Department of Veterans Affairs Releases New Tool to Help Maximize Income
On July 20, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a new tool for beneficiaries of Social Security Administration's (SSA's) disability benefits, which helps demonstrate how income from employment and/or VA disability benefits will affect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Too often, misinformation about how employment will affect income from SSI/SSDI discourages beneficiaries from pursuing their vocational goals. The new VA Income and Benefits Calculator offers a strong visual representation of how working while receiving SSI/SSDI and/or VA benefits is not only possible, but can be an integral part of maximizing income and housing stability.
We encourage members of the SOAR community to utilize the new Income and Benefits Calculator with Veterans and non-Veterans to:
- Begin the conversation
- Integrate the Calculator into your engagement strategies to help show that employment is possible while receiving SSI/SSDI
- Encourage individuals who are applying for SSI/SSDI to also pursue their vocational goals and support them in these efforts
- Explore what is possible
- Use the Calculator to explore how starting work, increasing hours or pay, or saving money for vocational training will affect SSI/SSDI
- Play around with different scenarios – the possibilities are endless!
