Have Questions About the Disability Claims Process for Social Security or Veterans Benefits? Check Out Our FAQs

Many veterans returning home from military service experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These men and women have witnessed or been involved in life-altering, traumatic events that created serious physical and emotional challenges. PTSD is a recognized medical condition, and veterans have higher risks of developing PTSD than individuals who don’t serve in the military.

When doctors diagnose PTSD, they perform:

• A physical exam to make certain medical problems aren't causing the symptoms.
• A psychological evaluation that involves discussing all of the signs and symptoms experienced up to and after the event. For this determination, the doctor uses criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.

What Are the DSM-5 Requirements?

PTSD is now included as a new category in the DSM-5: Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. Every condition requires a veteran be exposed to a traumatic or stressful event. Here's a short summary of the criteria used for diagnosing PTSD:

Requirement 1: Stressor (must have one)

A veteran must have experienced death, a death threat, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:

• He had direct exposure to the event
• He witnessed the traumatic event
• He learned that a close friend or a relative was exposed to the traumatic event
• He had indirect exposure to graphic details about the traumatic event—for example, EMT workers and first responders

Requirement 2: Intrusion Symptoms (must have one)

The veteran must consistently re-experience the traumatic event in one or more of the following ways:

• He has nightmares
• He has flashbacks
• He has difficult, upsetting, unwanted memories
• He feels emotional distress after experiencing reminders of the traumatic event
• He has “physical reactivity” after experiencing reminders of the traumatic event

Requirement 3: Avoidance (must have one)

The veteran must show behaviors that avoid “trauma-related stimuli” by:

• Avoiding trauma-related thoughts and/or feelings
• Avoiding trauma-related external reminders such as activities, social events, environments, and people who might bring about memories of the event

Requirement 4: Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood (must have two)

The veteran’s negative feelings and thoughts worsened after the traumatic event by:

• Inability to remember important features of the incident
• Excessively negative assumptions and thoughts about self and the world
• Excessive blame of others or self for causing the traumatic event
• Decreased interest in day-to-day activities or pursuits once enjoyed
• Increased feelings of isolation
• Inability to experience a positive outlook

There are additional criteria that include irritability, aggression, destructive behavior, hyper-vigilance, and difficulty concentrating or sleeping. If symptoms last for more than a month, create functional impairment or distress, and aren’t due to medication use, substance abuse, or other illnesses, your doctor may diagnose you with PTSD.

Cuddigan Law Can Help With Your PTSD Claim

The experienced legal team at Cuddigan Law recognizes and respects the sacrifices veterans have made to protect this country. If you’re a veteran suffering from PTSD, we can help you obtain the disability benefits you need to care for yourself and your loved ones. It’s possible that you qualify for financial assistance from the VA.

If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for disability benefits, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and we’ll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you’ll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: Conscious and Unconscious Avoidance Related to PTSD How to Tell If You’re Suffering From PTSD or Combat Stress How the VA Assigns Disability Ratings for PTSD

 

While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect service personnel when they return from deployment, many veterans experience symptoms of PTSD much later in life—long after their time in the military. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals show a growing number of senior veterans seeking treatment for new PTSD symptoms.

Reasons Veterans Experience PTSD Later in Life

When veterans return home from military duty, many find jobs, get married, have children, and continue on with their lives. Despite experiencing traumatic, life-altering incidents during combat, they're able to function in society, have families, and socialize with their friends in a productive way.

However, when some veterans get older, as is the case with civilians, they are faced with major life changes that can be triggers for PTSD and its accompanying symptoms.

For example, a veteran may eventually suffer a significant medical issue after years of good health. The concern and distress he feels about his condition may cause him to become more aware of his own mortality and the end of his life. This type of anxiety may bring about symptoms of PTSD.

Additionally, a veteran may experience PTSD later in life because of:

• Repressed feelings. For many Vietnam veterans, it was difficult to talk about their experiences because there was so much hostility and negativity about the war. In many cases, society viewed these veterans as the enemy—thus, veterans repressed feelings they had about their time in combat, creating psychological issues that surfaced later. Additionally, many veterans who served during the Vietnam era were told to “man up” about anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Ultimately, those emotions emerged later through PTSD symptoms.
• More leisure time. After veterans retire, they have more time to consider the past and reflect on the events experienced during combat. Feelings they might have held back or suppressed over the years may emerge in a way that haunts them or causes them to relive a traumatic event. Employment is no longer a major part of their days, and without that as a distraction, their minds might wander into the past, often prompting flashbacks of difficult times.
• Death of loved ones. As veterans get older, they face the death of friends, family members, siblings, romantic partners, and even comrades they had during their time in service. If death happens more frequently, it can trigger thoughts and emotions of survivor guilt, remorse, regret, and loss for all that transpired in the past.

