Are you a veteran that is coming close to retirement? Perhaps you are just trying to plan for the future. Either way, it’s only understandable that you have some questions about how VA benefits work once you start getting older. Do VA benefits stop once you reach full retirement age? Tabak Law will walk you through the scenarios.
What Happens to Your VA Benefits Once You Take Social Security Retirement Benefits?
The short answer is nothing. Neither your age nor other received government benefits will have any bearing on your VA benefits. This means, if you are receiving VA benefits, you will continue to receive the same benefits once you reach full retirement age and take your deserved Social Security retirement benefits.
Read More: How Much is 100% VA Disability in 2023?
Could This Change?
It has been brought up by the Congressional Budget Office or CBO that changing how VA benefits are handled after full retirement age is an option to reduce the budget deficit. One suggestion that has come up from time to time would have VA benefits payments lowered by 30% once the recipient reaches full retirement age unless they are already collecting disability compensation.
This option is just one of many common CBO proposals. Keep in mind that the CBO doesn’t endorse any of the options that it comes up with. Its primary function is to provide budget and economic information to Congress. If this were to ever end up on a budget, it would likely be an unpopular measure that wouldn’t see a lot of support from either party nor would it receive much support from voters. We do not anticipate VA benefits seeing a reduction like this anytime soon.
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What About VA Pension Benefits?
If you can collect VA pension benefits it does not affect your disability benefits. In fact, if you have a permanent or total disability from your military service, you can begin collecting those pension benefits immediately. If you are receiving SSDI or are in a long-term care facility due to a disability, regardless of its service connection, you can also begin collecting on your veteran’s pension benefits.
Veterans pension benefits are subject to other eligibility requirements including an income and net worth limit that is set by Congress, a requirement that you weren’t dishonorably discharged, and requirements related to the nature of how you joined the military, when you joined, and how long you served.
Do You Still Have to Undergo Medical Reviews Once You Reach Full Retirement?
If you were a recipient of Social Security Disability Insurance, also known as SSDI, your benefits get converted into regular full retirement Social Security benefits once you hit full retirement age. This also means that you will no longer be asked to undergo any medical reviews. You may be wondering if that is also the case for VA benefits.
VA benefits are handled a little differently. In fact, you no longer will be asked to attend medical reevaluations once you reach the age of 55. Another common scenario that can lock in your rating is if your rating has already stabilized for a period of 20 years. This scenario is known as a continuous rating.
Need Legal Help Getting Your VA Benefits Approved?
When you need legal help fighting VA benefits denials, Tabak Law is here to help. We have years of experience working in the field of VA benefits, and attorney and partner Jim Brzezinski actually spent a significant part of his career working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. You could say he knows his way around the VA. There is no risk to you and we only get paid if you win your case. Reach out for a free case review today!
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