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Social Security for Disabled Veterans – What You Should Know

by Megan Roth5 min read
Social Security for Disabled Veterans - What you need to know
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 Those who have served in the military can have their Social Security Disability claims process expedited. This applies to Wounded Warriors  as well as those Veterans who have been given a compensation rating of 100% permanent and total (P&T)  However, the application process of Social Security for disabled Veterans is a different process from that of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and so it requires a separate application to be submitted.

 

 

Applying for Social Security Disability for disabled Veterans as a Wounded Warrior

The fast track process for the Wounded Warriors is meant for members of the military who were disabled while on active military duty after or on October 1, 2001. Where the disability occurred does not matter. When you apply for Social Security for disabled Veterans, you need to inform the SSA that your disability began while you were in active military service. You must also let the SSA know where your military records are. This is to ensure that you details can be verified when you apply from disability.

 

The Department of Defense regularly sends the SSA reports on the names of injured or ill service members, however, these reports are not always complete. Therefore, you need to ensure that you provide the SSA with proof of your service in the military. You application is marked as a Military Casualty/Wounded Warrior and is accelerated through the approvals process as a critical case.

 

How to get Social Security for disable veterans
Social Security for disable veterans is possible.

 

Which Branches of the Military are Eligible for Accelerated Claims?

The only condition the SSA has for a Veteran’s Social Security Disability claim to be expedited is that he or she should have been on active duty when he or she was disabled. The following people in the military are considered to be on active duty:

  • Full-time service members of the US Air Force, Navy, Army, Coast Guard or Marine Corps.
  • Service members on active training duty in any one of the above-mentioned services.
  • Military Academy students (West Point, US War College, Naval Academy)
  • Pre-deployment Facilities students
  • National Guard of the Army or Air Force who have been ordered to full-time active duty during a time of war or national emergency
  • Reserve soldiers called to active duty
  • Reserve soldiers undergoing full-time training or annual training
  • Reserve soldiers attending a Military Academy

 

 

Qualifying for Both Social Security for Disabled Veterans and Veterans Benefits

It is possible for a Veteran to qualify for both Social Security Disability for veterans as well as Veterans Benefits. Veterans’ benefits, also known as service-related disability compensation is not decided based on your income. Which is why it is possible for you to get both Social Security Disability for Veterans as well as Veterans Benefits at the same time. One thing that needs to be understood is that just because you were declared completely disabled by the VA does not necessarily mean that you will automatically qualify for Social Security disability, and vice versa. Each of the agencies have a separate definition of disability.