Can You Get SSDI If You’re 100% VA Disabled?
If you have a 100 percent VA disability rating, you may be confused about what benefits you’re entitled to and how to get them. Many veterans with a 100 percent rating are also eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI. However, navigating the application process is complex, and the eligibility criteria differ from those imposed for VA benefits.
Veterans Guide has helped thousands of disabled veterans access disability benefits. Can you get SSDI if you’re 100 percent VA disabled? We’ll help you determine your eligibility and access the benefits you’re entitled to.
Can You Get SSDI If You're 100% VA Disabled?
While the VA disability benefits and SSDI systems have some similarities, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration use different standards for awarding benefits. The programs have differing criteria for qualifying conditions. In addition, the VA assigns partial disability ratings—you still get benefits even if you’re not 100 percent disabled. On the other hand, Social Security requires you to be completely unable to work.
The good news is that a 100 percent VA rating can support your SSDI claim. The VA’s ruling of total disability provides strong evidence in your favor, though approval is not automatic.
The VA and SSA also have differing medical criteria for each qualifying condition. The VA uses the schedule of ratings for disabilities provided by Section 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 4. Meanwhile, the SSA uses its so-called Blue Book of qualifying impairments. A condition that meets the criteria of one does not necessarily satisfy the criteria of the other.
In addition, to qualify for SSDI benefits, you must meet the following criteria beyond a disabling condition:
- You must have a qualifying work history with sufficient payments into the Social Security system through payroll taxes.
- You must demonstrate that your disabling condition is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
If the VA has assigned you a permanent and total disability rating, you might receive expedited processing from the SSA, but you still must meet all of the program’s requirements.
How Much Is SSDI for 100% Disabled Veterans?
If you have a 100 percent VA disability rating, you likely cannot work because of your service-connected condition. Because you are unable to work, you are more likely to qualify for SSDI benefits than if you have a lower disability rating. SSDI is an all-or-nothing system that pays benefits based on applicants’ inability to work. Unlike the VA, SSDI does not provide benefits for partially disabling conditions.
The VA and SSA are separate government agencies with different eligibility criteria. It’s important not to assume you’re eligible for one if you qualify for the other. For example, you have to demonstrate to the SSA that you not only have a severe disability but also that the disability prevents you from doing any work. Oftentimes, though, a condition that results in a 100 percent rating, such as certain PTSD symptoms, will also entitle a veteran to SSDI benefits.
The amount you receive from SSDI depends on your past income and not on the severity of your disability. SSDI is funded through payroll taxes deducted from your paycheck. The amount of SSDI you receive is based on the income you earned while working and how much you have paid into the system.
In January 2025, a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, was applied to all Social Security benefits, and as of April 2025, the average monthly payment for SSDI was $1,667. In 2025, the maximum monthly Social Security or SSDI payment you can receive is $4,018.
Expedited SSDI Claims for 100% Disabled Veterans
Though the SSA and VA process claims separately and have different criteria, you can receive expedited SSDI claims processing in some cases. The SSA can process your SSDI claim more quickly under the following circumstances:
- You have a 100 percent permanent and total disability rating from the VA.
- You qualify for Social Security’s Wounded Warrior program by developing a disability while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001.
The SSA usually receives automatic notification of a veteran who falls into one of these two categories, but not always. Tell the SSA you are 100 percent P&T or a Wounded Warrior veteran to get your SSDI claim fast-tracked. You must attach your VA notification letter to your request.
What SSDI Benefits Are Available to Veterans?
The U.S. government has several benefits programs for veterans:
- Retirement benefits: Your SSA benefits are not reduced by your military pension. You get the full amount of both.
- Medicare and TRICARE: Health care coverage through TRICARE is available for uniformed service members, reserve members, survivors, spouses, and others who qualify. You may also be eligible to receive Medicare benefits simultaneously.
- Survivor benefits: Spouses and dependents of veterans might also qualify for survivor benefits through the SSA.
You may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income, also known as SSI. You can receive SSI in addition to SSDI if you meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, if you lack a qualifying work history, SSI offers an alternative for benefits.
