Can You Get Ssdi and Va Disability at the Same Time
According to the U.s. Census Bureau, nearly three.8 one thousand thousand US Veterans currently experience some form of disability. Of these, around 1.one 1000000 have a VA inability rating of seventy% or higher, pregnant their condition prevents them from working or living unremarkably.
Although VA benefits are designed to provide monthly supplements in proportion to your disability, some veterans with severe weather crave extra assistance. In this case, Social Security inability benefits may be an option. Veterans can authorize for both VA benefits and Social Security disability insurance (SSDI).
Proceed beneath to acquire how you may qualify for SSDI while receiving VA benefits.
Requirements For Social Security Disability For Disabled Veterans
Although VA benefits and SSDI are both authorities programs, their requirements and benefits vary slightly. This is because:
- VA benefits are awarded on a percentage-based organisation: SSDI, on the other manus, is merely awarded to people who authorize as "totally and permanently disabled" (similar to a VA rating of seventy% or college)
- VA benefits are but bachelor to disabled veterans: SSDI is bachelor to all Americans who require assistance for their disabilities, making a programme a chip pickier when deciding who does/doesn't authorize.
- Disability for VA is determined past doctors for the VA Disability program: SSDI can not mimic this evaluation for the unabridged American populace, leaving applicants to provide as much specific certified evidence equally possible when making their instance.
You lot may be wondering what conditions qualify for inability? To meet if your condition meets the higher requirements of SSDI, you can consult the Blue Book found on the SSA's primary website. This book lists all weather and the requirements for each needed in order to qualify for inability benefits.
The volume is broken upwards into sections depending on the type of disorder — for example, amputations would be listed under Section 1.00 "Musculoskeletal Organisation", while traumatic brain injury would be listed under section xi.00 "Neurological Disorders".
While some entries are rather simple and just crave a diagnosis to authorize, others can be more than broad, complicated, or filled with uncommon medical terms. Before applying, exist sure to contact your physician for updated tests and medical records to discuss your qualifications.
The VA inability bounty plan pays benefits to veterans who contract a disease or are injured during their military service. The VA benefits are determined afterwards evaluating and rating each service related disability (injury or illness) with a percent value from 0 to 100. Information technology is easier to win VA benefits if the assessed rating is 70% or more. Once this has been calculated a payment is made.
Every bit well equally VA benefits, veterans may as well be entitled to receive SSDI particularly if they accept been rated at seventy% or more for the VA benefits. This is considering the Veterans Association has already adamant you are also disabled to piece of work.
Veterans Eligibility for SSDI
SSDI benefits are available for both veterans and other workers. They are calculated based on work credits accumulated throughout the veteran's or other worker'south working life. However, SSDI is only awarded to people who qualify as "totally and permanently disabled" (similar to a VA rating of 70% or higher). The disabled veteran needs to cheque to see if their condition meets the requirements for SSDI. This tin be found in the Blue Book compiled past the SSA.
This book contains a list of all conditions and the requirements needed in order to qualify for inability benefits. Almost veterans who authorize for SSDI accept their merits fast tracked as a reward for the time they have sacrificed representing their country.
A veteran's claim for SSDI does not affect their VA benefits and each benefit is applied for separately. Any veteran who has paid Social Security taxes may apply for SSDI independently of VA benefits. You need to have accumulated twoscore work credits and 20 of those demand to accept been earned in the concluding 10 years leading upwardly to the engagement you were diagnosed with your disability.
Benefits of Receiving Social Security Disability as a Disabled Veteran
Most US residents encounter nothing but benefits after qualifying for SSDI. However, veterans in particular receive special perks from the application process onward as a "cheers" for their selfless service on behalf of the nation.
Benefits include:
- An expedited application: Most applicants experience a lengthy claims process that can take anywhere from a few months to over a yr.
However, all military service members who became disabled while on agile military service on or after October 1, 2001 receive an accelerated application process. This means, unlike nigh, you could receive your benefits determination in a matter of weeks after your awarding.
