I am asking that Congress put forth a bill requiring the Social Security Administration (SSA) to recognize the Department of Veterans Affairs's (VA) designation of 100% disability, Permanent and Total, as an automatic qualifying condition to receive life-long Social Security benefits. The VA uses the Permanent and Total designation to categorize disabilities that are "total," or 100 percent disabling, and "permanent," meaning that there is a zero or near-zero chance of recovery.

The VA determines disabilities scientifically, through medical doctors. That is to say, VA recognizes a disability after medical professionals make medical diagnoses of a patient after strenuous examinations. The SSA, on the other hand, relies on judges or lawyers - individuals with no medical background, expertise, or experience - to make medical determinations in the matter of an hour. Further, SSA does not recognize VA's criteria for disability. The result is the routine denial of veterans with Permanent and Total disabilities from receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). 

Non-medical experts, such as judges, should not determine medical diagnoses, such as disability status! Please sign this petition to require the Social Security Administration to recognize the Department of Veterans Affairs's designation of Permanent and Total Disability as a qualifying condition for veterans to receive life-long Social Security benefits.