If you receive veterans’ disability or you’re considering filing a disability claim, you may have heard of Individual Unemployability (IU). But what is IU, and what does it mean for you?
IU is a part of the veterans’ disability compensation program that allows certain veterans to receive compensation at the 100 percent disability rate, even though the VA hasn’t rated their disabilities at 100 percent.
Who is eligible?
So who is eligible for IU? To qualify, veterans must have one or more service-connected conditions that prevent them from maintaining a steady job that puts them above the poverty line. The VA refers to this as “substantially gainful” employment. And veterans must either have one disability that’s rated at 60 percent or more, or multiple disabilities with one being rated at at least 40 percent and a total rating of 70 percent or more.
In order to qualify, a veteran will need to demonstrate that they have at least one service-connected disability that meets the above requirements. Additionally, they must show that the disability alone prevents them from holding onto a job. This evidence most often includes Social Security determinations, medical records or opinions, and evidence from individuals in a position to know about the veteran’s history.
For more information on IU or filing Veterans’ Disability claim, please feel free to give us a call anytime at 1-877-526-3457. One of our representatives will be happy to answer your questions. Or if you’d prefer to contact us online, please fill out this form.