Benefits For Disabled Widows Or Widowers
If something happens to a worker, benefits may be payable to their widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse with a disability if the following conditions are met:
- The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse is between ages 50 and 60.
- The widow, widower, or surviving divorced spouse has a medical condition that meets the definition of disability for adults and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker’s death.
Widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses cannot apply online for survivors benefits. However, if they want to apply for these benefits, they should contact Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 to request an appointment
To speed up the application process, complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.
We use the same definition of disability for widows and widowers as we do for workers.
Whats It Like To Return To Work After Short
As the above answer illustrates, depending on your disability, different logistical elements obviously need to be sorted out upon your return.
But thats not the only factor at play heretheres also an emotional and relational element involved when you return to the office after an extended amount of time off.
Most of it was just emotional and mental fatigue after having spent four months not really on a computer every day or using my brain in that kind of way, says Tiernan.
There was the expectation that I was going to be able to jump back in right away, she adds. Looking back, I appreciate that now because I dont think I wouldve been able to transition as well as I had if it had been slow.
In addition, companies arent stagnant and there are likely some larger changes that will happen while youre out on your leaveincluding employees leaving and new team members being added. There were shifts that occurred during my time gone, so I needed to readjust to the changes that had happened, Tiernan adds.
Why Is The Best Disability Insurance Through Woligo
At Woligo, we care about independent contractors and small business owners, which is why we have partnered with Assurity to offer you the very best disability insurance for self employed workers. As a mutual organization, Assurity was founded on the simple concept of people coming together to support each other in moments of need. They help people through difficult times by providing affordable insurance protection thats easy to understand and buy. For more than 130 years, Assuritys stability and financial strength have stood the test of time. As a Certified B Corporation, theyre committed to using their business as a force for good. Assurity treats every customer with the attention they deserve. Get real, responsive, and efficient answers from a real person in their Lincoln, Nebraska headquarters. You have nothing to lose get a commitment free quote. No phone number or email required.
You May Like: Gaf Score Of 60
The Disability Application Process
Whether you apply online, by phone, or in person, the disability benefits application process follows these general steps:
- You gather the information and documents you need to apply. We recommend you print and review the . It will help you gather the information you need to complete the application.
- You complete and submit your application.
- We review your application to make sure you meet some for disability benefits.
- We check whether you worked enough years to qualify.
- We evaluate any current work activities.
- We process your application and forward your case to the Disability Determination Services office in your state.
- This State agency makes the disability determination decision.
To learn more about who decides if you are disabled, read our publication .
Once You’ve Applied
Once we receive your application, well review it and contact you if we have questions. We might request additional documents from you before we can proceed
Look For Our Response
Youll receive a letter in the mail with our decision. If you included information about other family members when you applied, well let you know if they may be able to receive benefits on your record.
Check The Status
You can check the status of your application online using your personal mySocial Security account. If you are unable to check your status online, you can call us 1-800-772-1213 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Appeal A Decision
- Reconsideration.
Is Your Condition Severe
Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, or remembering for at least 12 months. If it does not, we will find that you are not disabled.
If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.
Don’t Miss: Military Retirement Point Calculator
If Your Spouse Also Worked Under Social Security
If your spouse is eligible for retirement benefits on their own record, we will always pay that amount first. But, if the spouses benefit that is payable on your record is a higher amount, they will get a combination of the two benefits that equals the higher amount.
If your spouse will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, their Social Security benefit on your record may be affected.
Maternity Leave In Texas
No law enacted by the state of Texas law requires that an employer give a woman maternity leave when she is having a baby. However, the FMLA does provide for parental leave, so a woman in a company covered by the FMLA can take maternity leave.
And one Texas law, the Texas Employment Discrimination Act, prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex. This has been held to include discrimination based on pregnancy or childbirth. Under the act, women who are pregnant must be given the same rights as any other employee who has a different type of temporary disability. The act is applicable only to companies with 15 or more employees.
