Disabled military service members and veterans may be eligible for expedited processing of their claims. This special claim processing is reserved for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001. This designation applies whether the disability occurred while in the United States or on foreign soil.
This Social Security Administration (SSA) law is outlined in HALLEX I-2-1-40 Critical Cases section. This also provides information for the SSA employees on how to process these types of claims.
If you are or were an active military service member and became disabled on or after October 1, 2001, it is important to bring this to the SSA’s attention as screening for this expedited processing can sometimes be missed.
The expedited processing applies to both claims for Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. In order to qualify for DIB benefits you must have paid enough in to the SSA, recently enough to be insured. To determine if you qualify you can call the SSA and ask for your date last insured; to qualify for the DIB benefits you must be found disabled prior to this date.
If you have not paid enough into the SSA system recently enough you may still qualify for SSI benefits. SSI is a benefit program based on financial need.
To read more about the Wounded Warriors program please view the SSA’s article called “Disability Benefits For Wounded Warriors.”
