What Veterans Need To Know About TDIU VA Benefits

For veterans suffering from ailments related to their time in active service, finding gainful employment is sometimes close to impossible. Thankfully, there are ways to receive benefits in accordance with the disability.

One such program is Total Disability Based On Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

But what is TDIU benefits VA program, do all veterans qualify, what is TDIU benefits amount, and can it help disabled veterans live a fulfilled life?

Continue reading to learn all of that and more about TDIU.

What Is Tdiu Benefits Program?

This program ensures that you’re compensated if you have a service-connected condition (or multiple conditions) stopping you from finding a substantially gainful occupation. With TDIU, veterans can receive payments at a 100% disability rate regardless of whether their combined disability rating is under 100%.

TDIU was established by VA since the schedular rating system doesn’t apply to all situations when a veteran is unable to support themself financially due to their service-related impairment.

In other words, TDIU is a way to receive the same amount of monthly compensation as someone rated 100% without having the same rating.

There are two types of TDIU available:

• Schedular 
• Extraschedular

We’ll cover them in detail futher down.

Eligibility For Tdiu Benefits

All veterans, excluding those who were dishonorably discharged and are unable to find or hold down a substantially gainful job due to their injuries suffered during service, are eligible for receiving TDIU benefits.

Furthermore, all types of impairments are accepted, including both mental (PTSD) and physical.

How To Apply?

Now that we covered what is TDIU benefits program and its eligibility, it’s time to explain how to apply for it.

The process is relatively simple: you are only required to fill out the VA Form 21-8940. Here, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Nature of your medical condition
• Information on any hospitalizations or medical care in the last year
• Date of your disability (the time when you became too disabled to find employment)
• Employment history from the last five years you were able to work (information related to only the last five years you had employment and not five years in general)

You can file this form in person at your local VA office, through VA’s website, or by going through a VA claims agent.

Can You Work While Receiving Tdiu Benefits?

Typically, TDIU is limited to veterans who can’t work, but in some cases, it may be possible for you to be employed while receiving benefits. 

For example, if a veteran has marginal employment (work that doesn’t bring in earnings above the poverty level such as a part-time or a seasonal job), they can still receive benefits.

VA also allows veterans to have employment within a protected work environment, such as a sheltered workshop or a family business, where substantial accommodations were made for the veteran to continue working.

Tdiu Requirements

When it comes to mandatory prerequisites, there are notable differences for two forms of TDIU:

1. Schedular TDIU

VA has specific guidelines that say you need to have one service-related disability of at least 60%. Furthermore, you must have multiple service-connected disabilities, with one being rated at least 40% and you have a combined rating of at least 70%.

2. Extraschedular TDIU

With extraschedular disability rating, you can receive a rating outside of the standard rating schedule. Meaning, if the VA rating schedule doesn’t reflect the severity of your condition, you may receive extraschedular TDIU.

According to the VA, your disability status must be unusual and include factors that are interfering with your employment or call for frequent hospitalization, thus rendering the regular scheduler standards ineffective.

This is to say the standard VA schedule can’t accurately reflect the extent of your disability on your functional capacity, and consequently, your employment prospects.

How To Demonstrate You’re Entitled To Tdiu

To receive TDIU, you must showcase that your disabilities have prevented you from finding and maintaining gainful employment.

You can accomplish this by providing the VA with statements regarding your service-related disabilities.

For instance, you can explain how your ailments negatively impact your daily functioning and working ability. You can also offer more substantial evidence such as submitting statements from friends, family, coworkers, or previous employers that describe your disabilities. 

However, the most weighty form of evidence is an opinion from an impartial vocational expert. These individuals can scientifically explain how your disability impacts your vocational prospects, making their report a powerful tool to challenge unfavorable C&P exams. 

Vocational experts are familiar with the current job market and can provide an unbiased account of how challenging it is for someone with your set of limitations to find substantially gainful employment.

What Is Tdiu Benefits Average Amount?

As we previously mentioned, TDIU benefits are paid at the exact rate of an individual with a 100% disability rating. At the time of writing, this amount is approximately $3,600 a month.

Additionally, those who have a spouse or children can receive additional compensation.

For example, a veteran with a spouse may receive over $3,800 per month, and if they have children, they can receive an additional $100 per underage child.

How Oas Can Help With Your Tdiu Claim

TDIU can be a saving grace if you’re unable to find a job that can support you and your family. Still, getting these benefits isn’t exactly easy. Many veterans struggle to prove their service-connected disabilities are the reason they can't find employment.

This is where vocational experts come in. The opinions of these individuals carry a lot of weight as they are the only ones who can put together a complete picture of your condition. While physicians are certainly valuable, they are only able to provide an informed opinion on a small aspect of your disability. 

Vocational experts, on the other hand, consider all the factors and can make recommendations based on their expertise in the current demands of the modern work environment. For instance, it’s common for doctors to claim a veteran can work a sedentary job, without taking into account the veteran’s lack of transferable skills and/or education.

Here at OAS, we are dedicated to helping veterans receive everything they need to lead fulfilling lives after dedicating their lives to protecting fellow Americans. Our vocational experts have years of experience and are knowledgeable on all aspects of TDIU claims.

Contact OAS at 1-800-292-1919 so we can help you win your claim.