SSD Benefits
Disabled veterans may also be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements. This means that collecting VA benefits will not affect your eligibility to collect SSD benefits. However, the eligibility requirements for VA benefits and SSD benefits are quite different.
For a more detailed explanation of SSD eligibility, please take a look at our page Am I Eligible for Social Security Disability?
The major difference between Social Security Disability benefits and VA benefits is that Social Security only recognizes total disabilities. While the VA may allow for 10%, 40%, or 100% disability, Social Security only awards benefits for people who are 100% disabled. Also, Social Security requires that you have worked long enough and recently enough under their rules to be eligible. If you have not worked long enough or recently enough to qualify for SSD benefits SSI benefits may be a possibility for you.
SSI Benefits and VA Benefits
In limited cases, disabled Veterans may also be eligible for SSI benefits. What makes it difficult for someone to collect both SSI benefits and VA benefits is that all income counts towards your maximum allowed income for SSI. Unlike SSD, where VA benefits have no effect on eligibility, when we are talking about SSI, VA benefits can make you ineligible.
For a more detailed explanation of SSI eligibility, please take a look at our page Am I Eligible for Supplemental Security Income?
Call our office today and see if you qualify:
There are extremely strict guidelines when it comes to the SSI maximum allowable income, therefore, some disabled Veterans who are receiving VA benefits will not be eligible for SSI benefits as well. The best way to see if you may be eligible for SSI benefits is to contact a client service representative at our office today at 1-800-488-4775.