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Cover of Earn More on TDIU by J. Erickson
Book by J. Erickson

Earn More on TDIU

How to Work Within the Rules, and What Work Means for VA Pension

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About this book

Many veterans on TDIU believe any paycheck will cost them the benefit. The rules are more specific than that. This guide explains how VA decides whether work is marginal or substantially gainful, where the Census one-person poverty line and protected work settings come in, the rule that VA cannot reduce TDIU for a new job alone until that work has lasted 12 consecutive months, why passive income is treated differently from wages, and how to report work so a VA letter or a proposed reduction does not catch you off guard. It also covers schedular 100 percent ratings, where work is treated differently, and VA Pension, which goes down dollar for dollar as countable income goes up.

This book does not show you how to game the line. It explains the rules so you can plan your work honestly, and it shows you where to get free, accredited help when your situation needs a second look.

Inside this book

  1. 1Fear and Facts: Why Work Rarely Touches Your Rating
  2. 2Reading Your Rating Decision: Know Exactly What You Have
  3. 3Schedular 100 Percent: The Freedom to Earn
  4. 4TDIU: The Real Rules and the Real Limits
  5. 5The Marginal Employment Line: Understanding the Gray Zone
  6. 6Protecting Your Rating While You Work
  7. 7When the VA Comes Knocking: Responding to Inquiries and Proposed Reductions
  8. 8Building Your Earning Strategy for the Long Term
  9. 9VA Pension and Working: The Other Half of the Cover

The book points you to its free field guide, Filing for TDIU (Individual Unemployability), a free download with no signup.

Pairs with

J. Erickson's author image: Air Force uniform ribbons and rank insignia
About the author

J. Erickson

Author, educator, former veteran service officer.

J. Erickson is a service-disabled Air Force veteran. He served as a military firefighter and as a veteran service officer, where he spent years walking veterans through the same claims process he writes about now. He holds an MBA and writes plain-language guides for veterans who want to understand the system without a translator.

Read more about the author