Disability Law Blog

SSA Announces Renewal of Computer Matching Program with Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA)

SSA will conduct a computer matching program with the VBA. The program is designed:

to establish conditions for VBA as the source agency, to disclose VA compensation and pension payment data to the SSA, the recipient agency. This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to identify certain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) recipients . . . who receive VA-administered benefits, and to update their SSI/SVB records to reflect the presence of such payments.

The disclosure will also enable SSA to efficiently implement a Medicare outreach program mandated by Section 1144 of Title XI of the Act. Information disclosed by the VA will enable SSA to identify income limits for certain individuals and to determine their potential eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) and enable SSA, in turn, to identify these individuals to the States.

Available in text and PDF

69 FR 54339-54340 (September 8, 2004)

VA Pension Benefits Offset $ for $ Against SS Disability Benefits

A practice tip from Mike Mooney on the Connect board:

"The VA non-service connected benefits (called pension benefits) will be reduced $ for $. These pension disability benefits are available to all veterans disabled for any reason, who served during a war time era. The program is need-based & is analogous to SSI. The veteran need not have been in battle, just have served in a war era (e.g., Vietnam 1/62-5/75, Gulf war '91-thru present).

You should be routinely asking your clients if they served during a war time & if so, send them to the VA to apply. Or, they can call the VA @ 1-800-827-1000 for an application. Pension pays about $800/month but goes up with spouse & kids. It is much easier/faster to obtain than service connected benefits. Also, remember, SSI retro ends when the VA $ is received, not its effective date. So it is possible to double dip on these 2 need-based programs."

See the booklet (in PDF format) Federal Benefits for Veterans and Their Dependents (2003 ed.) for more details.

Also, see POMS DI 52001.035 regarding Public Disability Benefits.