3 THINGS DISABLED VETERANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BENEFITS

In spite of the negative things you may hear about how poorly the government treats veterans, the United States has made provisions to care for qualifying disabled veterans.  

I want to give you 3 things that every veteran needs to know about Social Security disability benefits:

1.  Veterans are covered by both the Veterans Administration (VA) benefits and Social Security disability benefits (SSDI).  During your years of military service, the government withheld Social Security taxes from your pay and placed the money into a special government trust fund.  This trust fund is used to pay a benefit if you become disabled. Therefore, SSDI benefits are not welfare.  They are something you paid for, just like any other insurance program.

2.  Receiving a VA disability and/or retirement check will not disqualify you from getting full SSDI benefits.  Social Security will pay benefits in addition to any VA benefits.  One benefit does not reduce or interfere with the other benefit.

3.  Veterans may qualify for SSDI benefits even without a 100 percent VA disability rating.  However, if you have a 100 percent (permanent and total) VA benefit, you may qualify for expedited claim processing at Social Security.  This means that a claim that could usually take up to 2 years to be decided may be decided in a matter of weeks or just a few months.

I should also point out that Social Security has it's own set of unique rules about disability.  Veterans must make an application for SSDI benefits, submit medical evidence and often have a hearing to be approved.  It isn't automatic.  It isn't uncommon for the state agencies to deny Social Security applications at the initial level, thus requiring an appeal hearing for the veteran to be approved.  

My firm has been helping disabled veterans with the Social Security disability process for years.  Our Huntsville office has the capability to help handle applications, appeals and hearings.  Our services are always free unless you are approved and recover back pay from Social Security.
_____
Charles W. Forsythe
The Forsythe Firm
7027 Old Madison Pike - Suite 108
"Across from Bridge Street"
Huntsville, AL 35806
PHONE (256) 799-0297

E-Mail Me:   forsythefirm@gmail.com