VA Disability Compensation

• The VA Disability Compensation program is a type of program that pays benefits to veterans who have a disability. This disability must have been caused due to military service or it must have gotten worse due to military service. Veteran benefits are not taxable. To receive these VA benefits, you must have received an honorable discharge from your service. The amount of benefits you receive vary according to your condition and the severity of your disability. A higher percentage of disability qualifies for higher benefit amounts. If you have a spouse or children, a severely disabled spouse or loss of limb, you may receive additional payments.
  
  

Social Security Disability

• The Social Security Disability program is a disability benefits program for American citizens. If you have a severe disability that will keep you from working for at least a year, you may qualify to receive these benefits. You may also qualify to receive these benefits if your disability will lead to death. Another requirement you must meet to be eligible to receive disability benefits is that you must have paid Social Security tax while you were working. The number of years you need of tax payment history depends on your age when you stopped working because of your disability.
  
  

Social Security and Veterans

• If you are disabled, you have paid Social Security tax and you are a veteran, you might qualify to receive Social Security and VA benefits at the same time. Unlike other public benefits you can receive, your VA benefits do not affect your eligibility to qualify for Social Security benefits or the amount of benefits you get. In the same way, your Social Security benefits do not affect your VA benefits or your eligibility to receive those benefits.
  
  

Supplemental Security Income

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another Social Security program that pays benefits to people who are disabled, blind or older than 65 years of age. To qualify to receive SSI benefits, you are not required to have paid Social Security tax, but you are required to have a low income. As of 2011, more than $20,000 per year is considered substantial income. You can receive VA benefits and SSI benefits at the same time. However, when the Social Security Administration analyzes your income, it takes into consideration the VA benefits you receive to determine if you qualify for SSI benefits and the amount of benefits you can get. If you receive SSI benefits and then you apply for VA benefits, you must report this change to the Social Security office.