Let Us Help You With Your Social Security Disability Claim
Even if you clearly qualify for SSDI benefits, you shouldn’t be surprised if your application for benefits is denied. Unfortunately, the SSA denies many legitimate claims. If you need help filling out your initial application for benefits or fighting for the benefits you deserve, our Roswell Social Security disability lawyers are here to help. Call our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Recognizing That I Needed Disability Benefits A Few Years After Being Diagnosed With Juvenile Arthritis Was Hard The Challenge Of Applying For And Receiving Disability Was Harder Than It Should Have Been
Five years. Thats how long it took for me to start receiving disability benefits after I first applied. According to the Social Security Administration , it should take three to five months to process an application. But a decision doesnt guarantee you will receive assistance, and you have to keep reapplying until you do.
Sure, receiving any amount of income is nice, especially if you have an invisible disability and illness that makes it very challenging to work full-time. The process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income shouldnt be as difficult as it was for me. There were so many roadblocks that I had to go through to get the help I needed. Whats more, receiving these benefits didnt automatically make my life easier, either. Heres a look at why.
Social Security Works Aggressively To Prevent Detect And Prosecute Fraud
Social Security, along with the Office of the Inspector General, identifies and aggressively prosecutes those who commit fraud. Our zero tolerance approach has resulted in a fraud incidence rate that is a fraction of one percent.
One of our most effective measures to guard against fraud is the Cooperative Disability Investigations program. Under the program, we investigate suspicious disability claims early, before making a decision to award benefits. In effect, we proactively stop fraud before it happens. In fiscal year 2018, with the help of state and local law enforcement, the program reported nearly $188.5 million in projected savings to the disability programs. This resulted in a return on investment of $17 for each $1 spent.
Eradicating fraud is a team effort. We need people who suspect something to say something. If you suspect fraud, please visit the Office of the Inspector General and select Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse or call 1-800-269-0271.
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Can You Receive Retroactive Payments
Once the SSA approves your SSDI application and calculates your monthly benefit, you may be entitled to a back pay award. How many months of payments you will receive will depend on the date you applied for benefits and your disability onset date.
If you are applying for SSDI benefits, you need the assistance of a skilled Social Security disability lawyer to get your application approved and receive the benefits you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team, fill out the online form on this page or call our Roswell office today.
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Dealing With Medical Insurance Has Been Another Unexpected Roadblock
Filling out an application and having it approved in a timely manner would be the optimal way to go about this grueling and soul-stripping process. This process is like a huge fishing expedition into your unpleasant past. You have to gather all your medical records that detail your health journey from pre-diagnosis to after, any medical report summaries from every doctor youve ever seen, and anything else to build your case as if having a disabling medical condition means that you are guilty of something.
Newsflash: No one is at fault for getting sick, being in pain, and being unable to work like a normal person. Ive learned to accept that sometimes this just happens and its out of our control. Weve been through enough dealing with our medical conditions proving over and over again that were really disabled just adds to the burden and trauma of living with a disabling disease, especially at such a young age.
After you go through the entire process of sending in your life story, you are then told you must wait approximately two years to receive medical insurance. According to the SSA, everyone eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits is also eligible for Medicare after a 24-month qualifying period. You might think of Medicare as government-issued insurance for people over age 65, but this kind of insurance can also be issued to people under 65 with disabilities. It includes two parts: hospital coverage and medical insurance.
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Estimating Your Ssdi Benefit Amount
Your SSDI payment will be based on your average covered earnings over a period of years. The SSA calls this your “average indexed monthly earnings” . A formula is then applied to your AIME to calculate your primary insurance amount the base figure the SSA uses in setting your actual benefit amount.
For example, someone in their fifties whose income averaged $100,000 for the past few years might expect a disability payment of $2,500 per month. Someone in their fifties who made $60,000 per year might expect a disability payment of $2,000 per month.
You can check your annual Social Security Statement to see your covered earnings history. You’ll need to set up an account to see your statement online at my Social Security. You can also use the SSA’s benefits calculator to estimate the amount of your disability benefits. Or, call your local Social Security office, and they can help you estimate what your benefits would be.
