SSI/SSDI and VA Disability BenefitsVeterans may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), in conjunction with, or as an alternative to VA disability payments. They may also use the Medicaid and Medicare health benefits that come with SSI/SSDI to supplement VA health services. Show
The definition of disability and application process is different for SSA and VA disability benefits, and Veterans may begin receiving SSA benefits while they are waiting on a VA benefit decision. Definition of DisabilityVA BenefitsFor service-connected disability benefits through the VA, the applicant must show that they have a disabling condition that was “incurred or aggravated by their military service." (Source: “Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors,” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2016 Edition). The compensation rates are paid on a graduated scale, based on the degree of a Veteran’s disability, ranging from 10 to 100 percent, in 10 percent increments. Pensions, or non-service connected disability payments, require that Veterans served in a wartime period, have limited resources and assets, and have a discharge other than dishonorable (among other factors). SSA BenefitsAlternatively, the definition of disability for SSI/SSDI does not require the Veteran’s disability to be linked to their military service, does not take into account a Veteran’s discharge status, and does not pay on a graduated scale. For SSI/SSDI, the Veteran needs to show:
SSA Expedited Processing for VeteransVeterans may qualify for programs from SSA that expedite disability decisions:
More information about SSA expedited processing go to the Social Security Administration's Veterans page. Accessing VA Health RecordsVeterans can access and manage their VA health records and documents on VA.gov. This is done by linking either their My HealtheVet account or their eBenefits account. To access the VA Blue Button, Veterans must meet all of the requirements listed below. Veterans must be:
Veterans must also have one of these free accounts:
How VA Disability Benefits Impact Social Security PaymentsVeterans who receive VA disability benefits may also receive SSA benefits, depending on the amount received from the VA and if they are approved for SSI or SSDI. SSISince SSI is a needs-based program, additional income from VA benefits will affect the cash benefit amount. SSA classifies VA benefits as “unearned income,” since it does not come from paid employment. As such, it will be deducted dollar for dollar from the SSI federal payment amount, after a general exclusion of $20. All SSI recipients are eligible for this exclusion, where the first $20 of earned or unearned income is not counted against their SSI payment. For example, Paul receives partial VA benefits of $400 per month, and has been approved for SSI. The following table illustrates how the VA benefits will affect his SSI cash benefit: VA Benefits & SSI
Veterans who are approved for a VA pension will not qualify to receive SSI because the pension amount is higher than the SSI payment amount, which reduces the SSI payment amount to zero in the equation above. However, these Veterans may qualify to receive SSDI if they’ve earned enough work credits through SSA. SSDIAlternatively, SSDI benefits are not affected by unearned income through VA benefits. In the following example, Jane receives partial VA benefits of $400 per month. Because she worked and paid into the Social Security system, she now receives $850 per month in SSDI. Her VA and SSDI monthly benefit amounts will be added together: VA Benefits & SSDI
Can I receive TDIU and SSDI?Can I receive SSDI and TDIU benefits at the same? Yes, you can qualify for and receive SSDI and Individual Unemployability at the same time.
Can a veteran get VA disability and Social Security disability?SSDI and VA disability compensations are not affected by each other, so you may be eligible to receive both. However, you must apply for them separately. It may be possible to also qualify for SSI, depending on income and resources.
Can you collect VA disability and Social Security at the same time?Can I collect both Social Security disability benefits and VA disability compensation? Yes, military veterans who become disabled during their service can collect disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation at the same time.
What benefits come with VA Unemployability?Individual Unemployability (IU) is a unique part of VA's disability compensation program. It allows VA to pay certain Veterans compensation at the 100 percent rate, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at that level.
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