If Your Application Is Denied
After we review your application and the information you provided, we may decide you do not meet the qualifications for disability benefits.
If you disagree with our decision, you have the right to ask us to look at your application again. The notice you receive from us that says you don’t qualify will explain how to appeal our decision and the time period in which you must make the request.
If we decide you don’t qualify:
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Because you are not disabled under our rules, you can appeal our decision online.
The online disability report will ask you for updated information about your medical condition and any treatment, tests, or doctor visits since we made our decision.
How To Choose A Representative Payee
You want to choose a trustworthy person, who is best qualified to manage your funds, as the representative payee. This could be your relative, friend, caregiver, or even your legal guardian or attorney. The claimant can propose his or her own representative payee or the SSA may appoint one for you.
You would want to take the individual that you recommend as your representative payee with you to the SSA office. A form will need to be completed and submitted along with copies of identification.
If you want to change your payee at any time, you will need to contact the SSA. You will go to the local field office and request a change of payee. You will be given a form to complete so you can make the request. A SSA representative can provide the guidance that you need if you need help completing the form or if you have any questions about the process of switching representative payees.
Create A Benefit Programs Online Account
Before you can use SDI Online, you must first create a Benefit Programs Online account.
Important: BPO is available 24 hours per day. Once you register on BPO, you are not done yet. You will receive an email to confirm your account, which includes a link. Select the link to complete your registration. For security purposes, the link will expire within 48 hours. For more information on how to register, access Benefit Programs Online: Overview and Registration for New Users .
If you donât get this message in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder
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Social Security Disability Benefits: An Overview
The Social Security Administration pays disability benefits under two programs:
Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI provides disability benefits to blind or disabled individuals who are insured based on federal insurance contributions paid into the Social Security Trust Fund. Certain family members can also receive benefits based on a worker’s contributions.Supplemental Security Income SSI provides benefits to individuals who are disabled, blind or elderly, with limited income and resources, including children under age 18, who are disabled, blind or elderly.
The medical requirements that determine who is eligible for disability payments are the same under both programs. Under the Social Security system, disability payments are based on inability to work. Individuals are considered “disabled” if they are unable to do any kind of work and their disabilities are expected to last for at least twelve months or result in death.
If Im Pregnant When Do I File For Disability Insurance Or Paid Family Leave
Disability Insurance When your physician/practitioner certifies that you are unable to work due to your pregnancy, you can file a DI claim for your pregnancy-related disability and recovery from delivery.
If your pregnancy-related condition will require you to stop working earlier than four weeks prior to your babys estimated due date, you can file a claim sooner. Your physician/practitioner can certify to longer periods during pregnancy and/or after birth if you have a pregnancy-related condition that prevents you from performing your normal or usual job duties.
Learn more on how to apply for disability and set up and manage your benefits through your SDI Online account.
Paid Family Leave Once you have recovered from your pregnancy-related disability and your physician/practitioner has said you can return to work, you can file a PFL claim. PFL pays up to eight weeks of benefits to bond with your new child.
When your last DI benefit check is issued, we will automatically send you a Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits – New Mother or the link will be sent to your SDI Online inbox.
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Medicare Disability Is ‘regular’ Medicare
There is no special program for younger, disabled beneficiaries Medicare is Medicare, and the same rules and coverage apply to beneficiaries under age 65 with disability as they do to seniors. Therefore, you can still be enrolled in Medicare when living or traveling overseas. However, Medicare will usually not pay for any care you receive overseas.
If you plan to travel outside the U.S., you may want to consider a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan that includes overseas coverage. Beneficiaries under age 65 with disabilities can choose to supplement their Original Medicare just like seniors can.
Note: If you are eligible for Medicare disability because you have ESRD, you may face additional limitations on enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans.
How Does Automatic Enrolling In Medicare Work
Most people who collect Social Security benefits automatically receive Original Medicare coverage once they’re eligible.
If you receive benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board , youll receive the same Medicare coverage.
Youll become eligible for Medicare when one of the following events occur:
- You turn 65
- You have end-stage renal disease
- You have Lou Gehrig’s Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- You have been on Social Security disability insurance for 24 months and have a qualifying condition. These include heart and lung issues, neurological disorders, cancer, kidney dysfunction and other severe health problems.
