Can Veterans File for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Disabled veterans can collect Social Security benefits (SSDI or SSI) and VA compensation at the same time. While both Social Security and the VA award monthly compensation for people who have functional limitations from their medical impairments, the agencies have separate systems for determining who is disabled and how much money they can receive as a result.

Although there is some overlap regarding the evidence needed to establish disability, many veterans are surprised to discover key differences in how the agencies evaluate medical records. Because disabled vets used to dealing with the VA may also find themselves working with Social Security at some point, it’s important to understand the major distinctions between the two agencies and what that means for your disability claim.

Can Veterans Get SSDI and SSI Benefits?

SSDI and SSI are the two kinds of disability benefits offered by the Social Security Administration. SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance, a benefit provided to former workers who’ve paid into the program by way of payroll or self-employment taxes. SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income, a needs-based benefit for people who have limited income and assets regardless of their work history.

As with civilians, veterans may qualify for either SSDI or SSI as long as they meet both the non-medical eligibility criteria and the medical definition of disability according to Social Security. These requirements differ significantly than those for VA compensation, so veterans who’ve already been awarded disability benefits from the VA should become familiar with the Social Security process to ensure that they don’t miss deadlines or neglect to submit medical records.

Comparing and Contrasting Social Security vs. the VA

The main difference between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA disability determination systems is that according to the SSA, you’re either totally disabled or not disabled at all, while the VA assigns a percentage rating based on how much you’re disabled. So the SSA can’t find you “half disabled,” for example, but the VA can give you a 50% disability rating if it’s warranted under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 C.F.R. 4 (2026)).

Another major distinction is that the VA awards disability compensation to veterans who have a service-connected illness, injury, or impairment, while the SSA doesn’t need you to tie your medical condition back to your time on active duty. Veterans who don’t have an impairment that resulted from their military service, for instance, won’t qualify for VA compensation but may still be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

How Much is Social Security for Disabled Veterans?

Payment amounts from the SSA and VA are structured differently as well. The VA calculates your monthly benefit using a combination of your percentage rating and your living situation. An individual veteran with a 60% disability rating will receive $1,435.02 every month, for example, while a veteran with a 60% rating who also has a dependent spouse, parent, and child will receive $1,768.02 each month. (These are the 2026 rates, but the numbers are adjusted each year. You can find the current compensation tables at the VA’s official website.)

Because Social Security doesn’t do disability percentages or take any dependent family members into consideration, the money you’ll receive from the agency will instead depend on whether you qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. In 2026 you can receive up to $4,152 every month in SSDI, although the average amount is much lower, at $1,630. (For more information about Social Security figures out your exact benefit amount and to calculate your estimated payment, see our article on how much in SSDI you can get.)

SSI is paid according to a flat monthly amount called the federal benefit rate, which in 2026 is $994 per month for individuals. However, this amount can be reduced by any countable income you have for that month, or increased if you reside in a state that provides a supplemental benefit to SSI recipients. (You can read more in our article on how much you can get from SSI.)

How Does Social Security Decide When Veterans Are Disabled?

Once your disability application is filed—whether online, over the phone, or at a Social Security field office—you can expect to receive an initial decision within three to four months. However, some veterans can have their cases expedited if they state on their application that they are a wounded warrior or have a 100% permanently and totally disabled VA rating.

Social Security will assign a claims examiner to review your case file, gather your medical records, and (along with a medical consultant) decide whether to approve or deny your claim. Only about one-third of all disability applications are approved the first time, but you can appeal a denial. Most claimants aren’t awarded benefits until they’ve been denied twice and requested a hearing with an administrative law judge, and the entire process can take over one year.

Many veterans assume that they’ll automatically qualify for SSDI or SSI if they’ve already received a disability rating from the VA, but this isn’t necessarily true. Because Social Security and the VA have such different standards for disability, it’s no guarantee that you’ll get benefits from the SSA even if you have a high disability percentage from the VA. That said, since both agencies will (ideally) be reviewing the same medical findings, it’s likely that veterans with a high VA rating will have strong enough medical records to qualify for Social Security disability as well.

What Evidence Do Veterans Need to Get Social Security Disability?

Your medical records form the basis for both VA and Social Security disability claims. The SSA will want to see all the medical records you have that pertain to the period of time you‘ve been unable to work, including treatment notes from your primary care doctor, blood work, imaging studies (MRI, CT scan, and X-rays), and hospital admission and discharge summaries.

The exact records you’ll need to provide can vary depending on the nature of your medical condition. For example, if you’re filing a Social Security disability claim for PTSD, you should submit evidence of the following:

• clinical notes from a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or therapist showing their observations on how you’re feeling (sad, angry, afraid) and acting (distracted, tearful, irritable) during your visits
• a list of any prescription medications you’re taking for depression or anxiety, including dosage and side effects
• medical source statements by your regular doctors or counselors
• results from mental status examinations showing any difficulty you have with short-term memory or abstract thinking, and
• any inpatient hospitalization records.

Social Security will, with your permission, attempt to obtain the medical records from any providers you’ve informed them about, including VA doctors and hospitals. But while the VA has a “duty to assist” veterans in getting medical records for their VA disability claim, the SSA has no such obligation. Therefore, it’s a smart idea to be actively involved in gathering and submitting your medical records. Below are a few helpful tips for veterans filing for Social Security disability benefits.

Tip #1: Get Your Records Directly from the VA

If your primary source of treatment is a VA medical center, don't assume that the Social Security disability examiner who is assigned to your case will be successful in obtaining your VA medical records without your involvement. (The VA is notorious for not supplying medical records on time to the SSA.) Vets should, if possible, get their medical records themselves so they can submit them directly to the SSA when they apply for disability or file an appeal.

Tip #2: Only Request Updated VA Records

VA records can be very difficult to sort out. Often, the records are duplicated and sent out of chronological order, making it tough to figure out what happened at what times in your medical history. You can avoid confusing a claims examiner or disability judge by requesting that only records from the relevant time periods be sent to Social Security. For example, if you were diagnosed with PTSD in the past year, you can request only the past 12 months of records from the VA.

Tip #3: Make Copies of Every Document You Submit to the SSA

Much like the VA, Social Security is a large and often unwieldy bureaucracy, and important documents can get inadvertently lost in the shuffle. Keep a copy for yourself of anything you submit to the SSA to avoid having your disability determination delayed because of missing evidence.

Getting an SSDI Attorney for Veterans

Many disability attorneys have worked with both the SSA and the VA. Some even tailor their practices specifically towards helping veterans get disability benefits. While it’s not mandatory to have an attorney or representative for your disability claim, it’s generally a good idea. Your lawyer can collect the right medical evidence and file timely appeals so you can ultimately get a hearing in front of a judge, where most favorable decisions are made.

If you’re worried about paying legal fees, keep in mind that disability attorneys work on contingency, meaning that they only get paid a set amount (25% of any back pay you’re owed, capped at $9,200) and only if your disability claim is approved. Many offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to ask around in order to find a lawyer who you like working with.