Most military veterans in Alabama and their families are well-versed on the benefits allotted to them before and after active duty. For some, these benefits are a big reason to have enlisted in the first place. Most veterans are eligible for pensions, healthcare and other benefits in exchange for serving their time and oftentimes risking their lives for our country. However, there are other government funded benefit that a veteran and their family may be eligible for beyond the benefits available per their military service.
That benefit is Social Security disability. Social Security disability benefits are currently allotted to nearly 9.5 million of our veterans. This equates to one in four SSD benefit beneficiaries being connected with the military. Beyond SSD benefits, some veterans are also qualified to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is needs based. SSD benefits, on the other hand, are granted to those whose wages paid and disability qualifies them for these benefits.
Veterans who served during every major war period since WWII are part of the groups receiving SSD benefits. The groups receiving benefits are overwhelmingly male, which really comes as no surprise, due to who were serving our country in the mid-to-late 20th century. Veterans could be a candidate for SSD benefits if they have a physical or mental ailment that makes it difficult or impossible to procure or keep a job.
Our nation’s veterans are some of the most respected people in our Alabama community. That is why they need and deserve to be taken care of. It isn’t unusual for a war-related injury or an event to forever change a person’s ability to work. That’s what SSD benefits are for.
Source: ssa.gov, “Military veterans and Social Security benefits,” Accessed Feb 19, 2018