If you live in Puerto Rico and receive Social Security or RRB benefits, youll only become automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. If you want Medicare Part B, youll need to apply for coverage.
Those receiving Social Security benefits who also qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid will also be awarded Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage automatically. If you don’t qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, you’ll need to compare Part D prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage plans that include Part D coverage and enroll in a plan available where you live.
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Information About Family Members
- Social Security numbers and proof of age for each family member who may qualify for benefits and
- Proof of marriage, if your spouse is applying for benefits, as well as dates of prior marriages, if applicable.
If you don’t have all the documents you need, don’t delay filing for benefits. We will help you get the information you need.
Get An Accessible Parking Permit
Learn how to apply for a new accessible parking permit.
COVID-19
We have extended the expiry dates of accessible parking permits for people with accessibility needs , travellers, visitors and motorcyclists. Permits that expired on or after March 17, 2020 will continue to remain valid past the original expiry dates until further notice. This is in an effort to help keep people safe, reduce the need for in-person visits to ServiceOntario and stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Attract And Retain Top Talent
Prospective employees are looking at an employers benefit plan when weighing their job options. The more comprehensive the plan, the better, and Disability Insurance is near the top of the priority list. Employers who want to remain competitive when it comes to acquiring and keeping their talent should look carefully at Disability Insurance options.
Other Ways You Can Apply
Apply With Your Local Office
You can do most of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot use these online services, your local Social Security office can help you apply. Although our offices are closed to the public, employees from those offices are assisting people by telephone. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free Office number is your local office.
Apply By Phone
If You Do Not Live in the U.S. Or One of Its Territories
Contact the if you live outside the U.S. or a U.S. territory and wish to apply for retirement benefits.
Mailing Your Documents
If you mail any documents to us, you must include the Social Security number so that we can match them with the correct application. Do not write anything on the original documents. Please write the Social Security number on a separate sheet of paper and include it in the mailing envelope along with the documents.
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Applying For Disability In Person
If you aren’t familiar with filling out forms online, or if you’d like to be able to ask someone questions as you fill out the forms online, you may want to go into the Social Security office. If you decide to go into your local Social Security office, the field representative will lead you through the following paper forms:
- Form SSA-16-BK, Application for Disability Insurance Benefits
- Form SSA-3368-BK, Adult Disability Report,
- Form SSA-3369-BK, Work History Report, and
- Form SSA-827-BK, Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration.
Can I Apply For Disability For Someone Else
Yes, you are able to apply for disability for someone else. Like for example, if you are a parent applying on behalf of a child with a disability or a caregiver applying on a loved ones behalf because they cannot do it themselves.
If you are filing for disability benefits for someone else, you should have make sure whoever you are applying for, their information to be up to date, such as all of their medical paperwork and work records if you are applying for SSDI benefits on their behalf.
If you have any further questions regarding what paperwork you need or any specific questions regarding the application process, you can also seek the counsel of a disability attorney who can help with the filing process as well.
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I Just Found Out Im Pregnant Can I Send In My Claim Form Before I Stop Working
No. Your claim begins when you lose wages and your physician/practitioner confirms that you are unable to do your normal or usual job duties. However, if your physician/practitioner certifies that you must limit your hours of work or change your work duties because of your pregnancy, you may be eligible for benefits.
How To Apply For Short Term Disability Benefits
This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 67,529 times.
Sort-term disability benefits are offered by private insurers. As of 2015, there is no federal short-term disability program. Some employers may offer temporary disability as a benefit, and in a few states employers are required to provide this benefit. In order to apply, you need to submit an application to your employer or to the insurance carrier directly. Then, when the need arises, you file a claim.
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What Happens At The Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to look at your financial situation. That’s why you have to bring the following documents for you and your family members:
- birth certificates
- immigration papers
- social insurance numbers
- Ontario health card numbers
- information about your housing costs
- information about your assets
- information about your income
- information about your job or training program
- evidence of trusteeship or power of attorney.
Together, we will go over in detail how much money you have and how many bills you have to pay.
