Calculating Your Ssi Payment
Here is an example of how the SSA takes into account your income in calculating your SSI payment. Let’s say Maria makes $625 per month from a part-time job, before taxes. Because the SSA won’t count the first $20 of any income per month, or the first $65 of earnings, this leaves Maria’s countable income at $540 . Finally, the SSA doesn’t count half of Maria’s remaining earnings, or $270 in Maria’s case. So, out of the $623, the SSA only counts $270 as countable income and will subtract $270 from Maria’s SSI payment. Maria’s monthly payment will be $524 .
Will Getting Financial Help Affect Disability Eligibility
Typically, no, getting financial help from friends, family, and other people will not have an impact on eligibility for Social Security disability benefits. This is true regardless of whether the financial help is in the form of clothes and food or cash.
The only factor that could interfere or prevent you from claiming your Social Security disability benefits is employment. If you are working or start working again, you will no longer qualify for SSDI benefits, and chances are you may not qualify for SSI benefits, too.
Disability Hearings In North Carolina
Administrative law judges hold hearings at the hearing office located nearest to your local Social Security field office. The hearing offices are called Offices of Hearings Operations these offices were formerly known as Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review, or ODAR. Contact information for North Carolina’s four OHO offices is below. Sometimes a hearing is held by videoconference however, you can ask that the hearing be held in person.
It takes a long time to get a hearing date in North Carolina: In 2018/2019, it has been taking, on average, 18 months from the time the request for hearing was filed to the date the case was decided by an ALJ. In 2018/2019, DDS offices awarded disability benefits in only 29% of the initial applications they looked at, which is lower then the national average. But North Carolina ALJs awarded disability benefits in 61% of the cases they heard, above the national average. Of those approvals, 88% were fully favorable, and 12% were partially favorable. Here are the state and national approval rates at each stage:
| Stage of Application |
|
18 months |
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Adults Disabled Before Age 22
An adult who has a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.
The disabled “adult child” including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.
Example
It is not necessary that the disabled “adult child” ever worked. Benefits are paid based on the parent’s earnings record.
- A disabled “adult child” must not have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings we consider “substantial” increases each year. In 2021, this means working and earning more than $1,310 a month.
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When Kindness Is Income: Support From Loved Ones
For SSI benefits, the SSA can also reduce your monthly benefit amount if someone else is providing for you. For example, if a friend or family member buys your food or pays your rent, the SSA will consider that to be income. The SSA calls this In-Kind Support and Maintenance . If there is ISM, the SSA will total the value of the ISM and reduce your SSI payment by the amount given to you.
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Why Ssdi Requires Work Credits
As the acronym indicates, SSDI is an insurance program. You pay the premiums of this program through the Social Security deductions that your boss takes out of your paycheck and sends to the government on your behalf. That money helps to fund the monthly Social Security disability and retirement checks that people receive.
On the other hand, the source of funding for SSI benefits is general revenues, like income taxes and additional money that the government collects. Because SSI does not use payroll deductions for Social Security taxes as its source of funding, you do not have to pay into the system and accumulate work credits to be eligible for these benefits.
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Working While Receiving Ssi Disability Benefits
Because fewer Supplemental Security Income recipients are capable of substantially gainful employment, the SSI work incentives are simpler.
For SSI recipients who work, the Social Security Administration provides an Earned Income Exclusion. Under the exclusion, the Social Security Administration does not count the first $65 of earnings an SSI recipient receives in a month, plus one-half of the remaining earnings when the agency calculates the monthly SSI payment. This means the monthly benefit is based on less than one-half of the SSI recipients earnings, no matter how much they are.
A special provision in the law eliminates the need for a trial work period or extended period of eligibility under SSI. If a disabled person becomes ineligible for SSI payments due to employment, they are usually able to restart SSI cash payments at any time without a new application.
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What If I Qualify For Both Ssd And Ssi
There are situations when someone receiving SSI could work and eventually earn an SSD benefit. Its also possible that an SSI recipient could eventually qualify for DAC benefits. If your SSD payment is higher than the SSI payment, your SSI would probably end.
