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SSD for Veterans with PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among U.S. military veterans. In 2023, more than 1.4 million veterans were receiving VA disability benefits for PTSD, including more than 67,000 new recipients. What many veterans suffering from PTSD don’t realize is that they may also be qualified for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits.
Not everyone receiving VA disability for PTSD qualifies for SSD (and vice versa). But, a veteran who is eligible for both types of benefits can collect them both.
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Eligibility for SSD is Different than VA Disability
One big difference between SSD and VA disability is that for the Social Security Administration (SSA), there are no degrees of disability. While a veteran might receive a 10% 40% or 70% VA disability rating and receive partial benefits, for the SSA you are either disabled or you’re not. “Disabled” means that you’re unable to engage in substantial gainful activity for at least one year.
Another difference in eligibility is that VA disability only pays benefits for service-connected conditions. The SSA doesn’t consider how you became disabled, except to the extent that you may qualify for other benefits like workers’ compensation. However, qualifying for SSD does require that you accrue sufficient work credits before becoming disabled. The number of work credits required depends on how old you were when you became disabled.
SSD Benefits v. VA Disability Benefits For PTSD
If you’re receiving VA disability, you know that with limited exceptions, everyone at a given VA disability rating receives the same base amount of benefits. For example, a veteran with no dependents and a 50% disability rating in 2024 receives $1,075.16/month. A veteran with no benefits and a 100% disability rating receives $3,737.85/month. That’s true regardless of work history, how long they served in the military or other resources.
SSD, on the other hand, is based on the recipient’s earnings during their working years. There’s no pro-rating since there are no degrees of disability for SSA. But, the amount a person receives in a month can vary dramatically depending on their past earnings. In March of 2024, the average monthly SSD benefit was $1,537.33.
Receiving one type of benefit doesn’t diminish the other. That means a disabled veteran who qualifies for both types of benefits could significantly increase their monthly income simply by applying for both programs. To learn more about how the experienced disability benefits advocates at Veterans Help Group can help, call 855-855-8992 or fill out our contact form here.
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