VA Disability and Social Security: Can I Receive Benefits For Both A Social Security Disability Award And A VA Total Disability Award Based Upon Individual Unemployability (TDIU)?

Yes, you can! Social Security disability benefits are not offset against benefits received under a VA TDIU award and vice versa. A veteran can receive both VA disability and Social Security disability. However, make sure you understand the difference between a TDIU award and a non-service-connected pension award.

A TDIU award requires proof of being unemployable due to one or more service-connected disabilities. A non-service-connected pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans (but not necessarily veterans who engaged in war or conflict operations) who are 65 or older, with marginal or no income, or who have a permanent and total non-service-connected disability.

Unlike in the case of a TDIU award, a veteran cannot receive both Social Security disability benefits and pension benefits. Offsetting provisions apply.

For a free consultation with an experienced VA disability lawyer in San Diego, contact the Veterans Law Group. We represent veterans on a nationwide basis. Veterans Law Group is ready to help you, just as it has for thousands of other veteran families. If you have been denied TDIU because of an apparent conflict between a Social Security award and a VA TDIU claim, you owe it to yourself to get another opinion on whether you may be eligible.