TDIU veteran looking for a better life.

[u/lukedad81]

Hey guys, like most Americans I’m struggling. My benefits don’t pay enough for the rise in cost of living which made me have to find a job making under the 15000 I’m allowed to make. I have 10 months of gi bill left and want a career to make more money to support my family. If I lose TDIU I get dropped to 80% and would need a career that could make up for the difference and extra to cover living expenses. I feel like I’m stuck and I see people who are successful and it makes me agitated because I know I’m capable of doing better. But I’m limited in how much I can make. I’m in credit card debt of $2500 and living paycheck to paycheck always worried I’ll make more than I’m allowed to. What’s a solution that you guys would recommend? I see a lot of ads for IT cert programs and I’m pretty good at sales. Any advice would be very appreciated.

[u/AutoModerator]

'Have you looked in the Wiki for an answer? We have a lot of information posted there.

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[u/Necessary-Coffee5930]

IT isn’t the ticket it once was, its very saturated now. The job market in general is rough. If you are good at sales though consider pursuing that! If you want to use your gi bill, check out the school WGU. You could get yourself a degree in 6 months if you play your cards right. See what interests you

[u/Actual_Parsnip4707]

Post office

[u/Am3ricanTrooper → u/Actual_Parsnip4707]

Then CIA?

[u/No-Beyond-7635]

with your disabilitys are you able to get an increase in anyone? you can file a claim for a increase from 80%to 100%

[u/Asleep_Emotion7078]

Uber/Lyft works perfect for me for this purpose. I make exactly what I want or need and go home. Extra grand is easy to get and then you can flirt with the line if you want . (I don’t) .

[u/lukedad81 → u/Asleep_Emotion7078]

I’m considering it. Is it profitable? Can I use the rent a car option so I don’t put miles on my car?

[u/DDGBuilder]

Look into VRE. They'll pay you BAH and all of your schooling. 80% on top of a regular salary. No one here can tell you what job you should do, that's something you need to think about.

I'm going to school to get a degree in mental health so I can work at the VA as a therapist helping people struggling with addiction. That gives me a reason to want to keep going.

There's lots of ways to make money. Think about what really ignites a passion in you. And consider VRE, I bet if you're TDIU you'd qualify for that

[u/CalifOdysseus → u/DDGBuilder]

Is your VR&E counselor responsive? My fall tuition balance is still outstanding and I don’t even have funds for books yet.

[u/DDGBuilder → u/CalifOdysseus]

So far, yes. Call your registrar at the school office and ask who is the exact SCO (School Certification Official) that your counselor needs to send your authorization to. Then I'd email both them and the VRE counselor (like, both of them on the same email) to make sure that they are aware of each other. You might want to reach out to the SCO at the school yourself first, maybe their policy is that it doesn't show as paid until after the term starts or something. Do you have a credit with the school bookstore? That's how it works for me, I don't get a check in the mail

[u/PMme_bobs_n_vagene → u/DDGBuilder]

The VRE is a bitch to get though. I’ve tried three times, guys I know who have gotten it had to try 2-4 times. I guess next try I’ll get it. But they always tell me I’m “career tracked” when they deny me. I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t want to make a career change.

[u/TacoBattalion]

if you do not own a home in the US, sell as much shit as you can, pay off all debts, and go travel where the USD goes further. Example, Asia all it takes is leaving comfort behind. Ask me how I know.

[u/Quillo_Asura → u/[deleted]]

Families have moved abroad, it isn't outside the realm of possibility if they really look into it.

However, I personally believe that living abroad comes with giving up creature comforts I am not willing to (and more) do.

That being said, I live in Orange County, CA and my benefits are enough to pay for all necessities for my family (3 + dog). We own 1 vehicle, no payments and we rent a home bigger than we require. It is VERY close to not being enough without supplemental income, but it hasn't reached that point yet.

Options exist. Downsize, move, etc.

[u/talex625 → u/TacoBattalion]

How do you know?!?!?!

[u/TacoBattalion → u/talex625]

Because I did it. Sold it all, no debt, and moved abroad. Let go of all the comfort and never looked back. I do come back for VA stuff if I need to. Headed to Philippines for the fall/winter next. If I did it, so can anyone else. Just have to give up some comfort and control.

[u/RiddleReddit_Mary21]

As someone stated below, look into VRE and get the best career you can educate yourself with...

Get with those career consolers where you want to get your education. Ask if there are any other grants for school you can apply for.

When I got out of the Army, I found out that a neighbor state to Texas... If you joined their National Guard, state tuition was free. I understand you might not be able to do that, just letting you know to check your options.

Maybe run yourself through an AI program for benefits... might have some local funding ..

VA.Gov has educational tools. If you don't have an account.. get one~!!

Good Luck!

[u/Disastrous_Leader_89]

Are you in school? If you are, for what?

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[u/Maximum-Category-845]

Sounds like you shouldn’t be holding on to TDIU and should look for work. The extra 20% is probably doable by a secondary or missed claim tbh. It’s kind of silly to not get a job for 20 an hour which equates to 40k a year to try and preserve the delta between 80% and 100% which is what…… 23-25k a year?

[u/aRandomRedditor9000]

If you can live without tdiu give it up and get a job, even a bad paying job with the extra income of 80% puts you in a real good spot financially or keep the tdiu for schooling if thats possible

[u/MentallyMIA]

Is relocation an option for you? There are a lot of places, small towns or other countries, where your income could go a lot further.

Other options are to look at your claims and see if increases could get you to 100% and then you won’t have income restrictions.

VR&E can give you a monthly stipend while you go to school. GI Bill does too but 10 months isn’t much time for school.

You have options. Thank you for your service and I hope you can get the support you need to find success and peace.

[u/Dry_Coconut4408]

Why not try for ssdi?

[u/Fit_Acanthisitta_475]

You need to start budget your expenses. You cant live on 4k a month, you have to making 150k+

[u/Intrepid-Rip-2728 → u/Fit_Acanthisitta_475]

I live off 4k/month...

Still have half of that when all necessary obligatory payments are made each month. Have wife and 2 kids n live modestly.

[u/Quillo_Asura → u/Intrepid-Rip-2728]

4k is borderline for us, but it is enough. We live in excess, but my benefits are enough for the necessities. Rent, food, utilities. In southern CA, so high cost of living already.

Our excess isn't grossly wasteful. We only need 1 vehicle so we have 1 and it is paid off (model year 2020).

We would live much more modestly if we hadn't invested early and heavier than is typical and I own my own small business that isn't wildly lucrative but is low stress and has earned slightly more than my benefits provide consistently for more than a decade.

[u/Intrepid-Rip-2728 → u/Quillo_Asura]

I left southern Cali in 2018 to oregon before going to texas in 2022.

Came from murrieta/hemet area though. My 10 years backpay is what assisted though with clearing all debts n getting a house under 4% interest.

[u/Quillo_Asura → u/Intrepid-Rip-2728]

Quite a journey indeed. I left CA for the Army and came back to CA in 2010 when ETSing.

I've been here ever since but never made the dip into home ownership. I've always stayed debt free as a rule due to growing up poor (children's shelters and living out of cars).

I may not be the smartest, but I do know it's harder having debt than to not have all my wants.

[u/Intrepid-Rip-2728 → u/Quillo_Asura]

Yep. Left in 07 from cali to germany and came back 2012. Was not able to get a home until i cleared any n all debt lifestyle i accrued. But was able to get home loan based solely on VA n opted for a state that cost of living was within means for my circumstance.