Evidence Used By Social Security
Social Security regulations state that the SSA may consider any evidence of disability from other government agencies, including the VA and DOD . This can include medical records from VA hospitals or test results from DOD records, and so on.
Additionally, the SSA will consider a variety of other types of evidence, including objective medical evidence such as laboratory findings and your doctor’s notes on your medical history and the treatment you’ve received. The SSA may also consider a statement from you about your disability, your daily activities, and your efforts to work, as well as statements from your family members, past employers, or welfare agency personnel.
Do I Get Extra Money From Social Security For Being A Veteran
As a veteran, you may receive several different benefits from the Social Security Administration . The exact interplay between VA and SSA benefits depends on the circumstances that are specific to your case, but it is very common for veterans to receive VA disability compensation in addition to Social Security Disability Insurance. Also, veterans who served prior to 2001 get additional social security credit for their military service that is counted towards their SSA retirement benefits.
Ensuring that you are receiving all of the VAand SSA benefits that you might be entitled to can help you and your familyenjoy financial stability for years to come. You gave years of your life toyour country, and you deserve compensation for your service. But sometimes theVA may be reluctant to grant you the benefits you deserve. If you have beendenied your VA benefits, call Jackson and MacNichol today at 800-524-3339 for afree consultation with a veterans disability compensation lawyer.
Extra Social SecurityCredits For Veterans Were Discontinued in 2002
The amount and type of credits you receivedepends on the period in which you served in the military:
Although the SSA automatically takes thesecredits into account when calculating your lifetime earnings, it doesnt hurtto ask for a copy of your work record from SSA to make sure all of your military service has beentaken into account.
What to Do IfYour Benefits Are Denied
Characteristics Of The Veteran And Social Security Beneficiary Populations
According to the March 2004 Current Population Survey, over 9.4 million military veterans receive old-age, disability, or survivor benefits from Social Security, accounting for almost one-quarter of the adult Social Security beneficiary population .3 Information in this article is not broken out separately by type of Social Security benefit but rather by age group classifications, which allows for comparing younger beneficiaries with older beneficiaries .
| Characteristic |
|---|
| 4.6 |
| NOTE: The CPS was conducted in March 2004, but the income amounts used to calculate poverty are for calendar year 2003. |
| a. More than one race can be reported in the CPS. Data include people who identify themselves as black alone or in combination with one or more other races. |
Tabulations from the March 2004 CPS indicate that about 39 percent of Social Security beneficiaries are either veterans or reside with family members who are veterans. Because economic well-being is measured on the basis of family income, the economic well-being of the Social Security beneficiary population is strongly influenced by that of the veteran population. Of the 23.1 million veterans, 9.4 million receive Social Security benefits.4
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Military Veterans And Social Security
General Information: Wounded Warriors
Anya Olsen is with the Office of Retirement Policy, Office of Policy, Social Security Administration.
The findings and conclusions presented in the Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Social Security Administration.
Where Can I Get Help
Getting either SSD or VA disability compensation benefits can be confusing enough on their own, but seeking both can be immensely challenging. But you do not need to do this alone. At Lunn & Forro, PLLC, we help disabled people get the benefits they deserve. We are grateful for your service to our country, and we will treat you with respect. Call us today at to schedule your free consultation
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When Can A Military Member Apply For Social Security Benefits
Applicants do not have to be retired or separated in order to apply for benefits. A currently serving military member is permitted to apply at any time regardless of hospitalization status. The military member or veteran can apply while in a rehabilitation program, attending outpatient programs, and regardless of whether the treatment is in a military hospital or civilian facility.
Pennsylvania Attorneys Who Stand Up For Veterans
If you have been denied the VA pension benefits you deserve, Martin Law has the experienced and skilled lawyers you need to create a compelling appeal. Our law firms staff of attorneys include Frank J. Udinson, who the VA has certified as veterans benefits specialist.
To secure a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call Martin Law at . You can also contact us online.
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Helping Former Military Members Obtain Disability
If you are a disabled veteran who served in any branch of the United States military, you may be entitled to up to $2,700 in payments each month through the Social Security Disability Insurance program. These payments are in addition to the benefits you receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs . Klain & Associates can help you navigate the spectrum of benefits available to disabled veterans.
Schedule your FREE consultation with the disability attorneys and advocates at Klain & Associates today. 800-818-HELP. No Fee unless you win.
