What Does SS Disability Offer Veterans?

Military personnel with disability are compensated by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security Veteran disability has to be claimed individually and it does not come along with the benefits of Department of Veterans Affairs. Since 1957, military personnel are covered under a social security and 40% of the total social security beneficiaries are veterans and their families.

Eligibility

Military personnel become eligible to claim the social security veteran disability benefits if the disability occurred while in the active service for military on or after October 1, 2001. This benefit can be claimed any time after the disability. It means that the disabled veteran can apply while in military service, in hospital, after discharge or while undertaking treatment in a civilian or medical care center.

Various benefits are provided to the veteran by the SSA. Following are some of these benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Veterans with disability can claim for these federal programs just like other workers. The difference for veterans in these benefits comes in the method of calculation used for determining the benefit amount. Other factors, such as proof of disability and job details, are same as that of other employees. Credits for the disability benefits are calculated for veterans as follows:

Veterans served during the period - A credit of:

• 1940 to 1956 - $160 of earnings
• 1957 to 1977 - $300 for each quarter of duty pay
• 1978 to 2001 - $100 additional for each $300 of active duty pay

If there are enough credits for a disabled veteran, then a monthly retirement, disability and survivor benefits are provided.

A one-time payment of $255 is given to the child of the dead veteran.

Medicare hospital insurance and medical insurance are provided when the disabled veteran attains the 65 years of age. But this is provided to the veteran only if they have received social security disability benefits for at least 24 months or for insured veterans with the necessity of kidney transplantation or dialysis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If a veteran is 65 years or more and disabled or blind with little or no income, he/she becomes eligible for SSI payments monthly. Income from the Veterans Affairs is included as income while other incomes are not regarded as income while determining the amount of payment. For example, household goods, land, home, life insurance and automobiles are not counted as income.

Special Veteran Benefit

This is funded by the federal government and is under the control of SSA. Under this benefit scheme, benefits are provided to veterans of the World War II, who are residing outside US.

Other Benefits

There are numerous other benefits given to the disabled veterans. The Department of Veteran Affairs of the US also provides the disabled military veterans with many benefits. A pension is issued to the disabled veteran if his/her income is limited and he/she is above 65 years of age. Apart from this, there are retirement homes, and loans for farming, homes and small businesses are also provided by various federal programs.