- Personal Finance. Can you pay your student loans with a credit card? Here's how you can do it
- Personal Finance. What VA Rating you'll need to get VA dental benefits? Elegibility and requirements
There are so many eligibility requirements for programs like VA benefits and SSDI that it's not always clear whether a beneficiary can receive both. Read on to find out if receiving VA compensation makes you ineligible for other welfare programs.
First, it should be noted that VA disability is intended to help soldiers who suffer from a condition directly resulting from their service. The compensation amount depends on the severity of the condition and how much it impedes the beneficiary's ability to earn a significant income.
Meanwhile, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for eligible workers and family who worked long enough to be eligible for benefits. Both programs have differences and similarities, but can a veteran receive both simultaneously?
Can you receive SSDI and VA disability at the same time?
The quick answer is yes. VA compensation is classified by the Social Security istration (SSA) as unearned income--meaning it does not come from paid work--but that does not affect your eligibility for SSDI.
On the other hand, if the VA assigned you a 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) rate or if you developed a service-connected condition after October 2001, you may be eligible for expedited SSDI or SSI claims processing.
How do VA benefits affect SSI?
Receiving VA compensation does not prevent you from receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, your VA benefits do count against the $20 per month cap that the SSA allows before deductions begin to be made from the total amount you could receive as SSI.
The many government benefits are not mutually exclusive, but it is necessary to understand the numerous rules and requirements of each to know what you are entitled to and receive fair compensation for your condition and your work.