Different pot of money for a different reason. SSI is supposed to be for people that just can’t work. Veteran’s disability is compensation for permanent injuries incurred while serving in the military. Both systems have problems. People shouldn’t be able to declare themselves to be adult “babies” and sit around in diapers all day. Sleep apnea shouldn’t be a service related diagnosis without some cranial facial or neck injury.
Or PTSD...
I find it quite coincidental that the rate of PTSD went through the roof right after it was declared part of the disability compensation.
(And yes. I personally know of one soldier who faked PTSD to get more money. Never saw combat. The worst WAR-RELATED thing that ever happened to him was the last episode of M.A.S.H. The problem is that he’s required to get care for it and the meds really did screw him up. He was a normal man before that. Now he’s a mess.)
SSI is for people who never paid in to the system before they started sucking off the tit.
SSDI folks did pay in.