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Are you a veteran attempting to claim disability benefits? You’re not alone. This issue has been reaching a fever peak in the past few years due to fluctuating changes in national law, local healthcare and changing economic expectations. As such, many veterans have found themselves left stranded without financial support or medical assistance when they need it most. With a VA disability calculator you can better analyze your figures and get yourself on the right path to receiving the help you need to thrive. Not sure where to start filing a disability claim? Keep reading to get your start.
How Many Veterans Are In America?
Let’s start off with America’s demographics. The number of homeless veterans in America has reached nearly 50,000 as of 2014, according to ongoing studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. More and more people are using military disability calculators to help them figure out how much in benefits they can receive through the state.
Why Do Some Veterans End Up Homeless?
There are many different factors that can contribute to veterans ending up homeless. This can include, but is not limited to, poverty, a lack of support from family, mental illness, physical disability, no support network and substandard housing. All these reasons and more have put more than one million veterans at risk. Homelessness, particularly over a long period of time, negatively impacts emotional and physical health. This is one of the most common reasons people seek out the assistance of veterans disability claims.
What Are Common Disabilities?
Mental illness and chronic disability are some of the most common issues facing veterans of all backgrounds and ages today. Studies have shown more than 50% of homeless veterans suffering from disabilities — two-thirds struggle with substance abuse, either from alcohol or drugs. Common mental illnesses include PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), chronic anxiety disorder, panic disorder and depression. Disability ratings are not additive, however, meaning that a veteran with one disability rated at 60% and another at 20% would not amount to 80%.
What Are Disability Ratings?
A VA disability calculator can assist with veterans disability ratings, used to determine the need and financial support of an individual applying for benefits. The employment rate of veterans with disabilities is noticeably lower than those without, with only a third of veterans reporting both an ACS and SC (also known as service connected) disability — a ‘service-connected’ disability is one that came as a result of disease or injury during time of service. Nearly three in ten veterans with disabilities reported a disability keeping them from either obtaining or keeping a job at some point in their lives, with another four in ten disabled veterans saying their impairment makes it highly difficult to find work.
How Can I Receive Benefits?
The amount of basic benefits you can receive depends on the nature of your disability and how it impacts your day-to-day life. A VA disability calculator will help make a determination concerning the severity of your disability when you file a claim, alongside additional records such as your military records and past working history — disability will be rated along 10% increments. Around half of all veterans injured while serving have said the government has not given them ‘all the help you think it should’. If you are in need of benefits and aren’t sure where to start, a VA disability calculator can assist you when filing your claim.