You May Like: Can You Get Disability For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
What Is The Long Term Disability Definition
Long term disability insurance is a type of insurance you can buy that pays out monthly benefits if you become too ill or disabled to work. The benefit period can last two, five, or ten years, or even until retirement, and the monthly benefit is up to 60% of your gross monthly income. The most common types of disability that cause long-term disability claims are:
- Musculoskeletal/Connective Tissue Disorders and Conditions: the most common are back pain, degenerated disk, arthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatism.
- Nervous System-Related Disorders and Conditions: the most common are Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Shingles, Epilepsy, and Seizures.
- Cardiovascular/Circulatory Disorders and Conditions: one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.
- Cancer and Tumors: The American Cancer Society estimates that 41% of men and 38% of women will develop some form of cancer within their lifetime.
- Mental Disorders: The most common of which is depression and anxiety.
Other Texas Disability Laws
Not all disability laws provide benefits. While disability insurance of all types is intended to replace income lost when you are unable to work, it doesn’t offer any job protection. In many circumstances, an employer is legally allowed to fire an employee who is on disability. Some disability laws protect a disabled employee’s job.
The most important law in this area is the Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law requiring employers to give employees at least 12 weeks of leave a year for their own or their family’s medical issues. While the FMLA requires only unpaid leave, an employee receiving disability benefits can go on FMLA leave. Only companies with 50 or more employees are included in FMLA, and workers must have been there for at least a year. This law applies in Texas as well as all other states.
Your employer cannot fire you for taking FMLA leave. And when you get back, you must find your former job or one substantially like it waiting for you. Don’t exceed the 12 weeks, however, because your protection evaporates.
Read Also: Social Security Disability And College
What Evidence Do You Have To Provide To Collect Short
Your physician will need to sign off on your claim form before you even submit your application, to vouch for the fact that your injury or illness prevents you from working.
After you submit your claim, your employer or the insurance company who administers your short-term disability plan will request that you submit your medical records so that they can review them and verify that theyre consistent with your disability claim. Contact your healthcare providers office to find out the best way to send those records over.
It can feel a little invasive to hand over these types of private documents, but know that its a standard part of the benefits process.
What Types Of Disabilities Are Covered
Your exact coverage will depend on the specific policy you choose. Still, you can rest assured that an individual disability insurance plan through Woligo can help pay for various disabilities and situations. For example, if you are totally disabled, your benefits could pay for a rehabilitation program designed to help you return to work it may help pay for modifications to your home to improve access or use of facilities, and much more.
Read Also: Va Anxiety Rating
What Does Disability Insurance Cover
Disability insurance benefits come into play when you have an injury or illness that limits your ability to work. This insurance covers critical illnesses, including heart attack, stroke, cancer, organ failure, cognitive impairment, and serious injuries that lead to an inability to work.
Texas Fmla Rules 2022
The federal Family Medical Leave Act is the primary law affecting Texas parents in 2022. The state does not have a supplemental regulation to expand the number of people covered, extend the duration, or make the time off paid rather than unpaid.
Only about half of the people in the Lone-Star state enjoy these legal rights.
Also Check: Do You Pay Taxes On Sdi Benefits
When Should I Get Disability Insurance
The prime time to protect your income is BEFORE your health begins to deteriorate, aka while you are still young and healthy! A common misconception about disability insurance is that it is only for the aging, but thats not the case. The best way to maximize your return is to get it early.
What Is The Likelihood I Will Actually Need Disability Insurance
The chances are a lot higher than you might think. The reality for 20-year-olds is that more than 1-in-4 of them will become disabled before reaching retirement age.
1 in 4 people over the age of 20 will become disabled during their working lives.
U.S. Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet, 2018
Read Also: 90 Percent Va Disability Compensation
What Are The Advantages Of Individual Disability Insurance
Even if you do work for a big company that offers disability insurance, there are still many advantages that come with getting your own policy outside of your employer. Many people think that individual disability insurance is the best disability insurance to get because:
Once you have a good understanding of your monthly expenses, its time to take a serious look at your emergency savings. The goal here is to determine how long your savings could cover your expenses if you were disabled and unable to work for a period of time. Considering your savings and expenses, youll next turn to your salary. Calculate what percentage of your salary could cover your remaining expenses in case of a disability.
