**TLDR: The VA is seizing Shawn's disability compensation, and I was laid off. I'm raffling off artwork I made (Shawn helped!) to help supplement with what we've lost.**
Story time.
On March 28th, after 12 years at Portland Piano Company, I was laid off.
Ope, by the way, before I really dig in - this post will likely be the hardest thing I've ever had to write and put out in the open. I'm not one to carry-on in life (and on the internet) like this. I'm not one to ask of others. I'm airing our troubles, here. So, buckle up, I guess.
With a lay-off out of the blue came an onslaught of emotions. No one expects to lose their job when they're realdanggood at what they do. But - it happened - and within a few days of this happening the room stopped spinning and I'd found some peace and direction despite still feeling like I had a piano-sized wound to carry.
A week later, on April 9th, Shawn recieved a letter from the VA stating they had audited his benefit status and they were forcing a recoupment of the separation pay he recieved when he was honorably discharged from the Marines in 2011 to the tune of $9507.12 They were giving us notice that they were stopping his VA Compensation June 1 and would reinstate it once the debt was paid.
A 10K loan isn't a lot. A 10K deficit in your monthly income is huge on top of an entire salary lost. At least for us it is.
Queue room spinning once again, but in hyper-drive.
Shawn was medically separated from the Marines in May of 2011 after he'd been deemed medically unable to perform duties to the standard required of him. (Blown up, horrific car accident, traumatic brain injury, etc) The highers above him set him on a specific course to purposely deny his re-enlistment package in order for him to be able to receive this severance package from the Department of Defense. He was granted his honorable discharge, given a check, and said goodbye to the Marines after giving them ten years of his life.
Once life had begun to establish itself outside of the military, due to his injuries sustained while in the Marines, he sought disability compensation. He went through the examinations, the interviews, submitted all evidence necessary, and the VA came back and said "Yep, you've got service connected disabilities, and you're being granted compensation."
Fast forward to today. Shawn has been audited and the VA deemed his separation pay granted by the DoD a "double payment" in disability benefits. This happens to thousands of veterans every single year. There is no statue of limitations that applies to this. It is legal. And the VA has yet to offer any sense of compassion toward the financial hardship this causes our family. Couple this with me being laid off, to say we've been dealt a set-back would be an understatement.
Ironically, on the envelope this news was delivered in, printed in giant bold colorful font is the Veteran's Crisis Hotline, corresponding number, and the phrase "we need you here tomorrow". I've wondered how many of our nation's veterans have received this notice of recoupment and realized death would be easier than debt. Things that make you go "hmm".
We are going to have to pay this debt. We are going to have Shawn's compensation seized. There is nothing we can do about it.
This is where the link below comes into play. My husband's first thought upon realizing what's in front of us was "I'm going to need to sell my truck". My reply was "no, I'm going to sell my art."
I'm not a Picasso, Monet, or Rembrandt. But, I am proud of what I can produce. I started painting when I was 15 and over the last twenty plus years it has morphed into what's in front of you today. I work with textured mediums and put my efforts into a mix of painting and sculpting. I'm raffling off the piece pictured of a topographical map of the United States. It measures 49"W x 28"H with the diagonal measuring 50.5". It is framed with 200+ year old cedar barn wood Shawn's been holding onto to make something special out of. The raffle drawing will take place June 1. Tickets are $5 per entry. Follow the link and it will take you to our site to enter. The more tickets you acquire, the higher your chance is to win.
If it keeps my husband from selling his truck, if it keeps food on the table, and my children's education paid for, then I'll have achieved what I set out to do. If it pays the debt the VA has decided to saddle us with amidst my lay-off, well, I'll be forever grateful for your generosity and kindness and will ugly-cry with happiness for...days, probably weeks, actually.
I fully understand that this economy is hard to live in for nearly everyone in some capacity. At the very least I would be beyond appreciative for a simple 'share'.
Circling back to my beginning statement. This is...ugly...news. This is on the verge of dirty laundry. This is information I'd rather no one knew about because ya know what? Sometimes garbage situations happen in life and a lot of people would look at me and tell me to get over it. "You'll be fine". They'd roll their eyes and mutter their judgment. Fine - if that's you - do it. I deserve it. I'm on the internet asking for help, which in turn warrants chatter.
As my dad has said to me countless times throughout these last couple of weeks, though, "you have talents that God gave you - USE THEM." So, this is me using them. If you have additional questions, either about artwork or our situation, don't hesitate to private message me, I'm happy to make myself available.
Thank you all for your consideration (and high five if you've actually read this far - I appreciate you).
With thankful hearts,
Malia, Shawn, and the kiddos
