Some injured, wounded vets can qualify for Individual Unemployability status

Warriors, this week let’s discuss a program that is intended to assist the most wounded or injured of veterans. It’s known as Individual Unemployability, or IU.

Individual Unemployability is a part of VA’s disability compensation program that allows VA to pay certain veterans compensation at the 100 percent rate, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at the total level. A veteran must be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his/her service-connected disabilities. To be considered for Individual Unemployability a veteran must have:

• one service-connected disability ratable at 60 percent or more, or

• two or more service-connected disabilities, at least one disability ratable at 40 percent or more with a combined rating of 70 percent or more.

Veterans who are in receipt of Individual Unemployability benefits may work as long as it is not considered substantially gainful employment. The employment must be considered marginal employment.

Substantially gainful employment is defined as employment at which non-disabled individuals earn their livelihood with earnings comparable to the particular occupation in the community where the veteran resides.

Marginal employment is generally deemed to exist when a veteran’s earned income does not exceed the amount established by the U.S. Census Bureau as the poverty level for the veteran only. See the U.S. Census Bureau's poverty thresholds.

Special consideration will be given for veterans when the following criteria is met:

• the veteran is considered unemployable due to a service-connected disability(ies) but fails to meet the minimum percentage standards, or

• there is evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances to impairment of earning capacity due to disabilities (for example, interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization).

The above sounds complicated, but it is really straight forward. If your service connected disability is rated at 60 percent or greater and because of it you have not been able to keep a steady working wage job due to pain, anguish etc., you may be entitled to Individual Unemployability.

The above guidelines are the very basics. Call me for additional information or to set up an appointment, 541-962-8802. I am located at the Center for Human Development, 2301 Cove Ave., La Grande.

Byron Whipple is the Union County veterans service officer.