Social Security survivor benefits reduced to $20 because of SSI - will VA survivor benefits be affected too?

I went through something similar with my daughter. Social Security and VA benefits are handled completely differently. SSI has strict income limits which is why your son's survivor benefits are being reduced. But VA DIC payments for dependents are usually NOT counted as income for SSI purposes! So he could potentially receive both his SSI and full VA benefits. When you apply for the VA benefits, make sure to bring documentation about the SSI and survivor benefit determination letter so they understand the full situation. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a Social Security agent who could explain the details to me. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of waiting on hold and the agent was actually helpful in explaining how these benefit programs interact.

This is actually a common situation. What's happening is called the "SSI offset" - when a person receives both SSI and another Social Security benefit like survivors benefits, the total amount is limited. SSI is reduced dollar-for-dollar by other Social Security benefits after the first $20 (that's why he's getting exactly $20 in survivor benefits). The good news: VA benefits are generally NOT counted as income for SSI purposes. According to SSA rules, VA benefits based on need (like pension) can affect SSI, but VA compensation and DIC benefits do NOT affect SSI. This means your son should be able to receive his full VA survivor benefits without it reducing his SSI. Make sure to report the new VA benefits to SSA when he starts receiving them, but clearly identify them as VA DIC benefits so they're properly excluded from SSI calculations.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST DISABLED PEOPLE!!! I went through this exact nightmare last year when my brother started getting survivor benefits. They take away with one hand what they give with the other. SSI has ridiculous income limits that haven't been updated since the 1980s!!! You better DOCUMENT EVERYTHING when dealing with both agencies. Get NAMES and BADGE NUMBERS of everyone you talk to. The VA and SSA don't communicate with each other properly and YOU will be the one who suffers if there's any confusion. And keep copies of EVERYTHING they send you!

VA survivor benefits (DIC) and SSI have different rules. VA benefits for veterans' dependents generally don't count as income for SSI purposes, so they shouldn't reduce the SSI payment. But you absolutely MUST report the VA benefit to Social Security once it starts. Just be aware that if your son's resources (savings, assets, etc.) exceed $2,000 at any point, that could affect SSI eligibility regardless of the source of those funds. Many families set up special needs trusts to help manage this situation.

my son gets both ssi and va survivors benefits after my husband died in 2023. the va benefits don't affect his ssi at all! but social security survivors benefits do affect ssi like others said. weird system but thats how it works. make sure when you report to ssi you specify its VA DIC not social security money.

Did anyone tell you about the Childhood Disability Benefit? If your son became disabled before age 22, he might qualify for that instead of regular survivor benefits - sometimes it pays more. Worth asking SSA about it when you call.

To clarify a technical point about your situation: The maximum Federal SSI payment in 2025 is $943 (assuming this is correct from your post). So with the $20 general income exclusion, your son's total benefits would be $963 ($20 survivor benefits + $943 SSI). If he's approved for VA DIC as the child of a veteran with service-connected disability, that additional benefit (currently around $400-500 monthly for dependent children) would NOT reduce his SSI, as it's specifically excluded as income for SSI purposes under the law. So potentially, he could receive approximately $1,400+ monthly combined from all benefits. Make sure SSA correctly categorizes his VA benefit when it starts.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I've scheduled a meeting with the VA benefits counselor next week and I'm going to bring printouts of the SSA determination letter. I'll definitely specify that we're applying for DIC benefits and make sure SSA understands these are VA service-connected benefits when we report them. I'm also going to look into both the ABLE account and the Childhood Disability Benefit options. I had no idea there were so many different programs with different rules! It's a relief to hear from others who've successfully navigated this and been able to receive both benefits. Managing my son's care alone has been overwhelming since my husband passed, so this financial support will make a huge difference.