Can you go to school while on tdiu

S

Sherap

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Hello everyone,

I will soon be making a claim on TDIU. If TDIU is granted, can I go to school without the risk of the disability benefits dropping. I plan to go to school in the future. My only question is if my tdiu claim is approved, can I still go to school full time? Will I still get post 911 bill benefits like bah? Or once you are on tdiu, you can’t go to school or if you go to school, your tdiu benefit will drop? Is going to school considered employment? I search up on google and didn’t find any answers. Thanks.
 
I guess that depends. Would going to school full time change this for you?

TDIU eligibility:
"You can’t hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as substantially gainful employment) because of your service-connected disability. Odd jobs (marginal employment) don’t count." (This text is hyperlinked to its source)

My understanding is that this entitlement isn't meant to be permanent.

"TDIU is not technically a permanent benefit unless VA also determines that the veteran’s condition is permanent and total (P&T). TDIU is not automatically P&T but can be in certain circumstances." (Hyperlinked again)

Regardless, there is no regulation defining pursuing education as disqualifying.

"There is no regulation stipulating that veterans will lose TDIU or any other Voc Rehab benefits or compensation when applying for or possibly taking higher education courses. Veterans should be encouraged to go after education opportunities that could potentially put them in a better position for gainful employment." (Hyperlinked)

Unless your ability to hold down a job that is substantially gainful changes somehow through going to school, you're fine to go to school.
 
I think the question they were aiming at is, if like, the housing allowance would ding TDIU.

I am not sure if the MHA/BAH/SA is considered income and taxed and reported to the IRS.
 
KDawgie said:
I think the question they were aiming at is, if like, the housing allowance would ding TDIU.

I am not sure if the MHA/BAH/SA is considered income and taxed and reported to the IRS.
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Bah is non taxable and not reported to the irs.
 
thanks4urhelp said:
I guess that depends. Would going to school full time change this for you?

TDIU eligibility:
"You can’t hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as substantially gainful employment) because of your service-connected disability. Odd jobs (marginal employment) don’t count." (This text is hyperlinked to its source)

My understanding is that this entitlement isn't meant to be permanent.

"TDIU is not technically a permanent benefit unless VA also determines that the veteran’s condition is permanent and total (P&T). TDIU is not automatically P&T but can be in certain circumstances." (Hyperlinked again)

Regardless, there is no regulation defining pursuing education as disqualifying.

"There is no regulation stipulating that veterans will lose TDIU or any other Voc Rehab benefits or compensation when applying for or possibly taking higher education courses. Veterans should be encouraged to go after education opportunities that could potentially put them in a better position for gainful employment." (Hyperlinked)

Unless your ability to hold down a job that is substantially gainful changes somehow through going to school, you're fine to go to school.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information.
 
I could find nothing in the VA website that said you can’t. But an examiner might ask how you were able to attend college, but not able to attend to a job.
 
KDawgie said:
I think the question they were aiming at is, if like, the housing allowance would ding TDIU.

I am not sure if the MHA/BAH/SA is considered income and taxed and reported to the IRS.
Click to expand...
Housing allowance is not income, nor is it gainful employment. There is no clause preventing you from collecting MHA for going to school. It'd be hard to articulate that someone could be gainfully employed because they're capable of succeeding in school.

Being TDIU for say CFS, rated at 60% due to its symptoms. You can take asynchronous classes that allow you to work on schoolwork on your own time effectively working with your disabling condition.

That's a random example: I'm not exactly well versed in what can or cannot be granted TDIU but poking around for answers I can't find a single website or quote saying you can't go to school, but a fair amount that say you can.
 
chaplaincharlie said:
I could find nothing in the VA website that said you can’t. But an examiner might ask how you were able to attend college, but not able to attend to a job.
Click to expand...
I haven’t been able to attend college. If I go to college, it will most likely be part time as my medical conditions haven’t improved for a long time. If I am able to finish college and secure a job with my improved health condition, I don’t need tdiu. I think this is the main purpose of tdiu benefits.
 
thanks4urhelp said:
Housing allowance is not income, nor is it gainful employment. There is no clause preventing you from collecting MHA for going to school. It'd be hard to articulate that someone could be gainfully employed because they're capable of succeeding in school.

Being TDIU for say CFS, rated at 60% due to its symptoms. You can take asynchronous classes that allow you to work on schoolwork on your own time effectively working with your disabling condition.

That's a random example: I'm not exactly well versed in what can or cannot be granted TDIU but poking around for answers I can't find a single website or quote saying you can't go to school, but a fair amount that say you can.
Click to expand...
One thing for sure is I will only go to college once they approve my tdiu claim. It’s because my current health is so bad and has been that I don’t expect any improvements for a while. I am only asking these questions if I am ever able to go to college, what happens to my tdiu benefits.
 
But since I have three conditions that are rated 50% each with 5 other conditions rated 10% and all my conditions haven’t improved at all for over 5 years now, I think they might as well give me P&T.
 
Sherp... what are your conditions that effect your ability to go to school? If you can and it is in your end plan, why not pursue what either makes you happy ot benefits your family?
 
Note - I have struggled since getting out but I keep on trying to find what the next step is. I obviously do not have the answers but I know that being a " veteran " is not a career nor an identity. Take advantage of the educational and financial benefits while you can!
 
Blk42 said:
Note - I have struggled since getting out but I keep on trying to find what the next step is. I obviously do not have the answers but I know that being a " veteran " is not a career nor an identity. Take advantage of the educational and financial benefits while you can!
Click to expand...
He is my situation in detail.

I am 90% va rated 40% dod rated. I was medically retired almost 4 years ago. While I was in the military, I was on a permanent medical profile restricted from physical fitness activities and only allowed to some light work. My medicals conditions have improved but got worse over time for the past 4 years. I can’t go to school or work because I am barely functional. I have been getting medical treatments every 2 months. I heard about TDIU benefits about 2 weeks ago. It’s a benefit for people who are unemployable due to service connected disabilities. When I heard the word “unemployability”, I felt I am really entitled to this benefit. With TDIU, I can receive the disability pay at 100% rate about $4100 a month. But once you are employable and have a job for a year, tdiu can get terminated. Now, I really want to get better with health wise but for now, I have to keep going to doctors and treatments for quite some time. I went through a major surgery 10 months ago. I am currently in the process of apply for TDIU. I am almost done completing all the forms and buddy statements. Of course I would like to go to college and finish my bachelor’s degree in the future if I get better. But my current conditions are not allowing me for that. I am pretty sure I will be granted TDIU because I haven’t worked for years and have been receiving treatments for those conditions. The very reason I asked the question whether one can go to school while in TDIU is because I will go to school if I get better. TDIU benefit is basically compensation you get for unemployability. Let’s say my TDIU claim gets approved and after some time, I get better and be able to go to college. Isn’t it good if I can complete my bachelors and masters degree while getting TDIU benefits at a 100% rate with and on top of that I get BAH with school fees paid off using post 911 gill bill and I finally get a job? After that, they can or will terminate the TDIU benefits once I am employed. I will be in a way better position financially along the way to finishing a master’s degree and getting a job. Basically get the TDIU benefits until I fining my masters degree and get employed. Tdiu benefits is temporary until you have gainful employment. What do you think?
 
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