Cuddigan Law Can Help With Your PTSD Claim

The experienced legal team at Cuddigan Law recognizes and respects the sacrifices veterans made to protect this country. If you’re a veteran suffering from PTSD, we can help you obtain the disability benefits you need to care for yourself and your loved ones. It’s possible that you qualify for financial assistance from the VA.

If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for disability benefits, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and we’ll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you’ll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: How to Tell If You’re Suffering From PTSD or Combat Stress How the VA Assigns Disability Ratings for PTSD Making a Claim for PTSD

 

For many years, veterans and civilians who have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, were treated with prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and pharmacological therapy. These approaches have helped veterans, in particular, deal with the emotional aftermath of military combat and the life-changing, traumatic events that bring on this mental condition.

However, researchers, doctors, and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) agree there's no “one size fits all” therapy, and they're recognizing the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques for helping veterans deal with PTSD symptoms.

What Is CAM?

CAM techniques are non-traditional therapies that use medical products and practices that are not considered “standard” care by the medical field. Typically, CAM techniques are used along with other standard treatments. Some CAM techniques have been carefully evaluated and found to be effective and safe, while others are just the opposite.

Techniques considered part of the CAM therapies include:

• Traditional alternative medicine. Homeopathy, acupuncture, and naturopathy are therapies that tend to be more accepted and considered mainstream treatments.
• Diet and herbs. These dietary and herbal approaches work to “balance the body’s nutritional well-being.” Changes in nutrition, along with dietary supplements and herbal medicine, may help with PTSD.
• Movement therapy. Healing by touch works from the idea that any type of injury or illness can impact the entire body. If optimum health can be achieved in other parts of the body through manual manipulation, it’s thought that the body can target healing at the injury site. Body therapies include massage, tai chi, yoga, and chiropractic medicine.

Contact Cuddigan Law About Your PTSD Claim

If you’re a veteran diagnosed with PTSD and you want to file a disability claim or appeal one, contact Cuddigan Law. We'll handle the necessary communication with the VA and work with your doctors to help provide the critical evidence required to prove your claim.

Additionally, we’ll help service-connect your mental health condition. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and we’ll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you’ll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: Trauma Anniversaries and PTSD Conscious and Unconscious Avoidance Related to PTSD Veterans Who Suffer From PTSD

 

People who’ve witnessed or been involved in life-changing or traumatic events may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms usually occur soon after the event, but some people might not experience symptoms for months or years later.

In general, there are three types of PTSD symptoms: re-experiencing the incident through nightmares and flashbacks; hyper-arousal and feeling jumpy, irritated, and unable to sleep; and emotional avoidance.

What Are the Signs of Emotional Avoidance?

People who survive a traumatic experience often engage in behaviors that help them deal with difficult memories about the experience, as well as the emotions that accompany them. If a person feels overwhelmed or unable to cope, emotional avoidance can keep bad feelings away. Emotional avoidance behaviors include:

• Self-medicating with alcohol and other drugs
• Avoiding places and activities that cause you to re-experience the event
• An inability to feel love
• An inability to recall critical elements of the traumatic incident
• Feeling a decreased interest in your family and friends
• Feeling disassociated or disconnected from people you care about
• Avoiding conversations, thoughts, or feelings associated with the traumatic incident
• Avoiding interaction with people who remind you of the event
• Experiencing decreased expectations for your future and inability to see a future, marriage, or children

Other people may use tension-reducing behaviors to cope with their PTSD. Veterans who want to avoid overwhelming and painful emotions about life-altering events may choose a strategy that helps reduce the level of tension or stress they feel. Tension-reducing behaviors include:

• Binge eating
• Engaging in dangerous sexual behavior
• Engaging in self-harm, such as cutting
• Allowing thoughts of suicide
• Spending a great deal of money

With time and professional guidance, a veteran who exhibits these types of behaviors can learn better self-care management and strategies.

Cuddigan Law Can Help With Your PTSD Claim

If you’re a veteran diagnosed with PTSD, you may be eligible for financial support from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for disability benefits or appeal a denial, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and we’ll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you’ll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: Emotional Avoidance for PTSD and Why It Doesn't Work Veterans Who Suffer From PTSD VA Disability for PTSD

 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common medical condition that many veterans deal with after time spent in combat. PTSD occurs when someone witnesses or experiences a life-altering, traumatic event and is unable to recover from the incident. 

