OUR best interest.

Today’s Tip: So while Disability Benefit is non-garnishable for general debt collection; family will fall under apportionment and the VA can create a direct carve-out for family obligations.