The injuries incurred by soldiers during service to our country can often leave them unable to work. This can lead to financial struggles. However, Social Security Disability Benefits are available for all military service members who are disabled due to an injury they suffered during active duty on or after October 1, 2001.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), in order for an applicant to be approved, they must be considered totally disabled. This means they must:
- Be unable to perform any substantial gainful activity
- Suffer from a mental or physical condition that is medically determinable
- Be afflicted with the condition, or expect it to last, at least one year or result in death
The applicant must have paid into the system enough to collect benefits and must also wait five months for payments to begin if approved.
Disabled service members are entitled to collect benefits while on active duty status and collecting military pay. However, the number of benefit entitlements will be determined by payment history.
Beginning the application process is as easy as going online or visiting a local SSA office and is expedited for members of the military. However, the process of approval can prove to be quite complex.
That’s why the Social Security Disability experts at Newlin Disability urge anyone considering applying for Social Security Disability, or who has a claim that was denied in the past, to discuss their case with an attorney.