Each Benefit Pays A Different Amount
Your VA Disability payment will be determined by your VA Disability rating. Veterans can receive more than $3,332.06 a month if they have dependents and obtain a 100% VA Disability rating. The amount you receive from Social Security Disability benefits is dependent upon how much you pay into the system while working.
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What You Need To Know About Social Security Disability Benefits
The first and most important thing to understand about these benefits is that you cant be in a hurry to be approved for themthe process can take five months or more depending on a variety of factors.
SSD benefits are paid with the understanding that the applicant may experience an improvement in their condition SSD is paid until the recipient is able to work again in cases where there is improvement. Those with conditions that do not improve will continue to get SSD benefits as long as that is true.
We Are With Those Who Need A Helping Hand
The Supplemental Security Income program is a program that provides income support to people with disabilities, people age 65 or older, or blind, who have low income and resources. U.S. Treasury general funds, not the Social Security trust funds, pay for SSI.
If you or someone you know may be eligible for SSI, visit to learn more and apply.
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Does Getting Benefits In One Program Help Getting Benefits In The Other Program
Does having one benefit make getting the other benefit any easier? Overall, the answer is maybe it depends on your circumstances.
VA approval does not help get Social Security disability. In the past, if you were the recipient of a very high VA rating , your chances for success on your Social Security disability claim were quite good. In past decisions, federal circuit courts found that VA disability ratings were entitled to “great weight.”
In 2017, Social Security published new regulations saying that Social Security will no longer take VA approvals for disability compensation into account when deciding whether to grant disability benefits. In addition, written denials or hearing decisions from Social Security will no longer provide any information on whether the agency considered the VA’s approval in its determination.
Social Security will, however, consider any evidence that the VA took into account in making its own disability determination. The VA and the Department of Defense share medical records electronically with Social Security, which will use the evidence in evaluating its applications for Social Security disability insurance and SSI. Social Security may also use VA or DOD evidence to expedite the processing of claims for Wounded Warriors and veterans with a 100% disability compensation rating.
For more information on applying for Social Security disability, see our article on disability benefits for veterans.
Please Answer A Few Questions To Help Us Determine Your Eligibility
It’s not uncommon for veterans to have both Social Security and veterans disability claims going on at the same time. Alternatively, some veterans receive veterans disability benefits before applying for Social Security disability.
An award of VA disability benefits, also known as service-connected disability compensation, is not based on income, so you can receive VA disability compensation and Social Security disability insurance at the same time. There is also the VA pension, which is a needs-based program similar to Supplemental Security Income . VA pension is paid to veterans who have very little or no income and are disabled based on non-service disabilities. It is also possible to receive SSI and VA pensions at the same time.
If you’re eligible, it’s best to qualify for VA disability compensation and Social Security disability insurance, since they generally pay more generous benefits than VA pension and SSI, but you should be aware of the other needs-based programs.
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Are Ssdi Benefits Taxable
Social Security disability benefits can be subject to tax at both the federal and state level. Many recipients do not pay taxes at the federal level because their federally Adjusted Gross Income is too low to be taxed. However, a spouses income or household income can cause SSDI to be taxed. Supplemental Security Income benefits are not taxed.
37 states and D.C. do not tax social security benefits, but nine states do.
Eligibility For Va Pension Benefits And Social Security Benefits For Veterans
VA pension benefits are similar to Social Security Disability benefits. Because of their similar nature, disabled veterans may be unsure whether they can collect Social Security and VA pension benefits simultaneously. Yes, you can. However, the amount you receive in VA pension benefits could be offset by SSD benefits.
The government has strict requirements for its VA pension benefits program. Veterans must have at least 90 days of active duty, including at least one day during wartime. If the period of active duty occurred after Sept. 7, 1980, the veteran generally must have served at least 24 months or the full period he or she was called up for.
Applicants must also meet one of the following requirements:
- Age 65 or older with little or no income
- Total and permanent disability
- A patient in a nursing home receiving professional care
- Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance
- Receiving Supplemental Security Income
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Important Information For Veterans Who Have A 100% Permanent And Total Va Disability Rating
Those who have a 100% permanent and total VA disability rating may be eligible to get expedited claims processing for Social Security benefits. The expedited process is generally open to those who became disabled while serving on active duty on or after Oct. 1, 2001. The date of the disability itself does not matter in these cases.
