Veterans Benefits

I’m a Veteran. Can I Receive Social Security Benefits?

As a Veteran, you may currently have a disability rating from the Veterans Administration. If you do have a VA rating, no matter the number, you should consider applying for the social security disability program. In order to receive VA benefits, there are no income requirements. Which is different from the Social Security program....
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December 15, 2014 in

Stolen Valor: Posing as Veterans

Just when you think veterans cannot be treated any worse, it happens. In the wake of the VA hospital wait times, which is still being sorted out, there is an emerging issue with “stolen valor.” This is not necessarily a new issue, but it is definitely becoming more prevalent these days. Stolen valor refers...
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June 2, 2014 in

Honor Flight Program brings World War II Veterans to Washington DC

Honor Flight Network is an organization geared toward paying tribute to America’s veterans. This non-profit provides transportation to Washington, DC to visit the World War II memorial.  For these flights, a top priority is given to World War II veterans and those veterans who are terminally ill. This flight and the day’s activities are...
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May 27, 2014 in

More VA Secret Waiting Lists Revealed

In the wake of the Phoenix VA Medical Center scandal, more secret Veterans Affairs (VA) waiting lists have been revealed, totaling eight facilities. The seventh list comes from the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, FL.  This facility’s secret list was just a piece of paper kept in the open for approximately 200...
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April 28, 2014 in

Veterans Die While Waiting on “Secret List” to See Doctor

Are you frustrated and discouraged by your interactions with the Veterans Administration (VA)? You are not alone. Not only do veterans applying for service-connected disability benefits wait sometimes up to 5 years for a decision, but they also face significant wait times just to see a medical provider. The Phoenix VA office is reported...
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March 18, 2014 in

Social Security Disability Claims Expedited for Veterans

For the average person, applying for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits could take up to two years before they start receiving any benefits. That kind of time frame puts an enormous amount of financial stress upon the individual and the family, mainly because if you are applying for benefits you are saying you’re unable...
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February 18, 2014 in

Are Veterans Selfish?

That is the golden question amidst proposed budget cuts from Congress and even the Pentagon. Last year Congress proposed trimming the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for working-age veterans by 1 percent. This year, the Pentagon is considering cutting subsidies it pays to military commissaries. American Legion National Commander Daniel Dellinger said, “Like...
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February 14, 2014 in

Is the application process for veteran benefits fair for all?

Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed changing how veterans are able to initiate appeals. The current application process is supposed to be so easy that a simple handwritten note will initiate the claims process. The major advantage of this process is that once a veteran is approved for benefits, he or she will be eligible for...
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February 12, 2014 in

Veterans Affairs Invests Another $600 Million to End Vet Homelessness

There are several reasons a veteran may become homeless, including poverty, lack of family support, substance use, or mental health challenges incurred while serving. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to ending veteran homelessness by 2015. Since 2009, when President Barack Obama announced his goal of ending veteran homelessness, the...
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Social Security Disability Benefits vs Veterans Benefits: What You Need to Know

Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and Social Security disability (SSD) benefits often go hand in hand. A lot of veterans have a Veterans Disability claim and Social Security disability claim going on at the same time. Others may have received one of the benefits and are applying for the other. VA disability compensation (also known as service-connected...
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