Va Compensation/civil-Service Disability Pension And Ss Di

[harrysday]

I was just recently awarded 80% from the VA and I am in the process of getting medically retired from the fire department due to a heart attack my question is can I claim SSdi I paid all my quarters MIA able to claim all three without getting into any claim issues thanks ahead for the help

[john999]

Yes, you can and should claim SSDI. I was a federal employee so I retired on disability under FERS. Often you may find that once you get SSDI they may have some sort of offset to your disability retirement. However, once you get SSDI you will get Medicare within two years. I think you can get all three without a problem. The problem begins if you are getting worker's compensation. WC usually has an offset to SSDI and possibly your TDIU and disability retirement. I had to deal with that but it is all doable.

John

[zeelarry]

Bottom-line is YES. I receive regular military retirement [22 years]; 100% VA Disability; SSDI; and Federal Employees Retirement [FERS], without any $$$$ offsets.

While working as a Federal Employee, I had a 2nd heart attack and was told to submit a request for FERS Disability, which I did. When I turned 62, my FERS Disability was transferred to regular FERS retirement.

At age 62, my SSDI was changed over to SS retirement, and there was no reduction in money. In fact, my yearly income statement from SS still shows the income as DISABILITY, which helps with not having to pay any State Income Tax.

One good thing about receiving SSDI is that it pays a lot more than regular SS retirement.

[JR Reihs]

Bottom-line is YES. I receive regular military retirement [22 years]; 100% VA Disability; SSDI; and Federal Employees Retirement [FERS], without any $$$$ offsets.

While working as a Federal Employee, I had a 2nd heart attack and was told to submit a request for FERS Disability, which I did. When I turned 62, my FERS Disability was transferred to regular FERS retirement.

At age 62, my SSDI was changed over to SS retirement, and there was no reduction in money. In fact, my yearly income statement from SS still shows the income as DISABILITY, which helps with not having to pay any State Income Tax.

One good thing about receiving SSDI is that it pays a lot more than regular SS retirement.

The hitch is, when you are under 62, there is an offset between FERS and SSDI. when you reach 62 under FERS there is a re-computation to include time on FERS disability and ending the SSDI offset that gets you a few more bones per month.

[Berta]

Question on this subject.

I have a friend who works for Fed Gov but 23 years ago when VA hired him he could not afford to get into FERS and still has not done that.

He seems to think under Civil Service original hire.there would be a disability benefit or life insurance benefit for his spouse if he dies. (He also is a NSC vet)

I have another vet friend who claims he is not eligible for SSDI or SSA because when he worked for VA he was under Civil Service and never paid into SSA.( he is 100% P & T plus SMC veteran)

It is difficult to explain to him that all of his other work credits to include military service would be applicable to SSA.

( the 5 year disability criteria for applying for SSDI has passed long ago in his case and he would not heed my advice to at least apply for SSDI when he got his 100% from VA. over a decade ago.He does seem to think he was on FERS or some Civil service disability because when his SC disability was aggravated by an on the job accident, he did get what he thinks was some sort of VA employee disability.for a while)

I know this doesn't make sense.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Berta

[JR Reihs]

Question on this subject.

I have a friend who works for Fed Gov but 23 years ago when VA hired him he could not afford to get into FERS and still has not done that.

He seems to think under Civil Service original hire.there would be a disability benefit or life insurance benefit for his spouse if he dies. (He also is a NSC vet)

I have another vet friend who claims he is not eligible for SSDI or SSA because when he worked for VA he was under Civil Service and never paid into SSA.( he is 100% P & T plus SMC veteran)

It is difficult to explain to him that all of his other work credits to include military service would be applicable to SSA.

( the 5 year disability criteria for applying for SSDI has passed long ago in his case and he would not heed my advice to at least apply for SSDI when he got his 100% from VA. over a decade ago.He does seem to think he was on FERS or some Civil service disability because when his SC disability was aggravated by an on the job accident, he did get what he thinks was some sort of VA employee disability.for a while)

I know this doesn't make sense.

Makes no sense at all. Reagan pulled all those employees into the FERS program in 84, it was automatic. What your friend might be missing would be the TSP fund contributions, he would still have some funds into it as there were a small amount that was automatically moved into the fund every payday, so he should have a TSP account, he also should have life insurance, but the amount would depend on the choice he made up to x5 base pay.......he is covered under the OPM disability rules of FERS which the amount depends on years of service, that is why they gave us the TSP account helping to offset the measly amount under regular retirement.

[Berta]

Thanks!

I sure understand your point on the TSP too. He has discussed this with me but I think Personnel should clarify it all for him..