- You get to customize your coverage to tailor your needs
- You can keep your coverage when you change jobs
- You can collect your benefits tax-free in case you do become disabled. If your employer pays for your coverage, you have to pay taxes on the benefits.
Workers Compensation In Texas
If you are injured on the job and that injury is why you have a short-term disability in Texas, workers compensation insurance might just be the short-term disability coverage you need. Workers’ compensation is an insurance program required by all states, including Texas, to provide benefits to employees who are injured on the job. As a general rule, employees who are injured on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits no matter who was a fault the employee herself, the employer, a coworker or someone else.
The injury doesn’t have to actually happen at the company’s location. As long as it relates to your job duties, it is probably covered. Employees are covered if injured while traveling on business, doing a job-related errand, or even attending a required social function of the company. There are some exceptions. Workers compensation won’t cover injuries that happened because an employee was intoxicated or using illegal drugs.
References
Also Check: What Is 90 Percent Va Disability
Can You Do Any Other Type Of Work
If you cant do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment.
We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you cant do other work, well decide you are disabled. If you can do other work, well decide that you dont have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.
Types Of Social Security Disability Benefits Programs
First, you should understand the two basic types of benefits programs that the Social Security Administration provides to eligible disabled citizens in Texas and throughout the country:
- Social Security Disability Insurance If you have worked long enough and paid enough into the system, you may be eligible for these disability benefits regardless of your assets or income prior to the onset of your disability.
- Supplemental Security Income This is a needs-based program for those who have not paid into the system long enough to be eligible for SSDI benefits, including children.
So, if you fail to qualify for SSDI benefits, you may still be eligible for SSI benefits. You should consult with an experienced lawyer to determine all options available to you.
Don’t Miss: Universal Express Pass Military Discount
Short Term Disability Insurance: What Qualifies & How Long Does It Last
When people think of Disability Insurance, their first thought is often the more permanent disabilities covered by Long Term Disability Insurance.
But what if youre only temporarily disabled, say for a period of only a few weeks? Youll still be off work and unable to make an income, but unable to qualify for LTD.
Thats where Short Term Disability Insurance comes in.
How To Get Temporary Or Short
The Difference Between Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income
If youre disabled, can you apply for short-term disability benefits? Yes if your jobs benefits package includes that specific type of insurance coverage and youre currently an eligible employee. However, some U.S. states also provide temporary or short-term disability benefits for permanent residents, provided you meet their program requirements. California, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have state-run programs that provide temporary or short-term disability benefits. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration doesnt have any programs that provide either temporary or short-term disability benefits. If your disabilitys expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death, apply for SSI or SSDI. Your disability must prevent you from working for one year to get monthly Supplemental Security Income or Social Security disability insurance benefits.
Recommended Reading: Gaf Scale Dsm 5
How Do I Choose Between Short
Short-term disability policies are typically used to cover sudden but brief medical issues, such as a broken leg or a planned surgery with required recovery time. They can also be used to cover maternity leave, often compensating up to six to eight weeks of absence, depending on the type of delivery and any childbirth complications.
Long-term policies cover chronic illnesses and permanent disabilities. According to the Council on Disability Awareness, the average length of a long-term claim is 34.6 months. About 95% of these claims are for medical issues rather than workplace accidents.
When considering whether you should purchase a short- or long-term disability policy, keep the expenses you will need to cover in mind. Calculate your monthly expenses and add a buffer for unexpected medical bills. Once youve come up with a number that would cover all of your expenses, you can multiply that amount by the amount of time you may be out of work. This will help you decide on the right level of coverage.
While having only 70% of your income covered may not seem like enough, many policies are purchased with after-tax dollars which means the payouts are distributed tax-free. For some people, this amount is often comparable to their normal take-home pay. If you purchase your policy pre-tax, however, you will see the difference in the amount of your benefits, so keep that in mind.
Is Long Term Disability Insurance Worth It
We definitely think long term disability insurance is worth it. You can expect to pay 1 4% of your income towards your insurance premium on average. While you might not want to pay the premium now, you will be glad you did and that your income is protected if you become disabled and are unable to work. Paying 1 – 4% in premiums now is better than losing 100% of your income down the road.
Read Also: Retirement Pay Calculator Army Reserve