How To Get Disability Benefits After Discharge From Military

Veterans who are disabled can apply to receive disability benefits from the Veteran's Administration and also from Social Security. In order to be eligible for Veteran's disability benefits your discharge from the military cannot have been for a dishonorable reason.

VA Disability Compensation

If you are a veteran and you suffered a disabling injury or illness while you were on active duty, or if you became disabled after your discharge from the military but your disability is connected to an active duty illness or injury you may qualify to receive a monthly disability payment.

• the amount of your benefit will depend on the severity of your disability
• the VA evaluates disabilities in terms of a percentage of your severity; the higher the percentage the higher the payment
• if you have multiple disabilities, they can be added together
• A Compensation Rate Table is used to determine the amount of your payment and takes into account disability severity and any dependents you may have

As an example, if you had a were determined to be 30% disabled and you are married with 3 children, your monthly benefit in 2010 would be $500, but if were determined to be 100% disabled with the same size family your monthly benefit would be $3,089.

How To Apply for VA Disability

In order to get VA disability benefits after your discharge, get a copy of a form called "Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension" (VA Form 21-526) and fill it out completely. When you submit the form, you should include a copy of your discharge papers, your marriage certificate, your children's birth certificates and all of the medical evidence that you have about your disabilty from your doctors, hospitals, lab and diagnostic tests.

Keep copies of everything you submit in case they are misplaced.

Social Security Disability

Many veterans are not aware that they may also qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security Administration's Disability Insurance (SSDI) program or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Even if you have never worked outside of active duty military, as long as you have paid FICA taxes, you may qualify for SSDI benefits, and SSI is for low income disabled people.

Social Security will also evaluate you medically to make sure you meet their standard for disability which means you have a condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last, or has already lasted at least 12 months or result in your death.

• With SSDI and SSI you are either disabled or not; there are no partial benefits like the ones from the VA
• You can collect both in certain circumstances 
• Social Security has several special programs for veterans from different eras

How to Apply for Social Security Disability

You will fill out a Social Security benefits Application and an Adult Disability Report. Copies of your medical records will be requested from your doctors and hospitals. If you became disabled while on active duty after October 1, 2001 there is an expedited process for you to receive benefits.

Get Legal Help

When you are disabled, receiving the maximum benefit possible is critically important to your future. You are entitled to have an attorney assist you with the application process for VA disability benefits and Social Security disability benefits. An experienced attorney who had done hundreds of applications and appeals is in the best position to make sure your application is as complete, accurate, and compelling as possible.