Iii: Who Receives Ssdi
Eligibility criteria are strict, and most SSDI applicants are rejected. Applicants for SSDI benefits must be
- Insured for disability benefits .
- Suffering from a severe, medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to last 12 months or result in death, based on clinical findings from acceptable medical sources.
- Unable to perform substantial gainful activity anywhere in the national economy regardless of whether such work exists in the area where the applicant lives, whether a specific job vacancy exists, or whether he or she would be hired.
Lack of education and low skills are considered for older, severely impaired applicants who cant realistically change careers but not for younger applicants.
There is a five-month waiting period for SSDI, but Supplemental Security Income may be available during that period for poor beneficiaries with little or no income and assets.
SSA denies applicants who are technically disqualified and sends the rest to state disability determination services for medical evaluation. Applicants denied at that stage may ask for a reconsideration by the same state agency, and then appeal to an administrative law judge at SSA. Roughly half of people who get an initial denial pursue an appeal.
SSA monitors disability decisions at all stages of the process. SSA conducts ongoing quality reviews at all stages of the application and appeal process. Many reviews occur before any benefits are paid, thus reducing errors.
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Cost Of Living Increase
The federal SSI amount regularly increases with cost-of-living adjustments each year. The COLA is usually between 1.3% and 2%, but some years it can be as high as 8% or as low as 0%.
For 2023, the COLA is a whopping 8.7%, which increases the maximum federal SSI payment from $841 in 2022 to $914 in 2023. But in 2021, the COLA was only 1.3%, which only added $11 to the monthly federal SSI payment. Read our article on Social Security’s annual COLA for more information.
What Happens If The Dac Gets Married
If the child receives benefits as a DAC, the benefits generally end if they get married. However, some marriages are considered protected.
The rules vary depending on the situation. Contact a Social Security representative at 1-800-772-1213 to find out if the benefits can continue.
1-800-772-1213
To speed up the application process, complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.
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How Much Could My Child Receive From Social Security Benefits
If your child is eligible for benefits, they could receive up to half of the full retirement or disability benefits you’re currently getting. If a child is eligible for survivors benefits, they can get up to 75% of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit.
However, there’s a limit to how much your family can receive from Social Security. If the total amount payable to all family members exceeds a certain limit , each person’s benefit is reduced proportionately until the total equals the maximum allowable amount.
As the parent, your benefit amount will not be reduced because it’s not part of the maximum allowable amount.
How The Ssa Calculates Your Ssdi Benefit
If you’re eligible for SSDI benefits, the amount you receive each month will be based on your average lifetime earnings from before your disability began. This is the only factor that determines your benefit amount, although it may be reduced if you receive disability payments from other sources .
In other words, your SSDI benefit amount isn’t based on how severe your disability is. And unlike SSI, the Social Security Administration won’t deny your SSDI claim because you have too much “unearned income” or too many resources .
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What Do I Need To Know About Advance Designation
You should be aware of another type of representation called .
Advance Designation allows capable adult and emancipated minors who are applying for or receiving Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or Special Veterans Benefits the option to choose up to three people in advance who could serve as their representative payee, if the need arises.
In the event that you can no longer manage your benefits, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing that someone you trust may be appointed to manage your benefits for you. If you need a representative payee to assist with the management of your benefits, we will first consider your advance designees. We must still fully evaluate them and determine their suitability at that time.
You can submit and update your advance designation request when you apply for benefits or after you are already receiving benefits. You may do so through your personal account, contacting us by telephone at 1-800-772-1213 , or at .
How Is My Monthly Benefit Amount Determined Under Ssdi
The amount you receive under Social Security Disability Insurance is based on the amount you paid into the system.
Do you have enough work credits to be eligible for SSDI benefits?
notare not used in your disability benefit formula they do not count!
The amount of your monthly disability benefit amount is based on how much you paid into the SSDI program.
There are 3 ways you can find out your monthly benefit amount:
Social Securitys complex disability benefit amount formula.
The Primary Insurance Amount
How much disability back pay would I receive?
What is my family maximum SSDI benefit?
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How Much Can I Make While On Disability
Home » Frequently Asked Questions » How Much Can I Make While on Disability?
