TDIU · South Dakota
TDIU: Paid at 100% When You Can’t Work
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) pays at the 100% rate when service-connected conditions keep you from holding a steady job, even if your combined rating is below 100%.
- Eligibility review
- Employment history
- Medical & work evidence
- Forms 21-8940 & 21-4192
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Who Qualifies for TDIU?
Under the VA’s rules (38 CFR 4.16), you generally qualify if your service-connected conditions prevent you from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and you meet one of these rating thresholds:
- One service-connected disability rated at 60% or more, or
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70% or more, with at least one rated 40% or more.
If you don’t meet those numbers but your conditions still keep you from working, the VA can consider TDIU on an extraschedular basis.
How Much Does TDIU Pay?
TDIU is paid at the 100% rate. For 2026 (effective December 1, 2025), that’s $3,938.58 a month for a veteran with no dependents, $4,158.17 with a spouse, and $4,318.99 with a spouse and one child.
Compare that with your current payment in our VA disability calculator.
Can You Work and Still Get TDIU?
“Substantially gainful” employment is the key phrase. Marginal employment, such as earnings below the federal poverty threshold for one person, or work in a protected environment like a family business that accommodates your limitations, doesn’t necessarily disqualify you.
That’s especially relevant in rural South Dakota, where many veterans work part-time on a family farm or ranch. The details of the work matter, so they should be documented carefully.
How to Apply for TDIU
- VA Form 21-8940, the Veteran’s Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability, covers your work history, education and earnings.
- VA Form 21-4192 is sent to your recent employers to confirm your employment details.
- Medical and vocational evidence should explain how your service-connected conditions limit what work you can do.
Only service-connected conditions count. Age and non-service-connected conditions aren’t considered, so the evidence needs to tie your work limitations to the right conditions.
TDIU (Individual Unemployability): Common Questions
Is TDIU permanent?
Not automatically. TDIU can be awarded as temporary or as permanent and total. The VA may send an annual employment questionnaire to confirm you’re still unable to work.
Can I get TDIU if I’m retired?
Retirement itself doesn’t disqualify you. The question is whether your service-connected conditions would prevent substantially gainful employment, not whether you’re currently choosing to work.
Does TDIU count toward Social Security?
They are separate programs with different rules. You can receive both VA TDIU and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if you qualify for each.
What if I don’t meet the 60% or 70% thresholds?
You may still qualify on an extraschedular basis if the evidence shows your service-connected conditions prevent you from working. These cases need especially strong evidence.
South Dakota Veterans: Get the Rating You Earned
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