rfkoshka

Pacmanx1 is spot on...no one can hazard a real guess as to how the VA would react to finding out you're working after they've agreed that you're unemployable. The VA language includes the word "may" for those who work under the poverty level (i.e., you MAY be allowed to work). Each case is unique to itself. You said you'd like to work maybe 20 hours a week...California's minimum wage is $14.00 an hour, which (if my math's right) gives you roughly $14,500 a year (20 hours/wk at minimum wage). But the poverty level in 2021 is $12,880, which means your target of 20 hours will put you over the poverty level (if you live alone. The rate goes up as the household numbers do). Is your disability related to mental health? If so, you'll want to find out as well if 100% scheduler (due to mental health issues) allows one to work. There may be some sort of special rule in that instance, but I don't know. Good luck to you going forward...you do have a strange situation going on right now; hope it all works well for you. Cheers.

TDIU awardees receive all the same benefits as someone with a 100% disability. This includes chapter 35 benefits...so yes, your wife qualifies. If your effective date does in fact go back to 2017, so does your wife's chapter 35 benefits. She has 10 years from your effective date to use it. In my case, the effective date of my TDIU went back to 2010 and my son attended university for 4 years after that. He applied for chapter 35 and received (as I recall) 36 months worth of retroactive chapter 35 back pay. One last thing: your wife files for the benefit, not you. She'll need to create a login at the VA website to do that. Good luck to you both.

My observation is that the Va seems to move a bit faster on iu claims in general. I’m new to the system, so I could be wrong, but it makes sense since that initial claims have a higher bar. The iu supplemental has a high bar as well, but at least they’ve already “presumed” (their word presumptive) that the disability is service connected. it is not a given, of course, by a long shot But it does seem at least to move faster. Yours was very fast, my iu was filed on nov 10 and c&p was on 18 December. Not too shabby. If it sails, I suspect a decision by Apr or May. But...that could very well be a denial as well! good luck to you, watch the anxiety levels. They tend to rise appreciably at this point!

Hi. I'm new to the VA process and was awarded 70% for psych issues last September (initial claim made 2010). I filed for TDIU, but VA rules for unemployability are a little different than SS's. I'm wondering if my case is strong or not, and if so what is the typical time it takes for a decision. My anxiety levels are extremely high right now because of this. Here is my short case history. 1995: Treated for psych issues in the military 2005: Long term disability from my employer for psych issues, finally terminated in 2007 2007: Awarded SSDI for those psych issues (have not been employed since then) 2010: filed with VA 2020: Awarded 70% for same psych issues as all of the above Nov 10, 2020: filed for TDIU Currently: "We don't know your status" on ebenefits (which I'm told happens sometimes) Can anyone please tell me if this is a good case (without any guarantees of course. I'm new to all of this but I've learned that every va case works a little differently)? And if so, what is a typical timeline for TDIU from filing to decision. Thank you very much and have a good day.