How Social Security Benefits Are Affected by Military Service and Veterans' Benefits
Veterans and active-duty service members often have questions about how their military history impacts their Social Security benefits. These issues can bring up several challenges, especially when trying to align veterans' compensation, military pensions, and Social Security claims.
If you're wondering where military service fits into the picture, or how receiving VA benefits influences your Social Security eligibility, you’re not alone. As a dedicated Social Security attorney in Corpus Christi, Texas, our attorneys at Baker & Baker are committed to clearing up confusion and helping you make smart, informed choices when it comes to military and veterans' benefits.
Military Service & Social Security Coverage
Since 1957, military members have paid into the Social Security system. Even service prior to that date can still count toward benefits, provided the veteran meets certain requirements. If you're a veteran who served after 1956, your active-duty pay contributed to Social Security, just like civilian workers' wages.
Some veterans are surprised to find out they may qualify for both VA benefits and Social Security. The good news is that military service strengthens your Social Security work history. Years served on active duty generally count toward the required work credits needed to collect Social Security retirement or disability benefits. Some key facts to know include the following.
Military earnings are subject to Social Security taxes.
Veterans who served before 2002 may receive additional earnings credits for certain periods of active duty.
These additional earnings don’t show up on your record, but they're factored into your Social Security benefit amount.
Working with a Social Security attorney can help clarify how many work credits you've earned and whether you're eligible to claim benefits now or wait for a higher monthly payment later.
Social Security Retirement Benefits & Military Pay
Social Security retirement benefits are calculated using your 35 highest-earning years. For military veterans, active duty pay often falls within this window, especially for those who served full careers.
Military pensions don’t affect your ability to collect Social Security. They're treated separately, so receiving one doesn't reduce the other. However, if you're drawing a federal civil service pension from employment that wasn’t covered by Social Security taxes, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) may apply.
The WEP reduces benefits for individuals who also receive a pension from non-covered work; however, most military retirees won’t fall under this rule. At Bake & Baker, our attorneys can help you answer questions such as:
Should I start collecting Social Security at age 62, or wait until full retirement age?
How do my years of military service affect my overall benefit calculation?
Will my spouse’s Social Security benefit be impacted by my military retirement?
As Social Security attorneys, we work closely with Texas veterans to review their earnings records, check for errors, and plan a retirement timeline that accounts for both military and Social Security benefits.
Social Security Disability & VA Disability Compensation
VA disability compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are two entirely different programs. You can receive both at the same time; however, receiving one doesn’t automatically qualify you for the other.
If you're rated at 100% permanent and total (P&T) by the VA, you may qualify for expedited SSDI processing. This fast-track process often helps veterans receive a decision more quickly, but it still requires proof of work credits and medical evidence that meets Social Security’s established definition of disability.
A Social Security attorney can help you gather medical records, confirm eligibility, and file the appropriate documentation with Social Security to make sure nothing is missed. At Baker & Baker, many clients come to us after receiving a denial on their SSDI application, unsure of how to move forward. We are committed to supporting you through appeals and reviews, especially when both VA and SSA systems are involved.
VA Benefits That Don’t Affect Social Security
One common question we get is whether veterans’ benefits reduce Social Security payments. In most cases, the answer is no. The benefits that typically don’t reduce your Social Security include:
VA disability compensation
Military retirement pensions
Veterans' burial benefits
Education benefits under the GI Bill
VA-provided health care
Since these aren’t based on income or means testing, they won’t interfere with your Social Security benefit amount. This applies whether you're collecting retirement, SSDI, or survivor benefits. However, some veterans may also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSI is a need-based program and can potentially be affected by VA payments. If you're receiving both, it’s important to speak with a Social Security attorney who can help determine how your income and assets are being evaluated.
Survivor & Dependent Benefits For Military Families
Social Security benefits don’t just support the worker; they also help families. If a veteran passes away, their spouse, minor children, and sometimes even dependent parents may qualify for survivors' benefits. The same is true for veterans receiving SSDI who later die. Those benefits can transfer to dependents. You may qualify for survivor or dependent benefits if you fall into one of the following categories:
You're a surviving spouse aged 60 or older (or 50+ if disabled)
You're a child under the age of 18 (or 19 if still in high school)
You're an adult child of the deceased with a disability whose condition started before age 22
It’s crucial to coordinate these with any military survivor benefits, such as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). While DIC and Social Security survivors' benefits can both be paid, the application process and criteria differ.
How Texas Veterans Can Maximize Their Social Security Benefits
Texas is home to nearly 1.5 million veterans, many of whom qualify for multiple forms of federal benefits. If you're receiving or planning to apply for Social Security, consider timing, benefit amounts, and the coordination of other income sources. A few strategies you can employ to help maximize your benefits include the following.
Review your SSA work history for missing earnings from military service. These can impact your monthly benefit.
Delay retirement benefits if you have other income sources, such as a military pension or VA compensation. Waiting until full retirement age or later can boost your monthly amount.
Apply for both SSDI and VA disability when eligible. You don't have to choose between them, and applying sooner may reduce delays.
Involve a Social Security attorney early in the process. Our role is to identify errors, manage timing, and make sure no opportunity is missed.
Many of our clients struggle to get clear answers from the SSA. We work to make the process more transparent, helping Texas veterans and their families claim what's already theirs.
Reach Out to an Experienced Social Security Attorney Today
Applying for Social Security can feel like a never-ending waiting game. With military records, VA decisions, and earnings corrections, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where an experienced Social Security attorney can help.
At Baker & Baker, we've helped veterans across Texas work through eligibility issues, filing requirements, and appeals. We offer guidance at every step, whether you’re filing your first application or preparing for a hearing.
You’ve already served your country, so you shouldn’t have to keep fighting to get the benefits you’ve earned. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, we serve veterans and military families in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and throughout the state. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