Occasionally, a disabled person can get concurrent benefits from both SSD and SSI programs. Usually, this happens if the person qualifies for SSD but made an amount of money during their work history that makes them eligible for SSI, too. The SSA will automatically evaluate whether youre eligible for concurrent benefits based on your income and assets.
If youre receiving both SSI and SSD, youre eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.
What Happens To My Benefits
The amount of creditable service an employee has at the time of applying for DIP-NC benefits determines the course of action for health insurance and other benefits. Employees with more than one year but less than 5 years of creditable service are eligible for University-paid health insurance for the duration of Family Medical Leave thereafter, the employee must pay for the cost of health insurance plus applicable dependent premiums. An employee with more than 5 years of creditable service is eligible for state-paid health insurance benefits for the duration of DIP-NC however, he/she must pay for dependent coverage.
While you are receiving DIP-NC benefits, benefit premiums premiums generally deducted from payroll on a post-tax basis may be deducted from monthly DIP-NC payments. Premiums normally deducted on a pre-tax basis, including dependent health insurance premiums must be paid by personal check, each month.
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Contact Our South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers
Social Security Administration programs for the disabled provide valuable benefits and assistance for those who know what is available. The complexity of the rules combined with the backlog of claims keeps many disabled South Carolinians from getting all the benefits they should receive.
If you are totally disabled but would like to pursue some level of work, our South Carolina Social Security Disability benefits attorneys at Joye Law Firm can help you seek the full federal assistance that you are entitled to by law. A lawyer from our firm can review your case in a free, no-obligation initial consultation. Call Joye Law Firm at 936-9707 or contact us online today.
How Do I Enroll In Medicare
Automatic Enrollment Period
A person receiving SSDI for the required time period is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B . Beneficiaries should receive a Medicare card in the mail a few months before they become eligible. This will notify beneficiaries of their automatic enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. If you do not receive this card, you should contact the Social Security office as you approach Medicare eligibility. Medicare Part A is usually premium-free for everyone. If you have worked fewer than 40 quarters, the premium is based on the number of quarters worked. For Medicare Part B there is a monthly premium which is usually deducted from your Social Security check. The monthly Part B premium can change annually. A person has the option to turn down Medicare Part B. If you are a beneficiary or your spouse is actively working for an employer that is providing an employer group health plan , you may be able to continue the EGHP coverage if you or your spouses employer has 100 or more employees. In this situation you will be able to delay enrollment in Medicare Part B. If you are going to delay your enrollment in Medicare Part B, you should meet with a Social Security representative or call 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 .
Special Enrollment
For more details and further information, please call SHIIP at 1-855-408-1212 Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
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Social Security Disability Attorneys And Advocates Work On Contingency Meaning They Get Paid Only If You Win Your Case
By Melissa Linebaugh, Contributing Author
Unlike many attorneys, disability lawyers do not charge up-front fees or require a retainer to work on a Social Security disability case. Most disability attorneys and nonlawyer representatives will be paid a fee only if they win the case . Here’s how it works.
How Much Does Disability Pay In South Carolina
During the three-year period, you still receive benefits for any month in which your earnings do not exceed $1,220 or $2,040 if you are blind. In other words, while on disability you may earn up to $14,640 in a year, or $24,480 if you are blind, and still receive benefits.
The amount of work you may do and remain eligible for disability benefits is based on earnings, not on how many hours you work.
If your earnings exceed the threshold but you must stop working at any point during the three-year period because of your disability, your full SSDI payments will be immediately reinstated.
Some people continue to work after the three-year period is over, but their disabilities recur. If this happens, you can file for an Expedited Reinstatement at any time during the first five years following the month your benefits ended. You do not have to go through the entire disability application process.
Under expedited reinstatement, you receive provisional, or temporary, benefits for up to six months. During that time, the Social Security Administration will decide whether you can get benefits again.
Once you have been reinstated, you begin your initial reinstatement period. The reinstatement period ensures that you receive a monthly benefit any month you earn less than the SGA earnings level for 24 months.
Once you have received a total of 24 monthly benefits payments, if you are still receiving SSDI benefits, you are also eligible for:
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Overview Of Cpp Disability Payment Amounts
If you get approved for CPP disability, then you will receive disability payments each month. But, everyones payment amount is different. This is because your CPP disability payment amount is based on your CPP contribution history plus a fixed amount.
