Social Security honors and supports military members

From Social Security Administration

Every year, on Memorial Day, the nation honors service members who have given their lives for others’ freedom. Social Security acknowledges the sacrifice of these military’s service members, and honors these heroes and their families who may need help through the benefits Social Security provides.

Widows, widowers, and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. They can learn more about those benefits at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/survivors/.

It’s also important to recognize service members who have been wounded. Social Security offers benefits to protect veterans when an injury prevents them from returning to active duty or performing other work.

Wounded military service members can also receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims. For example, Social Security will expedite disability claims filed by veterans who have a 100 percent permanent and total compensation rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Both the VA and Social Security have disability programs. Veterans may find that they qualify for disability benefits through one program but not the other, or that they qualify for both. Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel, including dependent children, and, in some cases, spouses, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits. They can get answers to commonly asked questions and find useful information about the application process at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/.

Service members can also receive Social Security in addition to military retirement benefits. Military retirement benefits generally do not reduce Social Security retirement benefits. People can learn more about Social Security retirement benefits at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retirement/. They may also want to visit the Military Service page of the Retirement Planner, available at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/retire/veterans.html/.

People can share this information with a military family who may not know about these benefits. In acknowledgment of those heroes who died for this country, those who served, and those who serve today, Social Security honors and thanks you.