- Increased chance of qualification: For veterans with a VA rating of lxx% or higher, the SSA is much more probable to award benefits. This is because the Veterans Association (another government program) has already recognized y'all as severely disabled and unable to piece of work, further supporting your demand for benefits.
- Continued military pay without affecting eligibility. Nigh SSDI recipients are prevented from earning money through work because it may disqualify them from disability benefits. However, many veterans receive military pay from non-work activity, which does not count towards benefit disqualification.
- Medicare and TRICARE benefits awarded simultaneously. Medicare, which is awarded to both disabled and retired Americans, is one of the best regime-provided health intendance plans in the country. While TRICARE does benefit millions of veterans, Medicare awarded through SSDI provides more coverage. This doesn't mean TRICARE benefits go away — in fact, TRICARE continues to cover extra costs past operation as your secondary insurance.
Tin can Veterans Get Social Security Disability with PTSD?
Social Security disability benefits are available for Veterans with PTSD. In order for veterans to authorize for Social Security inability benefits with PTSD, the PTSD needs to be so severe that if will force you to exist out of work for at least one twelvemonth or longer.
For veterans to get Social Security disability with PTSD, their condition and medical testify to dorsum it up needs to match the SSA's 12.15 listing, which is, Trauma- and stressor-related disorders.
The SSA considers PTSD a inability and satisfies that list. In order for a veteran to get Social Security disability with PTSD, you need to take medical documentation of all the following:
- Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence;
- Subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event (for example, intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks);
- Abstention of external reminders of the event;
- Disturbance in mood and behavior; and
- Increases in arousal and reactivity (for example, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbance)
You need to have medical information of the following to a higher place every bit well as extreme limitation of 1, or marked limitation of two, of the post-obit areas of mental performance which include:
- Understand, remember, or apply information
- Interact with others
- Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
- Adapt or manage oneself
If you lot cannot meet the above section regarding the mental functioning, if you are a veteran with PTSD, you get even so get disability if you lot meet the medical documentation part, as well if your PTSD is "serious and persistent;" which means you have a medically documented history of this condition over a period of at to the lowest degree 2 years as well as evidence to support it.
Are There Limits to the Amount of Benefits Yous Tin Receive?
Your power to receive disability benefits is not tied to income, though you practise need to have enough piece of work credits to apply.
Anyone who has paid Social Security taxes can apply for disability benefits, and your ability to qualify is tied to the number of work credits you take earned over the years.
Generally speaking, you need to have 40 piece of work credits and twenty of those credits must have been earned in the past ten years leading up to when you were diagnosed with your condition.
The number of work credits needed is based upon your age, though, as you earn iv credits each year you earn a certain amount of coin. Younger applicants will demand fewer than 40 credits to apply.
There is no income limit to apply for inability benefits, but in order to qualify for benefits you cannot be able to perform piece of work. There are incentive programs through the SSA that allow you to work while receiving benefits, such as the Ticket to Work program. It is important to talk with the SSA if you desire to piece of work while disabled as this tin jeopardize your ability to receive your disability benefits.
Using the RFC If You lot Practice Non Meet Blueish Book Requirements
The Social Security Administration will use their set of medical guidelines, commonly known as the Bluish Book, to make up one's mind whether your condition qualifies you for disability benefits. If you lot are found to be able to work, either in a modified setting at your current job or in another position that accommodates your condition, and then you volition not be eligible for benefits.
In some cases, your medical condition will not be enough to run into the medical guidelines listed in the Blue Book, merely you are notwithstanding unable to work. This is where the residual function capacity grade (RFC) will come up into play.
The RFC determines the maximum amount of work that you are able to perform given your condition. Your doctor will be the 1 to consummate the form, and this is beneficial for your case because information technology is an opportunity to nowadays information specific to your condition directly to the SSA.
