OVERLOOKED MONEY FOR VETERANS

Are you a disabled US veteran? Have you overlooked up to $3,011 per month in income that you could be getting?

Of course, you have applied for VA benefits. The pay you receive depends on your disability rating.

But the Social Security Administration (SSA) can pay up to $3,011 per month in additional benefits--on top of your VA benefits.

Social Security disability (SSDI) is not automatic for veterans. Just because you are disabled under the VA rules doesn't mean you will qualify for SSDI. The two programs have different rules.

For one thing, Social Security has no ratings, no degrees of disability. It's all or none. Social Security only recognizes total disability, best defined as the inability to perform any full time job in existence in the US economy. Yet, many veterans will qualify for SSDI benefits.

Does SSDI depend on a 100 percent VA disability rating? No. Social Security may pay a benefit for veterans who do not have a 100 percent VA classification. Also, having a 100 percent VA rating will not guarantee approval at Social Security. As we said, the two programs have different standards and rules.

Another question we get: Will getting SSDI affect my VA benefit? The answer is No. If you meet the requirements of both programs, you can get full benefits from both.