For 2021, the average CPP disability payment is $1,031.55 per month. The maximum CPP disability benefit anyone can get is $1,413.66. Of course, these amounts increase each year for inflation.
In addition to your CPP disability payment amount, you also get an additional payment for each dependent child. In 2021, the amount per dependent child is $257.58. The child CPP benefit amounts increase slightly each year as well.
How Do I Apply
You can do it through the local Social Security Administration office or state agencies .
You can apply in person, over the phone, by mail, or online. DDS will get information from your doctors to decide if your diabetes qualifies as a disability.
If you donât qualify, your case is kept on file in case you decide to appeal.
The process isnât quick. It can take 3 to 5 months to get a decision, depending on how long it takes for DDS to get your medical records and other information they need.
Itâs not unusual to be turned down the first time you apply. Up to 80% of first-time applications are rejected. If you appeal, it can take another 3 to 5 months to get a decision. If that appeal gets denied, you can appeal once more before an administrative law judge. That process can take as long as 2 years.
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Our Firm Will Guide You Through Every Step Of The Process
You have been diagnosed with an illness or an injury that leaves you unable to work and that is expected to last at least a year or to result in your death. As you struggle with your physical pain, you may also be very concerned about your loss of income. How are you going to manage financially, if you are unable to work?
You may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. But the claims process can be lengthy and frustrating. Thats why its important to have an experienced North Carolina SSDI attorney on your side. Brent Adams & Associates has been handling Social Security disability claims for decades and can help you get the benefits you need and deserve.
What If My Ssd Or Ssdi Claim Is Denied
You have 60 days from the day of your denial to file an appeal.
If youre denied, call the SSA immediately. Youll want a Form SSA-561 so that you can appeal a medical or non-medical decision.
If your Request for Reconsideration is denied, youll have another 60 days to appeal that decision. That appeal will be a Request for Administrative Law Judge Hearing. It could take 16-20 months for your hearing to be scheduled. You should be accompanied by a lawyer if you need a hearing.
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Judges In North Carolina Overturn Many Of The Denials Made By Claims Examiners At The State Dds Office
By Melissa Linebaugh, Contributing Author
When you file for Social Security disability in North Carolina, a state agency decides whether you are disabled, even though Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are federal programs. North Carolina’s Disability Determination Services is the agency that makes the initial approval or denial of benefits . North Carolina’s DDS approves fewer disability applications than the national average .
North Carolina also differs from other states in that it pays a substantial additional payment to low-income residents who reside in adult care homes, assisted living, or special care units.
How Much Work Do You Need
In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.
The amount needed for a work credit changes from year to year. In 2021, for example, you earn one credit for each $1,470 in wages or self-employment income. When you’ve earned $5,880, you’ve earned your four credits for the year.
The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
For more information on whether you qualify, refer to How You Earn Credits.
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If You Think You May Not Be Getting The Benefits You Deserve Contact An Experienced Social Security Disability Attorney
The Social Security system is complicated, and there are many, many moving parts. How do you know youre filing in the right order and how do you try to ensure you get the benefits youre entitled to receive? Contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin for a free case evaluation at . Were here to assist you!
An Overview Of Work Credit Requirements For Ssdi
The Social Security Administration says that you generally need at least 40 work credits over your lifetime to qualify for Social Security benefits at retirement. However, the number of credits required to qualify for SSDI varies by age. You do not want to assume that you lack the right amount of work credits based on the facts of another persons situation. We can use the following scenario to explain the work credit system.
Suppose you worked with a 50-year-old man who became too ill to work because of Parkinsons disease, and he had only worked at a job that paid into Social Security for 5 years. You can earn up to 4 work credits a year. In this situation, your coworker would only have 20 work credits, and likely would not qualify for benefits.
If you worked at the same place of employment for 5 years and became disabled, you might assume that you do not have enough work credit but that assumption could be incorrect. For example, if youre 35 years old, you would only need 20 work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits. Again, your age and how long and how recently you worked a job that paid into Social Security will determine how many work credits you need to apply for SSDI.
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