Your dr. is likely the ane who diagnosed you and was the one to develop your treatment programme, so he or she can explain how you are really doing and what issues have come about that prevent you from performing sure tasks.
You should inform your doctor of your intent to file an application for inability benefits as early on as possible so that the RFC tin can be completed and submitted rapidly. In many cases where a diagnosis is not plenty to qualify for benefits, the RFC is the near important document in the claim.
If you know that your status might not be enough to qualify yous for benefits, then yous should build your case with the RFC in mind. Be sure to include all supporting medical documentation that supports the claims made in your RFC then that the SSA will be able to make their decision.
Statute of Limitations for Disabled Veterans When Applying for Both VA Benefits and Social Security Inability
There is no statute of limitations applicable for veterans' SSDI benefits, or other VA benefits. Notwithstanding, that doesn't mean you should filibuster your application equally once you have filed information technology at that place would be at a minimum several months earlier a decision is reached.
One time your awarding has been approved, your benefits will exist backdated to the date when you lot practical. However, if your claim is denied there is a deadline set for filing an appeal. You have 12 months from the date establish on the denial letter to file an entreatment, called a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).
You should file your claim as soon as possible while you even so have the prove clear in your mind. The sorts of medical testify you will require includes anything related to your injury or illness such as a dr.'s reports, X-rays, and medical test results.
Can You lot Get VA Disability and Social Security?
Veterans are able to get VA disability, equally well every bit Social Security disability benefits at the same time. Veterans must have to qualify for both programs separately.
If the VA grants you disability, it does non mean that you lot will become approved for Social Security Disability or, vice versa. The VA grants VA inability based on diverse degrees of your disability.
You can be constitute only 20% disabled past the VA and still be approved to receive VA benefits. Social Security disability benefits are only awarded for those the SSA deems are 100% disabled.
If you have a 100% VA disability rating, your chances of also receiving Social Security disability benefits are greatly increased.
Are VA Benefits Considered Income For Disabled Veterans Applying SSI?
The SSA categorizes VA benefits as "unearned income," because the money does not come from paid employment. Anyone receiving SSI volition non have $20 either earned or unearned income counted when computing an SSI payment.
How to Apply for VA Benefits and SSDI
Eligibility for VA disability benefits is non based on income and you may qualify to receive both VA inability benefits and Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) at the same time.
If you are certain yous are entitled to receive VA benefits yous need to provide bear witness which shows your disability was caused while y'all were employed past the military. This includes a diagnosis of your medical status and a report written by your doctor. The medical evidence you provide needs to testify that you have a mental or physical inability that is ongoing and stops you lot from working and carrying out everyday tasks. The documents yous will be asked to include in your awarding are:
- your DD214 certificate;
- proof of the treatment you received while in service;
- your doctor'southward medical report;
- results of 10-rays, CT scans and medical tests that prove you lot are disabled.
The amount you get paid will depend on the extent of your disability.
When applying for SSDI benefits you should include the percentage rating of your VA disability equally provided in the VA notification alphabetic character, proof of your accumulated work credits, your diagnosis from your doc and the listing of your medical condition in the SSA Blue Book. If your rating is 100% the SSA will prioritize the processing of your claim.
Tips for Applying for Social Security Disability and VA Benefits As A Disabled Veteran
- Starting time of all eligibility for VA disability benefits are not based on income.
- Y'all may qualify to receive both VA inability benefits and Social Security inability insurance (SSDI) together.
- If you believe you are eligible for VA benefits yous must provide bear witness that shows your disability is due to your fourth dimension serving in the armed services. The amount you go paid volition depend on the extent of your inability.
- SSDI benefits are a Social Security Administration (SSA) benefit, non directly linked to VA. The veteran has to testify proof that s/he has a status that is either physical or mental that affects their ability to do a task that pays more than $i,350/month and that the disability has or is expected to continue for at least 12 months.
- If VA benefits are more than than $one,350 per month the veteran may not exist eligible for SSDI benefits.
