The American Legion applauds Social Security plan

Legion applauds Social Security plan
Expedited claims for disabled veterans “absolutely the right thing to do,”
says national commander.
 
WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2014)  –  The leader of the nation’s largest veterans service organization says he is “greatly pleased” by a planned Social Security Administration (SSA) move to expedite disability claims from military veterans.
On Wednesday, SSA Acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin and U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., announced a plan to award disabled veterans high-priority status and expedite their Social Security disability claims. The action will apply to those with 100-percent VA disability compensation ratings.
“This is absolutely the right thing to do,” said Daniel M. Dellinger, national commander of The American Legion. “On behalf of the Legion’s 2.4 million members and all of our nation’s wounded warriors, I thank the Social Security Administration for this tangible recognition of our veterans’ sacrifices. I am greatly pleased.”
Dellinger’s remarks mirrored those of Colvin who said, “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and it is only right that we ensure that they have timely access to the disability benefits they may be eligible for and deserve.”
SSA says it plans to launch its expedited claims processing service in mid-March.
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Media contacts: Marty Callaghan:202-263-5758/202-215-8644, mcallaghan@legion.org or Craig Roberts: 202-263-2982/202-406-0887, croberts@legion.org. A high resolution photo of Nat. Cmdr. Dellinger is available at www.legion.org.
 
 
Veterans could have Social Security disability benefits expedited
Stars and Stripes
February 19, 2014
 
WASHINGTON — Veterans with a Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation rating of 100 percent Permanent and Total will soon have their applications for Social Security disability benefits processed faster, the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday.
“Social Security will treat these veterans’ applications as high priority and issue expedited decisions, similar to the way the agency currently handles disability claims from Wounded Warriors,” the organization said in a press release.
Plans call for the expedited process to begin mid-March.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and it is only right that we ensure they have timely access to the disability benefits they may be eligible for and deserve,” Acting Commissioner of Social Security Carolyn Colvin said in the news release.
Veterans must inform Social Security that they have a 100 percent Permanent and Total disability compensation rating and show proof of their disability rating with their VA Notification Letter in order to receive the expedited service.
Having the rating does not guarantee that a veteran’s application for Social Security benefits will be approved; it only ensures that the processing of their claim will be expedited. And veterans must also meet strict Social Security eligibility requirements to receive a disability allowance, according to Social Security.
 
 
 
 

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