SSA and VA Disability Benefits:
Tips for Veterans
Connecting Veterans with Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits is a critical step to
increasing income stability for Veterans and their families, as well as providing health insurance for those
who may not qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. Veterans may be eligible for
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), in conjunction with, or as
an alternative to VA disability compensation. They may also use the Medicaid and Medicare health benefits
that come with SSI/SSDI to supplement VA health services.
The definition of disability and application process is different for SSA and VA disability benefits, and
Veterans may begin receiving SSA benefits while they are waiting on a VA benefit decision.
DEFINITION OF DISABILITY
VA Benefits
For disability benefits through the VA, also known as service-connected disability, the applicant must show
that they have a disabling condition that was “incurred or aggravated by their military service.
1
” The
compensation rates are paid on a graduated scale, based on the degree of a Veteran’s disability, ranging
from 10 to 100 percent, in 10 percent increments.
SSA Benefits
Alternatively, the definition of disability for SSI/SSDI does not require the Veteran’s disability to be linked to
their military service, does not take into account a Veteran’s discharge status, and does not pay on a
graduated scale. For SSI/SSDI, the Veteran needs to show:
1. Evidence of a physical or mental health condition, which results in functional impairments that limit
their ability to work at a substantial gainful level (quantified as $1,130/month in 2016).
2. That the disabling condition has lasted, or is expected to last, for 12 months or end in death.
SSA EXPEDITED PROCESSING FOR VETERANS
Veterans may qualify for programs from SSA that expedite disability decisions:
1. 100% Permanent and Total Veterans Initiative
In March 2014, SSA introduced a new initiative to expedite the processing of applications from Veterans
who have a 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) disability rating from the VA. To receive expedited
processing, Veterans should identify themselves as a “Veteran rated 100% P&T” when initiating the
SSI/SSDI application, and should provide the VA rating notification letter to SSA.
2. Wounded Warriors
Veterans who received disabling mental or physical health injuries while on active duty on or after
October 1, 2001 are eligible for expedited SSI/SSDI application processing. The injury does not need to
have occurred during combat operations. When initiating the SSI/SSDI application, Veterans should
inform SSA that their injury occurred while on active duty.
1
“Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors,” U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2013 Edition.
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance Center December 24, 2015
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance Center December 24, 2015
HOW SSA AND VA DISABILITY BENEFITS IMPACT ONE ANOTHER
Veterans who receive a partial VA disability rating and limited VA benefits, may also receive SSA benefits.
For cash benefits, the receipt of VA benefits will affect SSI and SSDI differently.
SSI
Since SSI is a needs-based program, additional income from VA benefits will affect the cash benefit amount.
SSA classifies VA benefits as “unearned income,” since it does not come from paid employment. As such, it
will be deducted dollar for dollar from the SSI federal payment amount, after a general exclusion of $20. All
SSI recipients are eligible for this exclusion, where the first $20 of earned or unearned income is not
counted against their SSI payment.
For example, Paul receives partial VA benefits of $400 per month, and has been approved for SSI. The
following table illustrates how the VA benefits will affect his SSI cash benefit:
VA Monthly Disability Benefit Amount
$400
General Exclusion
- $20
Counted Income
= $380
Maximum Monthly SSI Benefit Amount (2016 rates)
$733
Counted Income
- $380
Monthly SSI Amount
= $353
Total Monthly Income (VA + SSI benefit amounts)
$753
SSDI
Alternatively, SSDI benefits are not affected by unearned income through VA benefits. In the following
example, Jane receives partial VA benefits of $400 per month. Because she worked and paid into the Social
Security system, she now receives $850 per month in SSDI. Her VA and SSDI monthly benefit amounts will
be added together:
VA Monthly Disability Benefit Amount
$400
SSDI Monthly Benefit Amount
+ $850
Total Monthly Income
= $1250
RESOURCES:
USING THE SOAR MODEL TO ASSIST VETERANS
The SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) model assists Veterans nationwide who are
experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in accessing SSA disability benefits. Training in the SOAR model is
available, free of charge, from the SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance Center. For more information on
NATIONAL CALL CENTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
If you, or a Veteran you know, is experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, make the call to 877-4AID-VET
(424-3838) to access 24/7 confidential support and connect with VA services.
More information about SSA expedited processing can be found at: www.socialsecurity.gov/veterans.