- There is a link betwixt qualifying for VA benefits and SSA benefits and that is the procedure for applying for either SSDI or SSI can be prioritized if the veteran has a "Veteran rated 100% P&T" when commencement the awarding process for SSI/SSDI. The veteran should include the VA rating notification letter in the application forwarded to the SSA.
- Because SSI is needs-based any extra income from VA benefits will take an consequence on any cash benefits merely as the SSA classes VA benefits every bit "unearned income," considering it isn't the result of paid employment it will exist deducted from the SSI federal payment amount, after excluding the kickoff $20. Every SSI recipient is eligible for the $20 exclusion when the SSI payment is calculated.
Evidence Disabled Veterans Need For Their VA Disability Claim
You will need to provide medical testify that proves yous take a mental or physical inability that is ongoing and prevents you from working and carrying out everyday tasks. The injury or illness must take taken place while serving in the military.
The documents you will need are:
- your DD214 certificate;
- your treatment records while in service;
- medical evidence provided by your electric current physician including the diagnosis, x-rays, CT scans, medical test results and anything else that proves yous are disabled.
Evidence Disabled Veterans Need When Applying For SSDI or SSI Claims
- previous medical records which show the kickoff date of the disability;
- current medical records;
- details of electric current medications, dosages, reasons for taking them and results from their use;
- consummate listing of hospitals where treatment has been administered and the treatment received;
- receipts for medical treatment received;
- any unpaid invoices for medical treatment;
- list of physicians who have provided treatment including electric current contact details;
- complete work history over the last fifteen years, including duties undertaken in each task;
- details of whatever workers' compensation received including reason for and amounts paid;
- your original birth certificate, copies are not accepted;
- your social security card;
- names and nativity dates of your spouse and small-scale children;
- dates of marriages and divorces;
- contact details of a contactable friend or relative that can respond on your behalf;
- bank check or savings account details including the bank'southward 9 digit routing number.
How Disabled Veterans Can Start the Social Security Disability Application
SSDI applications can be started whenever you are ready by visiting the SSA's primary website. Here, you tin also find FAQs and paperwork lists to assistance you during the process.
Bated from normal medical and fiscal papers, abreast to have the following prepared before applying:
- Form DD 214 (if you were formally discharged)
- Proof of military pay or workers' compensation
- Any military medical records that support your disability (medical tests, physician's notes, therapy documentation, etc.)
If you lot require aid filling out your application, yous may want to consider a free consultation with a local inability chaser.
Their experience can further simplify the procedure by organizing paperwork, keeping in contact with the SSA, and helping fight on your behalf to get y'all the benefits you deserve.
How an Attorney Tin can Help
If you speak with a disability attorney who has worked with veterans to get their VA and Social Security disability entitlements, this will help to ensure you take provided all the documentation needed to support your claim. Often there are delays due to insufficient documentation being provided.
Your attorney will have feel and knowledge about how the SSA works and should know what is required to win both a VA and SSD claim. Processing claims for any disability payments often accept months and even in some cases years for a conclusion to exist reached. You tin normally expect to receive an reply more speedily if you lot ask an attorney to work on your behalf.
Most attorneys, but not necessarily all, do not crave whatever upfront payments for their services, and so you will simply need to pay legal fees once your claim(s) have been settled. If your claims are denied you may not be asked to pay any legal fees.
If you are unsure of the terms of hiring an chaser, check with the attorney earlier going through the hiring procedure. This will ensure you aren't unduly worried about an unexpected bill existence posted to you.
As many claims are denied the outset time round this shouldn't discourage you, as your chosen attorney can work through the appeal'south procedure with the promise of winning a favorable settlement on your behalf sooner rather than later. Complete the Gratuitous Instance Evaluation today!
Additional Resources
- Social Security Benefits – A Guide for Veterans
- Social Security Speeds Up Disability Process for Veterans
Source: https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/disability-benefits-available-for-veterans
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