Because many veterans serve in dangerous environments that are emotionally and physically challenging, they're at a higher risk of developing PTSD than those who never served in the military. Those who suffer from PTSD may try to avoid the emotions associated with the traumatic event. Two types of avoidance are conscious and unconscious avoidance.

Understanding Emotional Avoidance

Emotional avoidance is a way for people to escape the painful remembrance of a tragic event. Because memories linked with the trauma are often too powerful and crushing, avoidance offers a way for people who suffer with PTSD to cope.

If you’re struggling with PTSD, it’s helpful to understand two types of avoidance: conscious and unconscious.

Conscious Avoidance

In general, someone with PTSD purposefully avoids any stimulus that reminds him or her of the traumatic incident. This person learns what triggers these intense emotions and will intentionally avoid them. For example, a veteran who has trouble sleeping, feels irritable, or engages in self-destructive behavior might try to avoid any situation or person that activates the negative emotions connected with the trauma. Thus, the veteran consciously avoids whatever is necessary to stay far away from feelings that might cause him or her to re-experience the event.

Unconscious Avoidance

The symptoms of unconscious avoidance are sometimes hard to recognize, because the brain is tricking you and working overtime to prevent you from acknowledging and dealing with the event. Ultimately, the symptoms of unconscious avoidance become “truth” for the veteran, and these inaccurate truths prevent him or her from seeking treatment.

A veteran reacting through unconscious avoidance may:

• Be unable to recall key characteristics of the trauma, which might be due to “dissociative amnesia” rather than drugs, alcohol, or a head injury.
• Have ongoing negative thoughts about themselves and the world.
• Have ongoing thoughts blaming themselves or others for what happened.
• Have decreased interest in activities they once loved.
• Have feelings of alienation or detachment from people they love.
• Be unable to experience any positive emotions about their lives.  

Cuddigan Law Can Help

If you’re a veteran who suffers from PTSD,you may qualify for financial support from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for disability benefits, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have been supporting veterans for years, and we’ll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you’ll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: Veterans Who Suffer From PTSD VA Disability for PTSD Making a Claim for PTSD

During active service, many veterans experience traumatic events. They may witness the event or live through it personally. A traumatic event can include imprisonment, death, and sexual trauma.

It can also include experiencing a moral injury—a psychological injury where a veteran behaves in a way or witnesses an event that goes against his moral code.

Each veteran responds differently to a life-changing, traumatic event. Some suffer combat stress; others suffer PTSD. If you're seeking disability benefits for PTSD from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), it's important to understand the differences between this medical condition and combat stress.

Understanding Combat Stress

Combat stress is also referred to as combat fatigue, combat disorder, and shell shock. It's an anticipated condition that occurs as a reaction to extreme combat experiences. When veterans are placed in situations that create intense physiological and psychological stress, it's expected that most soldiers will show symptoms of combat stress, including:

• Being hyper-startled by surprise or loud noises
• Being hyper-vigilant—always feeling watchful, wary, and on guard
• Having nightmares
• Suffering sleep problems
• Feeling irritable and anxious

Understanding PTSD

PTSD isn't an immediate response to combat situations—it’s a mental condition that impairs a person’s ability to function. Combat stress is typically considered predictable and expected after a lengthy time at war, but PTSD is a severe illness. When a veteran is diagnosed with PTSD, he must experience several specific symptoms following a traumatic event, including:

• Recurring dreams, flashbacks, and/or “intrusive images” of the event
• Avoiding anything associated with the event, including people, places, and conversations
• Sleeping problems and sleep disturbances
• Ongoing problems with concentration
• Constant irritability and problems with anger management

There's some overlap in combat stress and PTSD symptoms, but they're not handled the same way. Combat stress isn't a medical condition that requires any treatment, and it's typically resolved after a veteran is no longer in service. PTSD, on the other hand, is a mental illness that requires a doctor’s intervention.

Cuddigan Law Firm Can Help

If you're a veteran who suffers from PTSD, you may be eligible for disability benefits from the VA. If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for benefits or appeal a rating decision, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and we'll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you'll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: Veterans and Service-Connected PTSD: Know the Signs Female Veterans and Sexual Trauma Evaluating PTSD for VA Benefits

 

Veterans who experienced traumatic events during service often face an “anniversary reaction” when the anniversary date triggers the memory of the incident.

Because the date creates such a strong reminder of what happened, a veteran may feel edgy, stressed out, and as if he's living through the event again.

