Asbestos Disability Claims - Get the Benefits You've Earned
Living with a diagnosis like mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer can be overwhelming—physically, emotionally, and financially. If your illness has made it impossible to continue working, you may be entitled to monthly disability benefits through:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The Social Security Administration (SSA)
These programs offer financial support to help cover your basic needs while you focus on treatment and care. And unlike lawsuits, you don’t have to prove anyone was at fault. You just have to show:
That you have a qualifying asbestos-related illness, and
That the illness limits your ability to work
Disability benefits are often the first step in a broader compensation strategy—and we help you build a path forward from there.
Social Security Disability Claims (SSDI)
If you’ve worked most of your life and now can’t continue because of an asbestos-related illness, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
SSDI provides monthly benefits to people who:
Paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes, and
Can no longer work due to a qualifying medical condition, like mesothelioma or asbestosis
This is not a lawsuit—it’s a federal benefits program. If approved, you’ll receive a monthly payment based on your earnings history. In many cases, asbestos-related diseases are eligible for fast-tracked approval through the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program.
Key Features of SSDI
No fault required — You don’t have to prove how you were exposed, only that you can’t work because of the illness
Work history matters — The longer you worked and paid into Social Security, the higher your monthly benefit
Medicare coverage after approval — SSDI recipients become eligible for Medicare after 24 months, helping cover the high cost of cancer treatments, hospital stays, and specialist care
Younger workers can still qualify — Even if you’re under retirement age, you may be eligible based on recent work
Example: Mary worked as an electrician for 25 years and was exposed to asbestos-containing wiring. After developing asbestosis, she could no longer safely perform her job. Because she paid into the Social Security system, Mary qualified for SSDI. Within two years, she was also enrolled in Medicare, which helped cover the cost of oxygen therapy and ongoing care.
Learn more about how we can help with a Social Security Disability claim »
VA Disability Claims for Asbestos Exposure
If you served in any branch of the military and were exposed to asbestos, you may qualify for monthly disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Many veterans—especially those who served in the Navy, shipyards, submarines, or aircraft maintenance—were routinely exposed to asbestos in confined spaces, often without warning. Decades later, that exposure has led to serious illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
VA benefits are available to:
Veterans with a service-connected asbestos-related illness
Surviving spouses or dependents of a veteran who died from one
Key Features of VA Disability
✔️ No need to prove fault — You don’t need to sue the military or prove who manufactured the asbestos
✔️ Not income-based — Benefits are based on the severity of the illness and its connection to service—not your income or savings
✔️ Survivor benefits may apply — Families can still file after a veteran’s death
To qualify, you’ll need:
Proof of your asbestos-related diagnosis
Evidence that the exposure occurred during your military service
Example: John served as a boiler technician in the Navy during the 1970s. He regularly worked near asbestos insulation in engine rooms. Years later, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. John qualified for VA disability benefits and now receives monthly payments that help cover his living expenses and medical care.
📎 Learn more about how we help with VA Disability claims »
Maximizing Compensation Beyond VA and SSDI Benefits
VA disability and SSDI benefits can provide crucial monthly support—but they don’t offer the full compensation many families need after an asbestos diagnosis. Neither program pays lump sums, and neither holds the companies responsible for causing the exposure accountable.
That’s why we help clients explore additional legal claims that can lead to substantial lump sum payouts—without affecting your VA or SSDI benefits.
Asbestos Trust Claims
Many asbestos manufacturers went bankrupt and were forced to create trust funds to compensate victims. If you were exposed to their products, you may be eligible for fast, lump-sum payouts—often within months and always without going to court.
Product Liability Lawsuits
These lawsuits target the companies that made, sold, or distributed the asbestos products you worked with. You don’t have to be a veteran or a seaman to qualify—just someone with a diagnosis and a work history that shows likely exposure.
Premises Liability Claims
If you were exposed while working at a refinery, chemical plant, steel mill, or industrial site, the property owner may be liable for failing to warn you about asbestos. These claims are often filed alongside trust and product liability claims.
A Hypothetical Example: How One Veteran Used Every Option
David, a 65-year-old Navy veteran, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. We helped him pursue:
VA Benefits: David files a claim with the VA, receiving a monthly disability payment based on his service-related asbestos exposure.
SSDI: Due to his inability to work after his diagnosis, David qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Asbestos Trust Claims: David files claims with several asbestos bankruptcy trusts linked to the manufacturers of the insulation and gaskets he encountered both in the Navy and as a civilian worker. These claims result in lump sum payouts.
Product Liability Lawsuit: David files a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing materials he used as a mechanic, securing a significant settlement.
Premises Liability Lawsuit: David also files a premises liability lawsuit against a refinery where he worked, alleging the property owner failed to warn him about the presence of asbestos.
For a detailed explanation of these options, visit our Legal Options page to learn more about the paths to compensation available to you and your family.
We Build a Custom Compensation Strategy for You
No two exposure stories are the same. That’s why we help each client build a custom legal strategy—one that layers benefits and claims together to maximize what you and your family receive. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for:
Monthly support through VA disability or Social Security Disability (SSDI)
Lump sum payouts from asbestos trust claims
Additional compensation through lawsuits or workers’ comp
These benefits and legal claims can often be combined—but strict deadlines apply.
📞 Call us at 833-4-ASBESTOS or schedule your free consultation online.
We’ll listen. We’ll explain your options. And we’ll fight to help you get the full compensation you and your family deserve.
You’ve worked hard to provide for your family.
Now let us help provide for you.