By Tony Stutts
Social Security District Manager in Petersburg
On Memorial Day, the nation honors military service members who have given their lives for this country. Families, friends, and communities pause to remember the many great sacrifices of the military and ensure their legacy lives on in the freedoms everyone enjoys. Social Security recognize these heroes who, in President Lincoln’s words, “gave the last full measure of devotion.”
The benefits Social Security provides can help the families of deceased military service members. For example, surviving spouses and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivor’s benefits. More information about those benefits is available at www.ssa.gov/survivors.
Social Security also offers support to wounded warriors. Social Security benefits protect veterans when an injury prevents them from returning to active duty or performing other work. Wounded military service members can receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims. Is one a veteran with a 100% permanent and total compensation rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs? Social Security will expedite one’s disability claim. Both the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Social Security Administration have disability programs. A person may qualify for disability benefits under one program but not the other, or one may qualify for both. Depending on a person’s situation, some of one’s family members, including dependent children or spouse, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.
Want more information? Visit www.ssa.gov/people/veterans for answers to commonly asked questions or to find information about the application process.
Thinking about retirement? Military service members can receive Social Security benefits in addition to their military retirement benefits. For details, visit Social Security’s webpage, You Can Get Both Military Retirement and Social Security Benefits, at www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/veterans.html.
Please share this information with the military families in one’s community. To the veterans who bravely served and died for this country, and to the military service members who serve today, Social Security honors and thanks one.