In Illinois and across the country, Veterans Day is a day for Americans to rally together and honor American servicemen and servicewoman. Like most Americans, veterans are entitled to Social Security benefits when they reach retirement, but some veterans will need assistance before they reach retirement if they find themselves injured and unable to work. For those veterans, Social Security disability benefits may be an option.
Applying for Social Security disability benefits can seem like a difficult process, but an attorney experienced in SSDI and SSI may be able to offer help. They may be able to help determine what kind of benefits an individual is eligible for and the necessary paperwork they will need to obtain. Whether you are applying for SSDI or SSI, it is important to remember that individuals must prove that they are medically unable to work. It is also important to remember that a disabled person’s spouse and dependent children may be able to receive disability benefits as well.
Because veterans give the ultimate sacrifice they are entitled to other benefits. In addition to their regular military pay, military personnel receive special Social Security earnings credits for periods of active duty. Additional earnings are allotted to veterans for each calendar quarter for which they earned active duty payments.
It can seem like a daunting process to apply for Social Security benefits. To make matters worse, sometimes people who believe they should be eligible for Social Security disability struggle to be defined as totally disabled and, therefore, have trouble receiving the disability entitlement. Fortunately, help is out there. For residents of Illinois and the rest of the country there is legal recourse that can be pursued to help ensure veterans, injured workers, and others get the full benefits to which they are entitled.
Source: The State Journal-Register, “Social Security: Veterans may qualify for additional benefits,” Judith Bartels, Nov. 9, 2011
