Can Disabled Veterans Get SSDI Benefits?
We’ve talked a lot about Alpha™ lately, our sister company that provides advocacy services to veterans applying for service-connected disability benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA). So, if you’re a veteran, can you get Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits too?
The truth is that, if you feel you may qualify for both, then it’s in your best interest to apply for both benefits. Let’s clear up some of the myths associated with SSDI and VA disability compensation:
Does Social Security Offset Veterans Disability Benefits
Myth: If you receive SSDI, your veterans disability benefit will be reduced. Truth: The two disability benefit programs are entirely separate. You can receive full SSDI benefits as well as veterans disability compensation from the VA. (Note: this does not apply to retirement pension programs.)Does One Program Automatically Qualify Me for the Other
Myth: If you are deemed 100 percent disabled by the VA you will automatically qualify for SSDI. Truth: Since both programs are fully separate with different eligibility rules, receiving one does not mean that you qualify for the other. You will have to fully complete all required paperwork with the help of your Alpha Advocate, for VA benefits; and with the help of your Freedom Disability Advocate, for SSDI benefits. (Note: If you are applying for SSDI, your medical history is a key component to prove disability to SSA. Your Freedom Disability Advocate will need to know about your veterans disability claim with the VA and all your treatment history at the VA or while in the military.)Do I Have to Get Veterans Disability First
Myth: The VA must approve your veterans disability case before the SSA will consider it. Truth: Again, each agency employs its own standards. The SSA will want to see a treatment pattern associated with your service-connected medical condition, but SSA does not require that the VA, or any branch of the military, certify or approve that you have a disability.The one thing that both the VA and SSA have in common, however, is that both federal organizations have very complicated application processes which require knowledge and expert navigation to get through. The Freedom Disability leadership team is proud to say that now we can help veterans get both SSDI, with Freedom Disability – and VA disability compensation with Alpha.
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Thank you freedom disability,for helping me to get my SSDI. Being a disable vet and raising my 12yr old daughter, I really needed the money thank you freedom disability for all you did. matthew scott
did your va or ss benefits get reduced because of the other? i mean did you get full benefits for each? thanks
I am a veteran and have been Layed-Off from my job with the Postal Service after 33 years
Tierney (Dave) I was told years ago that if I draw VA Disability Compensation, I could not ALSO draw SS Disability Payments. Please advise me Dave.
IM COLLECTING 30% DISABILITY FROM THE VA AND GETTING $298.00 FROM S/SECURITY, AND GETTING A PENTION FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE. MY BILLS AR MUCH HIGHER THEN WHAT I TAKE IN, CAN I STILL APPLY, AND I'M NOT WORKING AND LIVE BY MYSELF.
Joe, You say you are collecting Social Security. I am assuming you mean your SS retirement benefit. So, if you are asking if you can still apply for Social Security disability the answer is no because it is the same benefit. SSDI benefits turn into retirement benefits at retirement age. However, you may be able to increase your VA disability rating. It would be worth it to talk to a veterans disability advocate at our sister company Alpha. Find out more about how Alpha advocates help veterans at www.alphadisability.com.
i am receiving 70% disability from VA, retirement pay after 20 yrs of svc. can i apply for social security pay as well?
n.b., If you meet the eligiblity requirements for Social Security disability insurance you can apply. These government benefits are separate from each other so getting one benefit does not affect the other. You could look into increasing your VA disability as well. Our sister company, Alpha, may be able to help you get more VA compensation. If interested, please check out www.alphadisability.com for more information.
I'am currently rated at 90% by the VA, and in the process of trying to get a increase to 100%. However I am currently employed, but experience difficulty trying to maintain employment. If a schelduled 100% is granted, can I get SSD, Va Comp, and reirement pay from the time I have worked, are there any offsets?
Dennis, All of these benefits are separate benefits with different rules for eligibility. Your VA disability rating will have no impact on whether or not SSA approves you for Social Security disability. There is also no offset should you collect both benefits.
Dennis, A scheduler rating of 100% is not the only way to get the 100%. There is also 100% due to unemployability. You say you are having trouble maintaining employment. That's what unemployability means. Check this out-The criteria for many VA 100% disability ratings includes a requirement that the veteran is not able to get or keep a job because of that disability. What happens when a veteran’s service-connected disability is not severe enough to qualify for a 100% rating under the rating schedule, but the veteran can’t obtain or hold on to a job because of that disability? Even if your service-connected disability rating is not 100%, VA benefits are available to compensate you at the 100% level in the event that you are not able to work because of your service-connected disability/disabilities. This benefit is called a total (“100%”) rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (“TDIU” or “IU”). It revolves around the inability to engage in “substantially gainful employment”, meaning a job that pays at least an amount equal to the annual poverty level set by the government. I really think you should check into it, because you're already at 90%. The guidelines state you have to be at least 60% for a single disability, and 70% for combined, and you've got that. I was rated 80 with two disabilities, quit working, and received my 100 uneployability. Good luck.
