Social Security Disability and VA Disability

Recent news from the Social Security Administration.
Beginning March 17, 2014 veterans with a VA disability rating of 100 percent permanent and total (P&T) may receive expedited processing of claims for Social Security Disability benefits.

Both the VA and Social Security pay benefits of disability. However, their programs and criteria for receiving benefits are very different.

According to the Social Security, a VA rating of 100 percent Permanent and Total does not guarantee that you will receive Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration says that to be approved for Social Security benefits you must meet Social Security's definition of "disability." It goes on to say we consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:
1. You cannot do the work you did before.
2. We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medial condition(s); and
3. Your disability is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

If you receive VA compensation, this will not affect your Social Security benefits.
If you are a veteran rated 100 percent P&T in order to receive expedited processing for Social Security Disability benefits you must apply to Social Security. This can be done in one of three ways.
1. Fill out your application on line Social Security Disability Application
2. Call the toll free number 1-800-772-1213 for the deaf or hard of hearing you can call at TTY 1-800-325-0778
3. Call or visit your local Social Security Office, location and phone number can be found in your telephone directory.

I urge every veteran to first of all apply for your Veterans Administration benefits. If you are/or become Permanent & Total apply as soon as possible for your Social Security Disability benefits. It will take some time before your are approved.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

WebRep

currentVote

noRating

noWeight

President Says Possibly No VA Checks

President Obama today warned that Social Security, Disability and Veterans Pension checks might
not be sent out on August 3rd.

Democrats and Republicans are still haggling on the issue of raising the national debt ceiling, and if
no agreement is reached soon there is a very large chance that the checks will not be mailed, or
sent via direct deposit.

The President said "I cannot guarantee that those checks will go out on August 3rd if we haven't
resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it."

The President went on to say "This is not just a matter of Social Security checks. these are
veteran's checks, these are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million
checks that go out."

The administration and many economists have warned of economic disaster if an agreement to
raise the U.S. borrowing limit is not reached by August 2nd.

Tell your Senator and Representative that an agreement must be reached now, we cannot allow
the country to default on its loans.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

VA wants veterans to sign up for direct deposit

The Department of Veteran Affairs is urging veterans receiving payments from VA to sign up
for direct deposit of your payments.

The Treasury Department announced that they will stop issuing paper checks as of March 1, 2013.
This means that all payments except Income Tax returns will be done electronically.

In order to receive payments you will be required to have a bank account for direct deposit of your
funds. If you do not have a bank account set to receive direct deposits you money can be put
into a pre-paid debit card.

Called the Direct Express card, it is issued by Commerce Bank as the financial agent of the U.S.
Treasury. To apply for the Direct Express debit card go to
http://www.usdirectexpress.com/edcfdtclient/index.html
Also people who will begin receiving benefits for the first time beginning  May 1, 2011 will
automatically receive their payment electronically.

This applies not only to VA benefits, but also Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad
Retirement Board, or Office of Personnel Management.

For more information you can go to www.godirect.com

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"
---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

VA Pension and Social Security

Had a question thrown at me.

Can you draw Social Security and VA Pension.
The answer is yes, but the VA counts all your income; that includes Social Security. So your pension payments will be reduced. The magic number is $985.00 so if you receive $600 from SS your pension
would be reduced to $385.00

However, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSD(Social Security Disability) as I understand
are not counted.

Also if you are receiving health care benefits from VA your benefits may change or end when
you become eligible for Medicare.


The VA pension is not counted in SS and is I believe tax free.

Several Veterans Organizations are working hard to have this changed, so that you would be able
to draw your full pension and full SS.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Veterans can receive extra Social Security credits

As many veterans are reaching the age of retirement here is something to remember. When you sign
up for the first time make sure you mention your military service. It can mean extra money for you.

You will have to send a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of service to the Social Security Office.
Here is an idea of how much credit you can get.

Some veterans who served between 1940 and 2001 will be eligible for additional Social Security earnings. Depending on the length of time and frame of time of your service, you can benefit as follows:

• If you served from 1978 to 2001, you are given a $100 credit for each $300 of active duty pay you received, up to a maximum $1,200 per year. 
• If you served from 1957 to 1977, you are given an automatic $300 earnings credit for each quarter in which you received basic pay, regardless of how much pay you were earning at the time.
• If you served from 1940 to 1956, you did not pay any taxes toward Social Security. However, you will still be credited $160 per month for any service between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1956, to be paid out to you through Social Security benefits. 

These figures are not the actual amount you will receive, they are credits added to your earnings as
a civilian to determine your monthly check; which comes on the second Wednesday of each month.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996