Help! Got Ssdi And Iu But What About $$$$$

[cachanilla73]

Hello everyone! hope your thanksgiving was great and hope your holidays will be better. I have been away for a long time, but I got great news, my husband got approved his SSDI and after that he got his IU awarded too, THANK YOU ALL for your help. But We have a concern, hope you all can help. When He applied for SSDI his VA compensation was 30% , than was increased to 70%, immediately He applied for IU, then he got his medical exams for the SSDI and after 5 months he got his SSDI approved, no retro for this, they said something about a new rule, blah, blah, blah. On the SSDI letter says you have to report any changes in your income or if you receive any payments. We know VA compensation is tax free and is not consider "income", but if he receives any VA retro pay will SSDI start asking questions or will try to reduce his SSDI monthly payment because now his VA payment will be much higher?

Also we were told our kids and me "should" receive some payments, he called SS and they said it takes about 6 weeks for us to receive any payment after he got his FIRST payment, they have our info in the system. But so far the kids nor me haven't received any letter about it.

And the last question, he was told that we can't have more than one bank account, because SS will be asking questions or threatening to stop the monthly payments. I think the person who told us maybe receiving SSI. But if any of you receive SSDI can you have savings in the bank?

Thanks again for all your help....

Edited December 16, 2010 by cachanilla73

[cachanilla73]

Hello and Congrats on the awards! I just went through this SSDI process, and I'll lay it out for you the best I can. I'm also currently waiting for a TDIU decision.

With SSDI, after I got approved, the retro pay was in the bank within a week. However, since they pay for the previous month in the month ahead, (Example, July's payment will be recieved in August) and the Wednesday you recieve your payment on is determined by a digit in the Social Security Number, it could take 6 weeks to recieve the first payment if there is no retro pay.

As with the money for the spouse and child of the beneficiary, these are called Auxilliary Benefits. I didn't know about these until about a month or two after I recieved my award, as nobody ever told me about them. Finally a Social Security person called and told me I had an interview for benefits, which really confused me. If you haven't applied for the Auxilliary benefits, give them a call and try to see if you can set up either an in person or phone interview. They will need to speak with the spouse and whoever is taking responsibility for the child. They'll need Marriage Certificates, and all the other good stuff. (They should fill you in when you call) The Auxilliary benefits interview is fairly straight forward, and quick. After my wife spoke with them, they told her the amount we'd be recieving, both the backpay and monthly benefits. They split it between her and the kid, which was about a total of 50% of my award.

BIG NOTE: When you recieve Auxilliary Benefits for your child, since they are a minor (I'm guessing your kid(s) are) they are to be used ONLY to improve the living conditions of the child or childeren. This means keeping track of what you spend on what of their money. (Food, Clothes, Etc.) I guess you're supposed to save the receipts also from what I've heard. This is my first year receiving this also, so I'm not sure how much fun it's gonna be at the end of the year when they want me to explain where the money went. We set up an account for our child, so his money will start going straight into it via Direct Deposit, which should make keeping track of it easier, and all of the money for him that we've recieved is in a savings account.

I hope this helps, and hopefully saves you some time. I really wish I had known about Auxilliary benefits right after I had gotten my award, because it would have helped a lot, so if you haven't applied for it yet, make sure you let them know as soon as you can that you would like to apply.

Once again, Congrats on your awards, and spend wisely! If you have any other questions about it post them. I'll keep my eyes open. Have a great holiday season!

Thank you so much, this information was great. I told my husband to call SS tomorrow and ask if the Auxiliary Benefits were filled on the original SS claim. On the last phone call they said we were in the system and they gave him the amount he will receive with our benefits, but this could be only the caller doing the math. We were told by a friend that I could get pay extra $$$ apart from those 'Auxiliary Benefits", because I take care of him and I don't work outside the home. He is a combat vet so you guys know what it is like.

For him the SSDI process was very smooth and got it the first time, we presented all the VA evidence. But he didn't get any retro for those 5 months, there is a new rule or something like that.

Happy Holidays to you, I know this Season is already very special and we are very thankful.

[cachanilla73]

Because I was a federal employee I think I have been on every type of disability program. I know if you get workers compensation it usually has an effect on SSD and VA. A federal retirement will have effect on SSD. If you have group disability policy they are usually reduced if you get SSD or disability retirement/workers compensataion. However, VA and SSD don't affect each other at all. What is good is that if you get SSD you can get medicare. If you have any type of medical insurance medicare usually becomes primary and your private insurance ends up paying the 20% medicare does not pay.

Jonh999, I will have some questions for you in the near future because my husband was a federal employee, he resigned under his doctors advise but didn't resigned for medical retirement from his job because there were so many troubles with his supervisors and He just needed to be out that place, it is a loooong story. He still have time left to ask for medical retirement from the job, but I think we will need a lawyer to explain to us what is best for him and us. He is a combat vet, so every claim process is very debilitating for him.

Thanks....