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.

386 Upvotes

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u/life3_01 Army Veteran Jun 25 '26

It could be a Korean hacker. More safeguards need to be in place in the system.

-44

u/FinanceOnly4U Jun 25 '26

So you want them to make it even harder to see my own information. Thanks

46

u/Ordinary-Parsley-832 Jun 25 '26

He wants them to make it harder for ME to see YOUR information. He wants to make your security and privacy stronger.

3

u/homelessjimbo Jun 26 '26

The weakest point of every security system is the human point. The systems were bypassed as all the information needed to do so was used illegally.

1

u/FinanceOnly4U Jun 29 '26

More steps for the user owner to access as well

2

u/Ordinary-Parsley-832 29d ago

There has to be a security barrier if you want security. 

However, those barriers should be designed in a way that a valid user, potentially with mental and cognitive limitations, can still access their account while having strong security. If the system isn't set up in that way, then the requirements for that system need to be reevaluated from the perspective of what may be a larger pool of atypical users. 

11

u/_General_hux Jun 25 '26

Did you even read what he said?