If you are a veteran, you should always feel appreciated, honored, and cared for as a result of your service. This should be true always – in times of good health and in times of difficulty. Struggling with a disability falls into that second category. If you live in Mississippi and you are a veteran who suffers from a long-term disability, you should know that there is help available. You may need and deserve the financial support and stability that disability benefits can provide – but you may be unsure how to begin pursuing the benefits available. Let’s take a closer look at the available options together.
Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration provides disability benefits to individuals, including veterans, who have qualifying medical conditions that have rendered them disabled for a period of at least one continuous calendar year or more. The Social Security Administration will typically require medical and employment-related proof to establish that these conditions are met by individuals who are interested in pursuing a claim for either type of benefit.
The Two Types Of Disability Benefits That Are Offered Include:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): SSDI benefits are generally intended for individuals who are “insured.” In the eyes of the Social Security Administration, being “insured” means that you worked a qualifying job for a sufficient length of time, through which you regularly paid a portion of your salary into the Social Security system. The number of benefits you receive will be based on various factors, including your work and earning history.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Unlike the case for SSDI benefits, an individual need not be insured to receive SSI benefits. Instead, those who receive SSI benefits must have income and resources below a certain limit established by the Social Security Administration. This limit may change annually. The amount of income an individual will receive is not typically based on the disabling condition itself but rather on their income and resource level, among other factors.
Depending upon your particular circumstances, you may qualify for one or both of these types of benefits. Consulting with an attorney is always advised to ensure you fully pursue any benefits to which you may be entitled under the law.
Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs
For disabled veterans from Mississippi and all across the country, the Department of Veterans Affairs may also provide benefits and assistance. In order to receive these benefits, however, the particular medical condition that is the cause of the disability must have been received during military service.
It is important to realize, however, that at least insofar as SSDI benefits and disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs are concerned, receiving one type of benefit does not render the individual ineligible to receive the other. Indeed, both can be collected simultaneously in most circumstances. However, this is not necessarily the case for SSI benefits, which are more income- and resource-dependent.
Additionally, it should be noted that those who apply for and receive veteran’s disability benefits do not need to consider their age, work history, or education level when determining eligibility. Moreover, partial payments may be available depending upon the severity of the disability, and different factors will apply in determining the amount of the payments compared to those that are utilized for Social Security benefits. Veterans who are interested in applying for disability benefits in Mississippi have several options, including:
- Applying online at www.va.gov/disability.
- Submitting a paper application. Applicants can find and print an application at VA Form 21-526EZ, “Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits,” and can send the application to: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
- Those wishing to submit an application in person can go to a local regional office in Mississippi and turn it in for processing there.
Understandably, all of these conditions and legal qualifications may seem complicated, and it is normal to feel overwhelmed. You don’t have to feel that way, though. Instead, you can call the knowledgeable and experienced team at Muse Disability. We’re here to help.
Call Muse Disability Today
At Muse Disability, we understand how important disability benefits can be to those who are struggling with a disability and unable to work. We know that from a financial perspective, they can make the difference between stress and stability. That’s why we’re here for you. Our talented and experienced legal team understands every aspect of the law pertaining to disability benefits, and we’re ready to put that knowledge to work on your behalf. We’ll help you fight for the benefits you deserve every step of the way. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.