For direct online access to VA benefits and resources, create an account here.

If you’re a veteran who can’t work because of a disability related to your military service (called a service-connected disability), you’re not alone — there are more than 300,000 former service members suffering the same dilemma. Fortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes it (they call it “individual unemployability”) and can offer benefits and compensation to avoid having Americans who sacrificed everything, left with nothing.

How to Determine If You’re Eligible

First, you must be a veteran.

Second, you must have at least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling (to learn how the VA assigns these ratings, click here) or two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more AND …

You’re unable to hold a steady job that supports you financially (i.e. “substantial gainful employment”) because of this disability.

Important: Odd jobs (also known as “marginal employment”) do NOT count.

What Exactly Are the Benefits?

– Health care

– Compensation (payments)

Where Can You Apply?

Here.

Upon applying, you’ll have to provide evidence proving that the disability prevents you from being a full-time employee somewhere. This can come in the form of a doctor’s note or test results. If you need to contact your doctor or another member of your medical team, you can do so online through this secure messaging system.

Also, once you applied and filed your claim, you can check on its status (whether it was approved or denied or is still pending) simply by going online here.

For more information on this topic, and other disability-related topics, click here.