SSI is a needs-based program designed to help those with low income and few assets. It is paid out of general tax revenue instead of the Social Security trust funds.
To qualify for SSI, you must earn less than $2,020 per month from working or get $988 or less a month from non-work sources such as disability payments. You must also have less than $2,000 in bank accounts and belongings like vehicles. If you are not receiving enough money in VA benefits and SSDI, SSI can provide additional income.
How Do SSDI Payments Work?
There is a five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits. Once the SSA approves your SSDI claim, you receive payments starting on the sixth full month after the start of your disability. However, the payments actually come the month after they are due.
The SSA offers this example:
- Your disability begins on January 15.
- You are subject to a five-month waiting period.
- You are entitled to benefits starting in July.
- The payment comes the month following the entitlement, so your first payment comes in August.
As part of your SSDI benefits application, the SSA asks for your bank routing information. If you provide this, you can receive a monthly direct deposit into your bank account.
As long as you qualify for SSDI, you’ll receive payments once a month. The exact day you receive your payment depends on when during the month your birthdate falls as follows:
- 1st through 10th of the month: Second Wednesday
- 11th through 20th of the month: Third Wednesday
- 21st through 31st of the month: Fourth Wednesday
A qualified VA disability attorney can answer any additional questions about SSDI payments.
How to Apply for SSDI Benefits
Many veterans use the SSA website to apply for SSDI, but there are other options. To start your application, you can:
- Apply online using the SSA application portal.
- Apply in person by visiting your local SSA office. The SSA office locator can help you find a branch near you.
- Apply over the phone by calling 1-800-772-1213(TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Regardless of how you apply, you must provide the same information. There are three main categories of information on the SSDI application:
- About you, including your name, birth date, bank account information, spouse, and dependents
- About your medical condition, including contact information of health care providers, test results, and current medications
- About your work, including income for this year and last, prior employment information, and military service before 1968
The SSDI also asks for specific documents that include the following:
- Your birth certificate or proof of U.S. citizenship if born outside the U.S.
- Military discharge papers if you served before 1968
- W-2 or self-employment tax returns for last year
- Medical evidence of your disabling condition, including records, test results, and doctor’s reports
- Proof of workers’ compensation-type benefits, including settlement agreements
The SSA requires original birth certificates and most other documents, except for tax returns, W-2s, and medical records, which can be photocopies. The SSA also recommends starting your application even if you don’t have all the supporting information.
It is common for some veterans to run into challenges while applying for SSDI. It’s in part because of these challenges that you might want to work with an advocate at Veterans Guide. Here are some common roadblocks:
- Lack of medical evidence: The SSA needs proof that you have a disabling medical condition. Even if you have visited several health care providers, you still might not have enough to show that you cannot work.
- Lack of documentation of symptoms: Many disabling conditions have a long list of symptoms. The documentation you provide might not include all your symptoms. The SSA needs proof that your condition interferes with your ability to perform work.
- Unclear timeline: The SSA needs to determine that your disability will last at least 12 months. You must also have worked recently enough and contributed a sufficient amount to Social Security to qualify for benefits. Your documentation must show how long you have lived with your condition and when the disability began.
What To Do if You Have a 100% VA Disability Rating but Are Denied SSDI
If you are a 100 percent disabled veteran and have been denied SSDI benefits, you have 60 days to appeal the decision and seek a reconsideration. You can complete an online Request for Reconsideration or send the form to your nearest SSA office via mail or fax.
Navigating a successful appeal can be tricky, and you may wish to speak to a VA attorney first. They can help you understand the reason for the denial, collect evidence for your appeal, and pursue a strategy tailored to your situation. Most VA lawyers offer a free, no-obligation case consultation.
Hiring an SSDI Lawyer
SSDI benefits can help you and your family stay on solid financial footing while you are unable to work because of a disability. Many veterans don’t know they can receive both VA disability benefits and SSDI. However, the application process can be detailed and complicated. To make the process easier and give you a better shot at success, Veterans Guide can connect you with an SSDI lawyer dedicated to helping veterans.
To learn how we can help you, contact Veterans Guide today.
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