HOW CAN VETERANS GET SSDI + VA BENEFITS?

Disabled veterans can often get Social Security disability benefits in addition to VA benefits.

According to the US Census Department, there are about 3.8 million disabled veterans in the United States.  About 1.1 million of these have disability ratings of 70 percent or higher from the US Veterans Administration.

A VA disability rating of 70 percent or higher means that the veteran has significant restrictions in function, which certainly may reduce their ability to work.

Veterans are also covered by the Social Security Act.  The rules for SSDI are different than the VA rules, however.  A separate application and appeal process is required.

While the VA may award partial disability benefits, Social Security cannot.  To get SSDI payments, the government must find that the veteran is unable to perform any full-time work (in effect, he is "'totally disabled").

Here are the usual steps for getting SSDI:

1.  Apply either online or at a Social Security office.
2.  Appeal the denial within 60 days.  (Up to 80 percent of applications are denied initially and require appeals).
3.  Appeal the "reconsideration" denial within 60 days.  This makes the second appeal.
4.  Attend a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total VA rating can ask that their applications and appeals be expedited.  It is possible to get the process resolved within a matter of months.