Understanding TDIU and the Impact of Employment
One of the most common questions veterans ask about Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is:
“Can I still work while receiving TDIU benefits?”
At Clifford Vocational Services, we specialize in vocational assessments for TDIU and SSDI claims, helping veterans prove their unemployability. However, we also understand that the rules around TDIU and working can be confusing. In this post, we’ll break down what the VA allows, what counts as substantially gainful employment, and how a vocational assessment can strengthen your claim.
What Is TDIU?
TDIU is a VA disability benefit that provides 100% disability compensation to veterans who are unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to a service-connected disability. Unlike a standard 100% schedular rating, TDIU does not require a veteran to have a total disability—just the inability to work due to their conditions.
To qualify for TDIU benefits, a veteran must meet one of the following:
- One service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70% or more, with at least one disability rated at 40% or higher
However, even if a veteran doesn’t meet these percentage requirements, they may still qualify for TDIU on an extraschedular basis if their condition significantly impacts their ability to work.
Can Veterans Work While Receiving TDIU?
The short answer is: It depends.
The VA defines substantially gainful employment as work that provides an income above the federal poverty level. In 2024, this threshold is approximately $15,000 per year for a single-person household. If a veteran is earning above this amount, the VA may determine that they are employable, which could result in a TDIU denial or termination of benefits.
Exceptions: When Veterans Can Work on TDIU
There are two primary exceptions where veterans may work and still qualify for TDIU:
1️⃣ Marginal Employment: If a veteran is working part-time or in a low-paying job and their income stays below the poverty threshold, they may still maintain TDIU eligibility.
2️⃣ Protected or Sheltered Work Environment: Veterans working in a family business or a highly accommodating job (such as one where they set their own hours or receive special accommodations) may still qualify for TDIU, even if they earn above the poverty threshold. The key factor is that their employment is not competitive or sustainable in a traditional work environment.
🚨 Important Note: The VA reviews TDIU status periodically. If they determine a veteran has been working in a way that contradicts their unemployability claim, their benefits could be reduced or revoked.
How a Vocational Assessment Helps Prove TDIU Eligibility
One of the biggest challenges in a TDIU claim is proving that a veteran cannot engage in substantially gainful employment—even if they technically could work in some capacity.
This is where a vocational assessment from Clifford Vocational Services becomes essential.
A vocational expert evaluates:
✔ Functional Limitations – How service-connected disabilities impact work-related tasks (e.g., lifting, sitting, focusing).
✔ Past Work Experience – Whether the veteran has skills transferable to another job.
✔ Current Job Market Conditions – If there are realistic employment opportunities given their disabilities.
✔ Unemployability Justification – An expert vocational opinion report explains why the veteran cannot sustain meaningful employment.
💡 Example: A veteran with PTSD may physically be able to work in an office, but if their panic attacks, irritability, or inability to interact with others prevent them from holding a job, they are still unemployable under VA standards. A vocational assessment makes this clear to the VA.
Filing for TDIU? Strengthen Your Case with a Vocational Assessment
If you’re a veteran applying for TDIU or facing a VA review of your benefits, a vocational assessment can provide the crucial evidence needed to prove unemployability.
📞 Call Clifford Vocational Services today at (864) 457-2136
📩 Email us at pat@cliffordvocationalservices.com
🖥 Schedule your vocational assessment now
Let us help you secure the benefits you earned and prove your right to TDIU compensation.