 

Triggers are unpredictable and occur anywhere, at any time. But there are strategies veterans can use to cope with what is often a symptom of PTSD.

Ways to Handle Your Anniversary Reaction

When the anniversary of a traumatic event approaches, there are ways to reduce the severity of your reaction. You can do this by:

• Anticipating and preparing. If you’ve experienced this response before, you probably know that when the date approaches, you'll feel stressed and anxious. Being cognizant of the forthcoming date and working to keep your life calm and more peaceful during this time can help. Plan ahead so you eliminate as many stressful situations as possible.
• Honoring. It may be helpful to create a plan that relates to whatever loss you experienced on that date. You may want to commemorate the date in some special way, contribute in some way to your community, or visit the graveside of someone you’ve lost. Honoring the person or the event in a meaningful way often helps reduce your anniversary reaction.
• Knowing it won’t last. Most reactions don’t last long. Although some can go on for months, they typically end after a few weeks. Knowing that the stressful feelings you have are temporary can help reduce the anxiety you feel near and during the anniversary date.
• Garnering support. Call on friends and loved ones to "have your six" as the anniversary approaches. Spending time with people you trust and who understand your situation will help lessen the depression, anxiety, and other stressors you may feel. 

Cuddigan Law Firm Can Help

If you’re a veteran who experiences symptoms of PTSD, including a trauma anniversary, it’s possible to qualify for disability benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

If you need help service-connecting your mental health condition and want to file for benefits, contact Cuddigan Law. Our attorneys have supported veterans for years, and we’ll carefully examine your case and advise you on the best approach for receiving the maximum in disability benefits. Call us today, and you’ll speak to an intake specialist for free.

Related Links: Female Veterans and Sexual Trauma Evaluating PTSD for VA Benefits Why Does Experiencing a Hostile Act or Terrorism Cause PTSD?

 

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of the toxic chemical Agent Orange on Vietnam’s trees, plants, crops, and vegetation, making it difficult for the Viet Cong and Vietnamese to use the thick foliage as a way to hide. It’s possible that if you served in Vietnam, you may have been exposed to Agent Orange, and qualify for disability benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). You may also be eligible for the Agent Orange Registry health exam.

What Is the Agent Orange Registry Health Exam?

If you believe you were exposed to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam, and you suffer from a medical condition related to this exposure, you can request a VA Agent Orange Registry health exam.

It’s important to note that this isn’t a Compensation and Pensions (C&P) Exam used for obtaining benefits.

While there are no medical tests that prove someone was exposed to toxic chemicals, including Agent Orange, there are benefits to having the Agent
Orange Registry health exam:

• It can assist in determining if you have a medical condition, illness, or disease that's potentially related to exposure to a toxic herbicide.
• It helps in the collection of data on veterans who were exposed.
• It allows follow-up exams if, at any time following your first exam, you develop other medical conditions that might be related to or caused by your exposure to Agent Orange.

Who’s Eligible?

Many Vietnam veterans qualify to take the Agent Orange Registry health exam, including those:

• Who served in Vietnam from 1962–1975.
• Known as “Brown Water” Veterans who served on small river patrol and swift boats operating on the inland waterways of Vietnam.
• Known as “Blue Water Navy” Veterans who served on “a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia as defined in Public Law 116-23.”
• Who served between September 1967 and August 1971 in a unit in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
• In the U.S. Air Force who served on “Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases near U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base perimeter anytime between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975.”
• In the U.S. Army between February 1961 and May 1975 who provided perimeter security on RTAF bases in Thailand.
• In the U.S. Army who were stationed on a small Army installation in Thailand between February 1961 and May 1975. These veterans must have been a “member of a military police (MP) or assigned a military occupational specialty whose duty placed him or her at or near the base perimeter.”

Cuddigan Law Firm Can Help

If you’re a Vietnam veteran and believe your medical condition is associated with exposure to Agent Orange, contact Cuddigan Law. Having legal representation and an advocate on your side can provide invaluable assistance with your disability claim. Our attorneys know the medical conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure and can help prove that yours qualifies for disability compensation. Call Cuddigan Law (402) 933-5405 to speak with an intake specialist for free. 

Related Links: Military Personnel Exposed to Agent Orange From Testing and Storage As an Air Force Reservist, How Was I Exposed to Agent Orange? Benefits for Vets With Diabetes After Exposure to Agent Orange

 

You may receive a durational denial after submitting a claim for Social Security (SS) Disability benefits. This type of denial means your medical condition, illness, or injury didn’t meet the time period requirements set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that define a true disability.

