SOCIAL SECURITY FOR DISABLED VETERANS
Veterans who have served years in the armed forces often leave the service with a myriad of physical and behavioral impairments. Common physical problems include back, joint, knee, hip and foot issues which make it difficult to sustain work. Psychological or behavioral issues include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression or a combination of these.
Military personnel pay into the Social Security disability program during their years in uniform. If they leave the military with serious impairments, they are entitled to VA disability benefits and Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits.
Some things you should know about SSDI benefits:
1. You must apply to Social Security separately. It's a totally different process than the VA benefits.
2. The rules for SSDI benefits are similar to the rules for VA disability; however, they are not the same. For instance, the VA may give you a partial disability; however, with Social Security it is all or none.
3. Social Security will deny the vast majority of veterans who file a disability application. The bureaucratic system for handling SSDI claims doesn't work very well. Even valid, legitimate claims are frequently denied at the first step. When this happens, file an appeal within 60 days of denial and ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge. The hearing is really your best chance to prove your disability and win your SSDI benefits. If you have a 70 percent VA disability rating or higher, your odds of eventually being approved for SSDI benefits are pretty good.
4. You have the right to legal representation at the hearing and this representation cannot cost you anything unless you are approved and receive past due payments. A representative or attorney cannot charge you a fee upfront. Also, the representative cannot keep any portion of your monthly benefit. The legal fee may only come from a portion of your past due benefit settlement.
5. It's best to appoint a representative who is knowledgeable about veterans' SSDI benefits and who has worked with a large number of veterans on Social Security claims. You should be afforded a free consultation before you make any commitment in terms of a representative.
6. If you have a 100 percent permanent and total VA disability rating, Social Security may expedite your application and/or appeal--avoiding the two year wait which is customary to get your case decided.
The Forsythe Firm handles a large number of veterans' cases for SSDI benefits. We give each case personal attention and handle all of the work an expense of applications and appeals until a favorable settlement is made on your behalf. Call us here in Huntsville for a free consultation.
____________________
Charles W. Forsythe
The Forsythe Firm
7027 Old Madison Pike - Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
CALL (256) 799-0297
SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE - WEBSITE
Military personnel pay into the Social Security disability program during their years in uniform. If they leave the military with serious impairments, they are entitled to VA disability benefits and Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits.
Some things you should know about SSDI benefits:
1. You must apply to Social Security separately. It's a totally different process than the VA benefits.
2. The rules for SSDI benefits are similar to the rules for VA disability; however, they are not the same. For instance, the VA may give you a partial disability; however, with Social Security it is all or none.
3. Social Security will deny the vast majority of veterans who file a disability application. The bureaucratic system for handling SSDI claims doesn't work very well. Even valid, legitimate claims are frequently denied at the first step. When this happens, file an appeal within 60 days of denial and ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge. The hearing is really your best chance to prove your disability and win your SSDI benefits. If you have a 70 percent VA disability rating or higher, your odds of eventually being approved for SSDI benefits are pretty good.
4. You have the right to legal representation at the hearing and this representation cannot cost you anything unless you are approved and receive past due payments. A representative or attorney cannot charge you a fee upfront. Also, the representative cannot keep any portion of your monthly benefit. The legal fee may only come from a portion of your past due benefit settlement.
5. It's best to appoint a representative who is knowledgeable about veterans' SSDI benefits and who has worked with a large number of veterans on Social Security claims. You should be afforded a free consultation before you make any commitment in terms of a representative.
6. If you have a 100 percent permanent and total VA disability rating, Social Security may expedite your application and/or appeal--avoiding the two year wait which is customary to get your case decided.
The Forsythe Firm handles a large number of veterans' cases for SSDI benefits. We give each case personal attention and handle all of the work an expense of applications and appeals until a favorable settlement is made on your behalf. Call us here in Huntsville for a free consultation.
____________________
Charles W. Forsythe
The Forsythe Firm
7027 Old Madison Pike - Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
CALL (256) 799-0297
SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE - WEBSITE
Comments
Post a Comment