Special Veterans Benefits under the Social Security Administration (SSA)
Under certain circumstances, military veterans who served between 1957 and 2001 can be credited with designated special extra earnings for Social Security purposes. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit. Depending on the length and time frame of military service, some veterans may find that the benefit increase may be minimal. These special extra earnings are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. Special extra earnings are not granted for inactive duty training.
Disability benefits under the Social Security Administration (SSA)
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. SSI/SSDI benefits do not require that the veteran’s disability 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:
- Evidence of a physical or mental health condition, which results in functional impairments that limit their ability to work at a substantial gainful level; and
- That the disabling condition has lasted, or is expected to last, for 12 months or end in death.
SSA Expedited Processing for Veterans
The SSA provides expedited processing of disability claims filed by veterans who have a Department of Veterans Affairs Compensation rating of 100% Permanent and Total (P&T), or by veterans who develop a disability while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001.
To expedite the processing of your SSI/SSDI application for 100% P&T Claims, you must:
- Identify yourself as a “veteran rated 100% P&T” when you apply for benefits. If you apply in person or over the phone, tell the Social Security representative that you are a veteran rated 100% P&T. If you apply online, enter “Veteran 100% P&T” in the “Remarks” section of the application; and
- Provide Social Security with your Veterans Affairs notification letter, which verifies your rating.
To expedite the processing of your SSI/SSDI application through the Wounded Warriors program, you must inform the SSA that your injury occurred while on active duty. The injury does not need to have occurred during combat operations.
More information is available at: ssa.gov/people/veterans/index.html
Veterans Administration (VA)
The benefits include health care, disability compensation, special monthly compensation, allowances and grants (related to disability), vocational rehabilitation and employment (for disabled), pensions and education.
A thorough discussion and more information is available at: department.va.gov/get-started