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Can you work full-time and collect VA disability? Can you work with VA disability at all?
In many cases, the answer is YES.
This post will answer these questions and guide you in the right direction so you can work confidently AND get the VA benefits and compensation you deserve.
Related: Can You Work with 100% VA Disability?
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- Work and VA Disability: Veterans with a 100% scheduler VA rating can work full-time, but those with Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) must earn below the federal poverty level or engage in marginal employment.
- Employment and VA Disability Claims: Having a job generally does not impact the process of applying for or increasing VA disability ratings, which are based on service-connected conditions.
- TDIU Employment Options: Veterans with TDIU can work in freelance, home-based, or marginal jobs, as long as they don’t exceed poverty line earnings.
- VR&E Support for Employment: The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program helps disabled veterans find and keep meaningful jobs by offering job placement, resume help, and career training.
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Can You Work Full Time and Collect VA Disability?
Yes, with a couple of exceptions.
There are no work restrictions if you have a single or combined 100% scheduler VA rating.
Can I Work with Permanent TDIU?
There are restrictions regarding working full-time and receiving total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU), as seen below:
- You can continue to work while having a 100% VA rating due to TDIU as long as you make less than the federal poverty income level (considered marginal employment).
- You can continue to work if you don’t have a 100% (Permanent and Total) P&T rating originating from a TDIU rating.
See also: VA Individual Unemployability Fact Sheet &
The Difference Between TDIU and 100% VA Disability
Can a Disabled Veteran Work?
Just because you have a service-connected disability doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t still work in some capacity. You may just need to do modified work, reduce your hours, or work from home.
For some veterans, employment is neither possible nor helpful. However, for others, work can fill significant needs. Mentally, employment can provide you with a sense of confidence, purpose, and achievement. It can give you social opportunities through positive relationships. It can bring you into a community.
Physically, your job can give you a reason to get your body out of bed in the morning and keep it active and agile. And financially, your income can provide needed support for your family.
Will Employment Hurt My Chances of Getting a VA Disability Increase?
If you’re filing for a VA disability increase (or applying for a VA disability rating for the first time), you may wonder if the fact that you can hold down a job will challenge the process.
You may worry that the VA will tell you that if your physical or mental health is not so bad that you can’t work, it’s not bad enough to merit higher VA compensation.
Don’t worry. There are a lot of untruths and half-truths out there about VA disability and employment.
VA disability compensation is awarded in recognition of the “disabilities, diseases, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service.” VA ratings are based on a graduated scale. Among other things, they are designed to compensate for the inability to work in certain capacities due to your service-connected physical and mental health conditions.
How to Increase VA Disability Rating
VA disability ratings aren’t set in stone. You may believe that the VA underrated you, to begin with. Or perhaps your service-connected condition got worse. Or maybe your service-connected disability caused you to develop another condition that qualifies you for a VA disability increase. (This new condition is known as a “secondary condition.” An example would be developing anxiety as a result of service-connected tinnitus.)
But, how do I get my VA disability rating increased? Learn some of the best ways to increase your VA disability rating below!
Best Way to Increase VA Disability Rating
If you believe you deserve a VA rating increase, you can file a claim to increase your VA disability percentage. To do this, you will need to:
- Have a diagnosis of your condition from a VA medical provider or a private physician.
- Establish a service connection to your military service. This can be accomplished with documentation from your provider, also known as a Nexus Letter. They may use language such as “it is as least as likely as not” that your condition results from your military service.
- File a claim for a VA disability increase.
- Pro Tip: Except in rare cases described in this post, you can continue working without jeopardizing your eligibility for a higher VA rating if you meet the other criteria for your VA disability increase.
▶️ (VIDEO) Top 6 Ways to INCREASE Your VA Disability Rating!
Employment and VA Disability Rating Exceptions
Because the VA recognizes employment benefits for disabled vets, they don’t generally consider employment a disqualifying factor for a VA disability increase.
Even if you have a 100% VA disability (single or combined), you are legally entitled to work, even full-time, with a couple of potential exceptions. One of these exceptions is having an advanced mental health VA disability rating.
Mental Health VA Disability Rating of 70% or Higher
For mental health ratings like PTSD, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, etc., your employability is a factor in the rating system. As of the writing of this article, to get even a 70% VA disability rating for mental health conditions, this individual may not be able to work at all or maybe severely under-employed (such as a former intelligence analyst now working a part-time job).
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
This rating is for veterans who have been deemed unable to work because of their service-connected disability. Even if you don’t qualify for a 100% VA disability rating, you may still receive compensation at this level if you qualify for TDIU. If you do qualify, you may be able to work, but under minimal conditions.
To qualify for TDIU, you must meet BOTH of these requirements:
- Have at least one service-connected VA disability rated at 60% or more disabling, or have two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more.
- Are unable to hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as “substantially gainful employment”) because of your service-connected disability. Earning above the poverty line for your area (as established by the Census Bureau) would generally be considered substantially gainful employment.
But this does not mean veterans can’t work at all. Many veterans receiving TDIU work freelance, start home businesses or tap into the gig economy by driving for Uber or renting out an AirBnB property. These options are for TDIU recipients as long as they don’t exceed poverty line earnings.
Veterans with a TDIU rating can also pursue “marginal employment,” meaning they work less than part-time hours and collect less than half the average wage for a particular job. Some marginal employment options allow you to earn above the poverty line if they are “protected.” These may include:
- Working in a sheltered workshop
- Working at a family business
- Working at a job that is typical for older adults or disabled
If you are pursuing these options, you should be prepared to show evidence that you are indeed working in a protected environment (evidence might include paystubs, W2s, a note from your employer, etc.).
Related: TDIU Factsheet
How the Military Supports Employment of Disabled Vets
The military recognizes the benefits of employment for veterans as evidenced by programs like Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, formerly known as Voc Rehab). These programs help veterans with a VA disability rating of at least 10% find, qualify for, and maintain meaningful employment.
This may mean assisting veterans to get the workplace modifications they need to continue in their jobs. It may also help veterans become more employable by improving their resume and interview skills. VR&E can help veterans get training and education to start a new career and open up self-employment opportunities.
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