The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program provides disability benefits to disabled workers who are medically unable to sustain fulltime work. The people who receive these benefits come from all different types of backgrounds and work in many different types of industries, including the United States military.
Veterans comprise a significant percentage of those who collect SSDI benefits. According to Social Security back in 2008, veterans accounted for nearly 7 percent of all disabled beneficiaries. Since 1957, Social Security has covered earnings from active duty military service. Although veterans may qualify for service-connected disability insurance benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs as well, many veterans rely on SSDI benefits to survive. Below is a closer look at the veterans who receive disability benefits.
- Approximately 961,000 military veterans received disability insurance benefits in 2013.
- The median annual personal income level for veterans receiving disability insurance benefits in 2013 was $23,410, while the mean income level was $30,200.
- Disability insurance benefits constituted at least 75 percent of personal income for 49 percent of veterans receiving disability insurance benefits in 2013.
- Among veterans receiving disability insurance benefits in 2013, 9 percent were in poverty. If disability insurance benefits were not included, 43 percent would have been poor.
- Among veterans receiving disability insurance benefits in 2013, 23 percent had family income below 150 percent of the poverty level. If disability insurance benefits were not included, 52 percent would have had family income below 150 percent of the poverty level.
- The aggregate annual poverty gap for veterans receiving disability insurance benefits in 2013 was approximately $4.1 billion when family income did not include disability insurance benefits compared to $370 million with disability insurance benefits included in family income. The poverty gap measures the dollar amount of additional income necessary to lift members of a group to just above the poverty level.
- Approximately 7 percent of veterans receiving disability insurance benefits in 2013 did not have health insurance. Disability insurance beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare, but only after a two-year waiting period.
- In 2013, about 3 percent of veterans receiving disability insurance benefits also received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. SSI is a program that provides additional income to families with low income and limited resources.
