Why Does Social Security Disability Deny Claims Initially
It might seem that the SSA has initially denied everyone you know that has applied for disability benefits. However, the 2015 edition of the SSAs Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program has the numbers to disprove that myth.
According to the latest report, the SSA received 2,636,563 disability applications in 2014. By the end of the year:
- 441,621 were still pending a final decision
- 934,825 had received denials due to technical details
- 590,143 had received denials due to medical reasons
- 27,537 had received denials due to subsequent nonmedical reasons
- 640,347 received benefit awards
- 2,090 received subsequent denials
The 2014 year resulted in a 29.2 percent benefit approval rate, leaving the remaining two-thirds of applicants to either appeal their decision or give up on their claim.
If the SSA denied your benefits claim for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income , giving up might seem like the easy route. However, the reasons for denial can be as simple as a written error on your initial application, so it is worth the time to work with a lawyer on your claim.
For a free legal consultation, call
Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits With Heart Failure
Social Security Disability benefits can provide an individual who is suffering from heart failure with a monthly income as well as medical insurance to cover medical expenses.
When an individual suffers from heart failure, it can be impossible to maintain a full time job. Working a job with heart failure can be dangerous, yet the lack of income caused by an inability to work can result in significant financial stress. While it may seem like a vicious cycle, the good news is that Social Security Disability benefits may be the solution to this problem. Social Security Disability benefits can provide an individual who is suffering from heart failure with a monthly income as well as medical insurance to cover medical expenses.
If You Get Ssi Disability And Dont Have Medicaid
- In many states, SSI recipients automatically qualify for Medicaid and donât have to fill out a Medicaid application.
- In other states, your SSI guarantees you Medicaid eligibility, but you have to sign up for it.
- In a few states, SSI doesnât guarantee Medicaid eligibility. But most people who get SSI are still eligible.
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Don’t Make The Decision To Apply For Disability In Florida Alone
Understanding the ins and outs of applying for SSDI disability in Florida can be a time-consuming and confusing process. The definition of what qualifies as a disability is evolving every day and knowing how to best position your claim requires years of experience navigating the Social Security system.
In order to save yourself time and stress, give the experienced SSDI advocates at Disability Experts of Florida a call. It’s free and fast and we will help guide you through determining whether you might qualify for benefits. Applying for disability in Florida doesn’t have to be complex. And with us as your partner, it never is. Put our knowledge and experience to work for you!
How Can I Find Out More About Ssdi
- Visit www.ssa.gov online choose disability
- Visit ssabest.benefits.gov to learn about Social Security benefits you might be eligible for including SSDI
- Go to your nearest Social Security office
You can find out how much you would get from SSDI by looking at your Social Security statement. The statement shows your work history and an estimate of what your benefits would be at this time. To get a Social Security statement:
- Request a statement online through Social Securitys website at www.ssa.gov. Click on My Social Security on the left side of the page.
Note that SSDI is different from SSI .
SSI is for people who didnt pay enough into Social Security during their working years, or who havent worked recently enough to qualify for SSDI. However, some people who were employed for short times or whose income was very low may qualify for both SSDI and SSI because their SSDI payment is so low. In that case, the SSI payment is reduced by the amount of SSDI the person gets. See more information on Supplemental Security Income .
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How Difficult Is It To Get Long Term Disability Benefits
The long term disability insurance company is in the business of collecting premium dollars and not paying out dollars!
The long term disability claims process is lenghty and complex. Nancy Cavey, a Florida based long term disability lawyer, has written a consumers guide, Robbed of Your Peace of Mind, to assist you in understanding your long term disability policy and the mistakes that can destroy your long term disability claim.
Dealing with the long term disability insurance company when you are ill, in pain, and taking medication can be very difficult.
Cavey and Barrett specializes in private and group disability insurance claims. Disability lawyer Nancy Cavey will assist you through the claims process. You can order a free copy of her book, Robbed of Your Peace of Mind, and schedule a no-obligation conference to discuss you long term disability claims questions.
Answering these broad-based questions isnt easy. Help is a phone call away. You can contact Nancy Cavey, an experienced long-term disability attorney at 727-894-3188.
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Medical Qualifying With A Mental Illness
The SSA conducts a detailed review of your medical records to determine your eligibility for benefits. During this review, they try to match your records to a disability listing in the Blue Book. The Blue Book is the SSAs medical guide that is used to evaluate every disability application.
Disability listings outline the severity level requirements and the specific medical evidence needed to support a claim for benefits. Mental illnesses appear in Section 12.00 and include:
- 12.06, Anxiety-related Disorders you may qualify under this listing if you have a severe phobia, post-traumatic stress, a panic disorder, or another anxiety-related condition.
- 12.08, Personality Disorders this is the listing under which you may qualify if you have severe, clinical depression.
- 12.04, Affective Disorders if you have bipolar disorder, your application will be reviewed under this listing.
