VETERANS AND SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

Disabled veterans may receive both VA and Social Security benefits. The two agencies have different rules for evaluating disability, however.

Veterans with a 100 percent VA disability rating will qualify for expedited processing at Social Security. This may cut the wait time from a year or more to a few months.

Unlike the Veterans Administration, Social Security does not award benefits for partial disability. With SSDI, it's all or none.

A veteran who has a 100 percent disability rating with the VA can be denied benefits by Social Security. This is because Social Security has such a strict definition of disability.

Disability with Social Security means that the claimant cannot work at any full-time job. More technically, SSDI requires a severe impairment which will last for at least 12 consecutive months or end in death, resulting in the claimant's inability to work.

There are no restrictions on working while receiving VA disability. However, a Social Security recipient who works and earns at least $1,470 per month (in 2023) will lose SSDI benefits because of working. So, a person getting SSDI benefits may work part-time, earning less than $1,470 per month--but may not work full-time or earn $1,470 or more per month.

Getting Social Security benefits will not reduce the VA benefit. Disabled veterans may get full SSDI and full VA benefits at the same time.

Social Security eligibility rules are much different from those of the Veterans Administration. Veterans applying for Social Security disability may want to appoint an experienced advocate or attorney to guide them through the process.

With the proximity of Redstone Arsenal, the Forsythe Firm has had the privilege of working with many veterans over the years. We would consider it an honor to provide a free consultation and case evaluation.

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