When we look at your financial situation, we take into account many things, such as:
- how many people there are in your family
- how many children you have and how old they are
- if you have a spouse or adult dependants
- your income and assets
- if you are entitled to other sources of income
- where you live.
The meeting will take about 1-1/2 hours.
After the meeting, your caseworker will tell you whether or not you qualify financially for Income Support.
How Does Employment Insurance Work With Short Term Disability
Employment Insurance is a federal benefit that operates very similarly to STD, providing income replacement in the event an accident, illness, or injury prevents you from working. If you become unable to work and have STD through an employer, your STD benefit will take priority over any EI benefits.
Since the coverages work very similarly, were often asked something along the lines of, Why should I have STD if EI already covers me?
While its true that EI offers similar coverage, there are several advantages to a STD plan over EI benefits. EI is not usually as comprehensive an employer-sponsored STD plan, often having longer waiting periods and lower weekly payments. Furthermore, EIs income replacement is taxable to the employee, whereas STD benefits, depending on plan design, are not. Both STD and LTD benefits can be set up as taxable to the employee or non-taxable to the employee .
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Some Publications That Will Give You More Information On Disability Benefits
The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability interview or online application. Kits are available for adults and for children under age 18.
The starter kits provide information about the specific documents and the information that we will request from you.
The kits also provide general information about the disability programs and our decision-making process.
Here are some additional resources with information on disability benefits:
- Disability Evaluation Under Social Security – Medical criteria for evaluating Social Security disability claims
Special Rules For People Who Are Blind Or Have Low Vision
We consider you to be legally blind under Social Security rules if your vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye or if your visual field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens. Many people who meet the legal definition of blindness still have some sight and may be able to read large print and get around without a cane or a guide dog.
If you do not meet the legal definition of blindness, you may still qualify for disability benefits if your vision problems alone or combined with other health problems prevent you from working.
There are a number of special rules for people who are blind that recognize the severe impact of blindness on a person’s ability to work. For example, the monthly earnings limit for people who are blind is generally higher than the limit that applies to non-blind disabled workers.
In 2021, the monthly earnings limit is $2,190.
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Seek Legal Help With Your Claim
A disability lawyer or advocate can assist you throughout your entire claim, from start to finish. He or she can help gather evidence, counsel you on application and documentation strategies, and represent your interests during the review and appeals stages, if necessary.
A disability lawyer can help you apply for disability. They can help make sure that every paperwork is older before you apply so that the application process is smooth.
A lawyer can help file for disability by consulting with your doctor making sure you have all the right records and tests to show that you can no longer work because of your disability. Disability lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case.
Even if you have a team of others helping with various steps in the disability review, your lawyer can be your go-to person for understanding SSA processes, disability documentation and eligibility, and denial and appeal procedures.
You’re Not Limited To A Certain Condition
Social Security’s disability program does have strict requirements as to what qualifies as a disability, but it’s not limited to certain conditions. Under the Social Security disability program, you are considered disabled if you meet all three of the following requirements:
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You cannot do work that you did before having the disability
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You cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition
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Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
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What You Need For Apply For Ssdi Or Ssi Benefits
You will get a faster decision when you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income with the Social Security Administration if you provide:
- Your Social Security number
- Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers
- Laboratory and test results
- Names, addresses, phone and fax numbers of your doctors, clinics and hospitals
- Names of all medications you are taking
- Names of your employers and job duties for the last 15 years
If you are applying for a child, you also need school records regarding your child’s disability.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Don’t wait to file your claim for disability payments even if you don’t have all this information.
Documents That Provide Proof Of All Three Elements Of Identity
- Passport Canadian or Foreign
- Canadian Citizenship Card with photo
- Canadian Permanent Resident Card with signature
- Record of Landing
- Confirmation of Permanent Resident
- Report Pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with photo
- Student Authorization/Study Permit
- Employment Authorization/Work Permit
- Visitor Record
- Temporary Residents Permit formally Ministers Permit/Extension of Ministers Permit
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card
- Drivers licence, Enhanced drivers licence or Ontario Photo Card issued by the Government of Ontario
- Canadian Department of National Defence drivers licence
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