Although federal law prohibits many businesses from discriminating against disabled job applicants on the basis of their disability, our readers know that disabled persons often struggle to find work. Employers, in fact may not even ask about disabilities in a job interview, and applicants are not required to disclose them. In many cases, the difficulty lays not so much in their inability to get the job done, so to speak, but in employer bias against disabled persons. And veterans with disabilities may face an even harder time finding work.
That is the case with one Army veteran from Wisconsin, who was discharged from service after a parachute accident in 2007 left him with chronic back and knee injuries. He also suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can also be a turnoff for employers. While the disabled can and do successfully apply for Social Security Disability benefits, finding work often remains a struggle.
Although many Human Resources professionals feel that hiring disabled veterans is good for business, many managers also worry about accommodating employees with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other disabilities. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that veterans will be more violent in the workplace.
For disabled veterans who are unable to find work and make ends meet financially, SSDI can be a great help. Military service members can, in fact, receive expedited process of disability claims from Social Security. Social Security can pay disability benefits through both the disability insurance program and through the Supplemental Security Income program.
Source: NPR, “Vets’ Job Hunt May Be Thwarted By Disability Bias,” Erin Toner, August 21, 2012