Many people who qualify for Social Security Disability benefits continue to work for a variety of reasons. You might enjoy your work, wish to supplement your disability income as much as allowable, or wish to gradually return to work to keep your skills up to date for an eventual return to full-time employment.
Whatever your reason for working, you might be concerned about how much you can make while on disability without putting your disability benefits at risk. The Social Security Administration allows trial work periods and imposes income limits that define how much you can earn while still receiving the benefits you are entitled to collect.
The SSA uses more than your income to determine your employment earnings limitations. They also calculate and deduct job-related expenses that come with your employment.
You can hire a lawyer to represent you throughout the benefits application or appeals process. They may help you determine your earning capacity and its effect on your monthly benefits.
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If You Have A Health Condition Or Disability
You might get an extra amount of Universal Credit if you have a health condition or disability that prevents you from working or preparing for work.
Your monthly payment is based on your circumstances, for example your health condition or disability, income and housing costs.
If you made a new Universal Credit claim on or after 3 April 2017 and have limited capability for work, you will not get the extra amount.
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When Do You Receive Ssi Payments
The SSA pays SSI and SSDI benefits at different times. If you are eligible for both benefits, its good to know when your payments will come.
You will get your SSI benefits on the first of each month. The first payment starts the month after your application. If the first of the month is on a weekend or holiday, youll get your benefits the business day before.
You can receive your SSI payments in one of three ways:
- Through direct deposit
- Loaded onto a debit card
- Sent through a check in the mail
The SSA asks that you wait until the fourth business day to contact them about missing mail payments.
Ssa Expedited Processing For Veterans
Veterans may qualify for programs from SSA that expedite disability decisions:
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Our Tulsa Disability Lawyers Explain How Disability Pay Is Calculated
After you have gone through thefive-step evaluation process and qualify forSocial Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income , you may wonder how much money you will receive each month. The Social Security Administration uses a weighted formula to determine how much you are allowed in disability benefits. This formula is complicated and is constantly being adjusted to account for things like inflation, changes to the average income and any other disability payments you collect.
Calculating Benefit Payment Amounts
Your Weekly Benefit Amount depends on your annual income. It is estimated as 60 to 70 percent of the wages you earned 5 to 18 months before your claim start date and up to the maximum WBA.
Note: Your claim start date is the date your disability begins.
We will calculate your WBA using a base period. To receive these benefits, you must have paid into State Disability Insurance during your base period and meet eligibility requirements. You will see this listed as CASDI on your paystub.
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How Much Money Will I Get From Ssi For My Disability
For SSI, the maximum Social Security benefit amount in 2022 for an eligible individual is $841 per month and $1,261 per month for an eligible couple. This amount is the maximum you can receive. This amount can be reduced based on your specific circumstances.
You can only get SSI benefits from the date of the application forward.
For example, you apply on March 1, 2022, but say you became disabled on January 1, 2019. If SSA agrees that you became disabled on January 1, 2019, you will only be able to get benefits from March 1, 2022, which is the date you applied.
There is no five-month holdback for SSI benefits.
How Much Does Permanent Disability Pay
Home » Frequently Asked Questions » How Much Does Permanent Disability Pay?
A complex formula is used to determine how much you draw from Social Security Disability Insurance . In general, most people get between $910 and $1,310 each month.
According to the Social Security Administration , the average monthly payout for qualified individuals is $1,277 for 2021. Those who earned a high income during their years working could get as much as $3,148 per month in benefits. Our disability lawyers can help you understand how much permanent disability pays. We can discuss how to qualify for benefits during a free consultation.
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Disability Requirements For Social Security Disability Benefits
You must also be considered disabled to be eligible for SSDI benefits. The Social Security Administration determines disability by the following requirements:
- You can no longer perform your former job and
- You cannot perform other work due to your medical condition and
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year, or result in your death.
The SSA maintains a Medically Approved Listing of Impairments. If your medical condition is on the list, you may automatically qualify for benefits. However, if your disability isn’t on the list, this doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to SSDI benefits.
If you don’t qualify for SSDI benefits, you may be eligible for Supplement Security Income benefits . To be approved, you must be disabled and meet strict asset and income rules.