Dennis, Kelly's information on Individual Unemployability is correct. Here's an article you may find helpful: How to Get Full Benefits if Not Rated 100 Percent by the VA.
So if im 100% i cant get a part time job?
At the present time I'm receiving VA Disability for the following: 60% Ischemic Heart Disease, 30% PTSD and 10% Tinnitus. After VA completed their fuzzy math I ended up with a total of 80%. I also receive three other retirements such as Social Security, Law Enforcement and Public Employee Retirement Program. My question, I'm I eligble for Social Security Disability??
Steve, If you are already receiving retirement benefits and you are at full retirement age, you cannot also get Social Security disability insurance benefits (SSDI). However, if you took early retirement Social Security benefits and have not yet reached full retirement age, and you can prove that the onset of your disability occurred within the period in which you were still insured for disability benefits, which is usually up to five years from when you stopped working, you could be entitled to back benefits. Please read our article "Social Security Disability and Retirement Benefits, What's the Difference?" I'd like to suggest to you to contact our sister company, Alpha (www.alphadisability.com). It is possible that with the help of an expert veterans advocate at Alpha you could get an increase on your VA disability. That may be worth a try. The articles in the "Apply and Appeal" section of the Alpha site may be of particular interest to you.
Suzanna......I took an early retirement at 63 (Social Security) will contact your sister company to check on possible increase of VA disability. Thank you for the information
I am a vietnam vet and presently receiving 100% disability. About three years ago a kidney was removed due to cancer. I recently heard talk of kidney cancer being added to the agent orange list. Is their any truth to this and if so should a claim be filed? Since I am already at 100%, would I be eligible for any additional compensation?
Ed, Kidney cancer is not yet added to the Agent Orange presumptive list of diseases. But it is under consideration. I suggest you talk to a veterans disability advocate at our sister company, Alpha about whether or not you should file another claim. Though you are rated at 100 percent, I don't know if that is based on unemployability or a number of ratings for different illnesses. It is conceivable that you could be entitled to more than 100 percent. Alpha can definitely help guide you on this. If interested, please call Alpha at 877-611-7724.
I am a Viet Nam vet I will be 63 years old on my birthday in Dec. I ha ve 30% disibility PTST, 10% Tinnitis, 20%, malignant prostate Cancer 10%, Limited Motion Rt. Shoulder 20%, diabetes 20% which they count as 60%. I jout had a stent put in my heart last month because I had a 90% blockage. I do have Iscemic Heart Disease am I qualified for Social Security Disability?
Kenneth, The eligibiltiy criteria for Social Security disability benefits is diffferent from VA compensation benefits. Eligiblity is based on work history and having severe medical conditions that prevent you from working. You don't say that you are still working at a job, but if you are, you wouldn't be eligible for Social Security disability if you are earning more that substantial gainful activity, which is $1,000 a month. Also, you have to be insured for Social Security disability, which means that the onset of your disability(ies) that are preventing you from working occurred within five years from when you last worked. I think our article on the difference between Social Security retirement and disability benefits would help you decide if you qualify for disability, or if taking early retirement could be an option. Here's something else to consider. You may be able to get a higher disability rating from the VA based on unemployability. Veterans advocates at our sister company Alpha, can certainly help you. Check out www.alphadisability.com or call Alpha at 877-611-7724.
My sister is disabled and isn't getting enough money from the VA disability benefits to get by can she apply for government disability, without it effecting her VA benefits?
Jennifer, If your sister paid into Social Security through work and she has a recent-enough work history for her age, she is insured for Social Security benefits. There are other factors involved in getting approved for Social Security disability. Social Security is a totally separate federal program with very different eligiblity criteria from the VA. She certainly can talk to a Freedom Disability Eligibility Consultant to find out if she qualifies for Social Security disablity benefits. She can call 866-347-2910 to find out. She may also be able to get a higher rating and more VA disability benefits. Our sister organization Alpha helps veterans get more benefits. I highly recommend that she contact Alpha at 877-611-7724. Or check out www.alphadisability.com to find out more about how Alpha advocates help fellow veterans. Good luck.
I am currently in the WTU, talked to my SSA Rep and she said that the approval should go through this week or next. I guess there is a delay with budgets and holidays. My question is, since I will be getting SSDI while still in the military will I have to re-apply when I get retired. I will be 100% scheduler, so will that affect my SSDI. I hope that I do not have to do anything with the SSDI and it will just roll over into civilian life seamlessly. Can anyone advise?