Reasons Claimants Receive Durational Denials

When a disability examiner reviews your application, he looks specifically at your medical condition and whether it meets the following durational requirements:

• It’s impossible for you to work for 12 months at a substantial gainful level due to a physical or mental condition.
• Your physical or mental condition will likely prevent you from working for 12 months.
• It’s not expected that your mental or physical condition will improve in 12 months.
• It’s likely your mental or physical condition will result in death.

If your claim is denied due to durational limitations, it means the claims examiner didn't find sufficient evidence to prove your condition will be persistent and continue to interfere with your ability to work after a 12-month period. 

Cases That Often Receive Durational Denials

Providing medical evidence that proves your condition will last beyond 12 months is critical in receiving an approved claim from the SSA. However, it’s often tough to do this.

Not only does the examiner who reviews your case have little–to–no medical experience, the medical consultant who helps make the determination doesn’t know or understand your condition.

Both are making decisions about your case using their own individual perspectives and opinions to forecast the likelihood of your recovery.

Certain cases in particular tend to receive durational denials, including:

• Car accidents that result in broken bones
• Accidents that cause traumatic injuries
• Recoveries after major surgeries

In cases involving broken bones, the SSA evaluates how the break impacts your ability to do your job on a daily basis. A claims examiner wants to understand how your fracture interferes with your ability to perform at work. For example, the SSA's Blue Book of Impairments requires that for a broken leg bone, the bone must fail to have a “solid union,” and this must be shown through X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other medical imaging. Additionally, your inability to move around must be expected to last at least a year.

Contact Cuddigan Law

Over 60 percent of initial SS claims are denied, which is why the best way to avoid receiving a durational denial is to contact a skilled SS disability attorney. The legal team at Cuddigan Law understand the complex rules governing Social Security Disability benefits law, and our experts know how to assist you with an appeal should your claim be denied.

Call Cuddigan Law at (402) 933-5405, to get help with your SS disability application today. Let our experienced lawyers go to work for you. Contact us to speak with an intake specialist for free. 

Related Links: Unfair SS Disability Denials Common SS Application Mistakes Reasons for SS Medical Denials

 

Yes. During the Vietnam War, a program called Operation Ranch Hand was developed to spray tactical defoliants on Vietnam’s plants, trees, and dense vegetation to remove cover for enemy soldiers.

For approximately 10 years, the U.S. Air Force engaged in Operation Ranch Hand, spraying nearly 20 million gallons of toxic herbicides, including Agent Orange which contained 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, generally known as "dioxin." Agent Orange is a highly toxic chemical known to cause cancer.

Agent Orange on Bases in Thailand

C-123 aircraft helped with Operation Ranch Hand and often landed on and departed from bases in Thailand during missions.

For military personnel who worked on these aircraft and near the Thailand storage areas, there was a high risk of exposure to Agent Orange because the equipment used to house and spray the herbicides were prone to leaking.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) initially claimed that planes used in Operation Ranch Hand and the herbicides they carried weren't staged on Thailand bases. That position was challenged by documentation and sworn statements by military personnel, as well as by national archives detailing herbicide missions launched from Thailand.

Disability Benefits for Thailand Veterans

When the Agent Orange Act of 1991 was passed, the VA acknowledged veterans who provided service on the ground. They were given “presumptive service connection” for medical conditions they suffered linked to their Agent Orange exposure.

However, prior to 2010, veterans stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War didn't share this same presumptive connection benefit. Instead, they were required to provide evidence they suffered from a disability; the disability occurred because of an event during active duty; and there was a link between them. This additional third requirement made it more difficult for veterans stationed in Thailand to get disability benefits.  

It took until 2010 for the VA to recognize that many veterans stationed in Thailand suffered from medical conditions related to their exposure to Agent Orange and deserved presumptive service connection.

You may now be eligible for disability benefits if:

• You’re a veteran who served perimeter duty on a U.S. Army installation in Thailand.
• You’re a veteran who served on RTAF bases in Thailand, including U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, or Don Muang.
• You have a medical condition you think is linked to dioxin exposure and is on the list for “presumptive diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange.”

Call Cuddigan Law

If you’re a veteran once stationed on a base in Thailand, you may be eligible for VA benefits, and we can help determine if your military duty during this time qualifies you for disability benefits.

Call Cuddigan Law (402) 933 5405 to get help with your VA disability application or appeal today. Let our experienced lawyers go to work for you. Contact us to speak with an intake specialist for free. 

Related Links: Diseases Associated With Agent Orange Exposure Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Get Disability Vets Who Served in Thailand Qualify for Benefits