Both the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Social Security pay disability benefits. For example, the Agency funds SSDI payments. Of course, to receive these monthly payments, you must be eligible because not all disability qualify and not all workers meet all the requirements to qualify for these benefits.
When you apply, check if your dependents qualify for disability benefits too. For example, your spouse or children may qualify for SSDI on your record if you paid enough payroll taxes to Social Security. The VA Disability program processes and requirements are quite different.
SSDI and VA Disability Criteria Compared
For example, to qualify for SSDI, your injury or illness does not need to be due to military service, while it is essential for Veterans Disability benefits. When it comes to impairment, it must prevent you from working at SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) when you apply for SSDI.
However, this is not an essential requirement to receive VA Disability benefits. Another thing SSDI payments require is the fact that your disability must last for at least 1 year (12 months) or result in death. This is not the case with VA Disability.
Do not forget that Social Security Disability Insurance benefit eligibility is affected by your work history, the age you file, and even education. VA Disability does not follow this criteria.
Does SSDI and VA disability affect the amount and eligibility for the other program?
One of the things that both Disability benefits share is the fact that the monthly payment amount and eligibility will not be affected by the other program. So, great news if you qualify for both of them.
Of course, they will affect the amount you receive from the SSI program or even its eligibility because it is based on your earnings and resources. VA Disability also offers partial payment based on scale of disability, this is not the case with Social Security Disability Insurance.
The last disability criteria that apply to SSDI is “All or nothing disability payment”. This does not apply to VA Disability though. If you qualify for both of them, you will have to apply separately. Check the eligibility for SSI too.
Source: https://www.ssa.gov/people/veterans/#1