Oh, I forgot to ask something that might be a big one. I live in Fort Campbell, KY and was evaluated by the KY disability evaluation board. When I retire in a few months I am moving to Texas. Will Texas have to re-evaluate me?
Hi Charles, In regards to the VA aspect of your first question, I would reccommend you getting in touch with one of our Advocate Managers, John, at 877-341-4754. He will be able to clear this up for you. However, iIf you receive service connected compensation from the VA and a SSDI benefit no monetary offset applies. If you receive a non-service connected (pension) benefit from the VA and a SSDI benefit the VA pension will be subject to offset. Once your SSDI claim is approved your move from Kentucky to Texas will not require a re-review. If you move from Kentucky to Texas prior to receiving a SSDI determination your pending claim will be transferred to the SS Office servicing your new location in Texas and they will decide your case. Hope this helped.
Suzanna, I'm a Vietnam vet with 60% disability, getting compensation and collecting Social Security retirement. Was laid off about six months prior to retiring (August 2009). Does that preclude me from trying to get 100% disability because now I'm 68 and nobody hires people at my age? Is there a cut off age for unemployability? My other question is about my wife who had a stroke two weeks before I was laid off. She does receive social security disability and I have applied for A/A from the VA and she was interviewed by a VA doctor, this was about 7-8 months ago. She still has a partially paralyzed arm and can't work or drive a car, relying totally on me for anything outside the home, although she functions ok at home with my help. If approved, my understanding is that there may be some financial compensation, think its $85/Mo. But my issue is that the medical bills are taking a toll on us, ranging from $500 to $1,000 per month. My wish is to get her into the VA medical system but have not heard anything like that and can't really find much information. Did see something about them helping with prescription drugs but no details. Can you tell me what is available thru this program, if we get approved. Been waiting about 8 months now, which seems to be the norm, but is there information about how to follow thru with this program? Appreciate any assistance, Regards, Wally
Hi Wally, Thank you for your post. It looks like our sister company Alpha may be able to help you appeal for more in VA disability. If you could please give John, one of the Alpha Managers a call at 877-341-4754, he will be able t walk you through the next steps.
I am currently receiving 100% NON-SERVICE connected disability from the VA and am wondering if I was approved for social security disability, would the VA disability be offset by the social security disability?
Hi Ike, The two disability benefit programs are entirely separate. You can receive full SSDI benefits as well as veterans disability compensation from the VA. (Note: this does not apply to retirement pension programs.) Hope this helps.
I NEED SOME HELP PLEASE CONTACT ME
Hi Daniel, Since we do not have your phone number, please give us a call at 866-761-5942 or fill out our Contact form and one of our Eligibility Consultants will be in touch with you shortly. The Eligibility Consultant will ask you questions about your condition and how it interferes with your ability to work. You’ll also be asked about your work history to help determine if you are insured for benefits. This free consultation will also give you some guidance on what your next steps should be.
My father (a Vietnam vet) was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Within a few months his disability rating went from... I'm thinking 30% all the way to 100%. Some of the increase may also be because of sleep apnea as I know he's got it and may not have added it prior to opening up the case recently. Anyway... he's 63 years old, and I wanted to know if he would be eligible for Social Security early? I remember hearing somewhere that if you're listed at 100% disability through the VA... then it's likely you'll be eligible through Social Security. I mentioned it to him, and he seemed to think that he is eligible for Social Security (at a lower rate) if he takes it early. My thinking is that anyone can get it early if you are within a couple years of 65... and that if he applied now and got approved, he would get 100%... and not settle for the reduced rate because of his prostate cancer. Could someone let me know what type of options there are and is it possible to get the Social Security at 100% at 63? Thanks... Eric
What is Va pension programs, I am getting ssdi and Va disability pension non service related . Can I do that. So. Sec yes when I told them I was getting Va monies
My brother inlaw was ordered to stop work. Since Aug. of 2011 he has had both kidneys removed, prostate and gall bladder removed do to cancer.( My opinion from agent orange) He is a Vietnam Veteran. Social Security told him he had to wait 6 months to collect Social Security. I forgot to mention he has Dialasis three times a week. Can you please help this Veteran.
Additionally he also has a pace maker and a defibulater
Hi Rick, It looks like we are going to be able to help your bother-in-law. First, if he is not currently receiving 100% in VA disability benefits, our sister company Alpha may be able to help him apply for these benefits. Second, if he is under age 62, Freedom Disability might be able to assist him in applying for Social Security Disability benefits. Please have him call us at 866-761-5942, and one of our Eligiblity Consultants will let him know which benefits we can assist him in applying for. This free consultation will also give him some guidance on what his next steps should be.
Thank you Ashley, I hope there is someone or some place out there who can help this fellow Vet. SS gave him another let down today. They told him he will not recieve any money now, except 68.00, until February, making it six months. What a shame. Again I thank you so much.