Veteran Law and benefits can be challenging to navigate. Still, our Houston law firm understands veteran’s benefits and the value of incorporating VA planning into your Texas estate plan and long-term care planning goals.
Planning for Veteran’s Benefits in Texas
Edwin Lee Law can assist with the veteran’s benefits application process in Texas. If you own too many assets, meeting the service requirements and medical eligibility may not be enough to qualify for veteran’s benefits. Having an experienced Texas Veteran Law attorney on your side can help navigate your application and qualifications by moving your assets into a trust.
Understanding Eligibility Requirements for Veterans Benefits
Veteran health care benefits in Houston, TX are available if you served in the active military, naval, or air force services and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. The eligibility requirements VA benefits include:
- Veterans engaged in war-time services are eligible, and they are generally more expansive than most people would associate with the beginning and conclusion of the war. These dates are as follows:
World War II: 12/7/1941-12/31/1946
Korean War: 6/27/1950-1/31/1955
Vietnam War: 2/28/1961-5/7/75, if served in the country of Vietnam, otherwise 8/5/1964 – 5/7/1975
Persian Gulf: 8/2/90- Date to be announced
- Suppose you enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered active duty after October 16, 1981. In that case, you must have served 24 continuous months or the entire period for which you were called to active duty unless any of the described situations below are accurate.
The minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are accurate. You:
- Were discharged for a disability that was caused—or made worse—by your active-duty service, or
- Were discharged for a hardship or “early out,” or
- Served before September 7, 1980
- If you’re a current or former member of the Reserve or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the whole period for which you were on active duty.
Understanding Supplemental Security Disability Insurance for Texas Veterans
The federally funded government program Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is intended to help disabled workers. The benefits are in the form of monthly payments to provide a safety net for qualified individuals and veterans who have become too disabled to work. Unfortunately, some qualifying veterans may not realize they can receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits even if they already receive VA disability benefits in Texas.
What Are the Requirements for SSDI benefits for Veterans?
The Social Security Administration has some basic rules for receiving disability pay and more specific requirements for Texas veterans who need to apply. The basic requirements include:
- The applicant must be unable to perform “substantial work because of your medical condition(s).”
- The medical condition(s) must “have lasted, or be expected to last, at least one year or to result in death,” according to the Social Security Administration official site.
Each veteran’s situation is different, and the qualifications for benefits can range case by case. An experienced veteran planning attorney, like Edwin Lee Law, can help you meet the requirements without losing your assets to qualify for additional VA benefits. Our Houston attorneys can help veterans and their families coordinate VA benefits, SSDI benefits, and more to meet your goals.
Edwin Lee Law is here to help you and your loved ones understand Veterans Planning, Medicaid Planning, Crisis Planning, Asset Protection, and Estate Planning. Our law firm welcomes the opportunity to consult with new clients in Houston and the surrounding Texas areas to learn more about how we can help meet your veteran benefit needs.