The SSA may already be notified of the veterans status, but in certain cases the veteran may have to furnish proof of the VA rating via a VA disability award letter or other documentation as required by SSA.
There is no fixed timeline for approval of an SSA application in such cases. The SSA official site says processing times may be affected by a variety of factors:
- The nature of the VA-rated disability.
- The responsiveness of doctors or other caregivers in supplying medical evidence to support the claim.
- Whether a medical examination is required as supporting evidence for the claim.
How Much Ssdi Will I Get
The amount you receive each month will be based on your average lifetime earnings before your disability began and is not based on the severity of your disability. Other disability payments can reduce the amount of SSDI that you receive, however, SSI and VA benefits will not reduce your SSDI benefit.
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The History Of Military Retirement And Social Security
The concept of credits was originally devised as a means to ensure that military service members who served in World War II would be able to include their years of duty into the calculations for their Social Security retirement package. This is primarily due to the fact that US military members at this time were not paying into the Social Security system and thus were not eligible to receive benefits for these years of their active service.
Over the next several decades, legislation was enacted to ensure that service members in both active and inactive duty received Social Security credit for their work. As the policies changed over time, the specific value of a “credit” received for military service changed in order to accommodate a growing pool of eligible applicants.
Were There To Help If Disability Strikes
provide modest coverage for severely disabled workers and their dependents, including our wounded warriors. Some wounded warriors and Veterans who have a compensation rating of 100% P& T are unaware that Social Security may expedite the processing of their disability claims. In addition, Veterans may not realize they can sometimes qualify for both VA and Social Security benefits. Approximately 645,000 military Veterans received disability insurance benefits in 2020. Rest assured that if the unexpected happens, weve got you covered.
Learn more on our .
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What Are Ssdi And Sdi
SSDI, also known as Social Security Disability Insurance, is offered to those who have qualifying disabilities or conditions regardless of whether they have served in the United States military. SSDI is a federal-level benefit you earn after working long enoughafter having earned 40 credits.
How are the 40 credits calculated? According to the Social Security Administration those credits are earned by your work and payments into the Social Security fund for a maximum of four credits per year. The credits are based on your total earnings during the year and the requirement to earn those credits is subject to review and change.
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Some may earn more credits than they can use in a lifetime, but this does not increase the level of benefit or payment amounts.
Social Security benefits have medical requirements and non-medical criteria. Those meeting the non-medical requirements are paid benefits when it is determined their medical issues are expected to last a minimum of one year or result in the death of the patient.
Social Security Insurance, also known as SSI, is similar to SSDI in some ways, but is a need-based benefit and subject to income caps. Such caps mean that if you draw VA disability pay but not military retirement pay, you may qualify for SSI.
Quick Breakdown Of SSA Benefits
How Do Va Benefits Affect Social Security
There are two different types of Social Security disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income .
SSDI only counts earned income therefore, VA disability benefits have no effect on entitlement to SSDI.
However, SSI is need-based any contribution from VA disability benefits will count towards income for the month. The income limit for SSI for 2018 is $750 per month. If you receive more than $750 in VA disability each month, you will not qualify for SSI.
In addition, VA disability will also lower your SSI payment. Because the Social Security Administration considers VA disability as income, it will subtract anything you receive from your potential benefit. This is called an offset.
For example, if you have a 20 percent disability rating and receive $269.30 a month from the VA, the SSA will deduct that from your potential monthly benefit. You would then only be eligible to receive $480.70 in SSI benefits.
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Extra Social Security Benefits For Veterans
As mentioned previously, military service members are not entirely reliant on Social Security to fund their retirement. In fact, they are eligible to receive both Social Security payments as well as the standard military retirement pension program.
The current military retirement program overseen by the federal government is classified as a “defined benefit” plan. This means that individuals have a thorough understanding of the specific amount of benefits that will be paid to them based upon their years of service. That being said, there are currently talks to change the military retirement program in order to accommodate the changing nature of military service.
According to recent studies, less than 20 percent of all service members remain in the military for the 20 years that is required to receive 100 percent of available retirement benefits. Because of this, new policies have been proposed that will incorporate not only a defined benefit plan but also a defined contribution system which routes contributions directly to a Thrift Savings Plan. Within the defined contribution plan, the federal government would contribute the equivalent of 1 percent of current base pay into the Thrift Savings Plan. After two years of service, the military would offer a matching contribution up to 5 percent made by individuals towards their TSP.
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