Extensive medical records are necessary to qualify, including:
- Information on your diagnosis, ideally from a psychiatrist or psychologist
- Brain scans or other evidence of physical abnormalities that document an organic cause for symptoms, if applicable
- Treatment records, documenting medications, therapy, and other management methods used and their effects
- Thoroughly documented episodes of increased symptoms or periods of decompensation
- Well documented affects of your symptoms on your everyday abilities or activities of daily living
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How Copd Affects Your Mental Capacity For Work
COPD can take its toll on your body, both physically and mentally. The lack of oxygen can lead to extreme tiredness and fatigue. This can affect your ability to concentrate and to retain information. You may find yourself unable to focus. Also, it can cause anxiety because you become afraid of the inability to breathe, and it can be stressful because of the treatment regimen and the conditions unpredictability.
You may become more socially withdrawn, and you may find yourself unable to remember important details or focus on a task long enough to get it complete. Your condition can also lead to depression, which will affect your mental capacity immensely. When depressed, you stay tired, you are forgetful, you dont like to socialize, your communication skills arent as strong, you arent as productive, and you may find it impossible to stay focused on a task or to get any work done.
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Apply For Benefits Online
You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you develop a disability. Follow these easy steps to apply online for disability:
- To start your application, go to our Apply for Benefits page, and read and agree to the Terms of Service. Click Next.
- On that page, review the Getting Ready section to make sure you have the information you need to apply.
- Select Start A New Application.
- We will ask a few questions about who is filling out the application.
- You will then sign in to your personal mySocial Security account, or you will be prompted to create one.
- Complete the application.
You can use the online application to apply for disability benefits if you:
- Are age 18 or older.
- Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record.
- Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- Have not been denied for disability in the last 60 days.
Note: If your application was recently denied, our application is a starting point to request a review of the determination we made.
You may be able to file online for SSI at the same time that you file for SSDI benefits. Once you complete the online process described above, a Social Security representative will contact you if we need additional information.
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Ability To Perform Similar Work
To be eligible for SSDI payments, the SSA must determine that you are unable to perform the work that you did prior to developing your condition. If you are still able to perform your previous job function, you will be ineligible. But if your condition keeps you from doing similar work, your application will move to the next step.
Can Youapply For Disabilityin Florida After Age 62
Yes, you can as long as you havent reached your full retirement age. Between the ages of 62 to 66, Americans can opt between early retirement or filing for disability. At full retirement age, your disability benefits will automatically convert to retirement benefits.
The chances of your disability claim getting approved also increase as you age. Thats because its usually harder for older people to find gainful employment making disability easier to prove.
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What Federal Disability Programs Are Available Through The Ssa
The Social Security Administration provides two distinct programs to oversee and distribute disability benefits. They are the Social Security Disability program and the Supplemental Security Income program. There are specific requirements for workers seeking benefits through either of these programs.
You May Qualify For Legal Assistance
Applying for Florida disability benefits is easier with legal assistance. An experienced Social Security attorney can give you legal advice over the phone today. Those who qualify for legal assistance through this website typically receive $10,000 in lump-sum backpay as well as monthly benefits. All Florida disability lawyers work on contingency, so if you dont get benefits, you owe $0 for legal assistance. And if you do win, then youll only pay a small, one-time fee.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits evaluation now!
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How Do I Initiate My Short Term Disability Claim
Is There Anything I Can Do To Make Dealing With The Social Security Administration Easier
You shouldnt expect as many problems dealing with the Social Security Administration while receiving benefits as you had trying to get benefits in the first place. Sometimes, though, some people have problems. Here are some things you can do to try to minimize the hassle:
- Keep all decisions, letters, and notices you receive from SSA in a safe place.
- Read everything you get from the Social Security Administration. The booklets that come with award letters and notices are well written and informative.
- When reading the booklets you receive from the Social Security Administration, pay special attention to the kind of information you are required to report to the Social Security Administration. Report promptly and in writing and keep a copy with your Social Security papers.
- Dont necessarily believe everything they tell you at the Social Security Administration 800 number. If you have an important issue to take up with the Social Security Administration, sometimes it is better to go to your local Social Security Office.
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What If The Social Security Administration Finds That My Disability Has Ceased But Im Still Not Able To Work
The notice, which you will receive from the Social Security Administration following a continuing disability review, will explain your appeal rights. Read this notice carefully. If you appeal within ten days of the date you receive the notice your benefits will continue during your appeal. So be sure to act quickly.
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What If My Doctor Releases Me To Work Part
Have your doctor specify in writing:
- The number of hours per day you can work.
- Any medical limitations or workplace accommodations prescribed, such as light duty or lifting restrictions.
- The expected duration of limitations.
This will need department approval. You may receive a partial benefit if you have not used all of the short term disability benefits available to you. Any part of a week that you receive short term disability counts as a full week, and it is counted against the benefit weeks available for that disability.
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Social Security Disability Program
If you receive Supplemental Security Income and/or Social Security Disability Insurance , Benefits Specialists are on hand to counsel you on work incentives and other benefits of working while educating you on the effects of earnings as you plan for employment.
Ticket to Work is a Social Security Administration program available to Floridians who qualify for social security disability benefits and want to work. SSA issues tickets that may be used at any employment network participant, such as VR. EN participants offer employment and rehabilitation services that may include:
- Cash benefits while you work.
- Medicaid or Medicare while you work.
- Help with any extra work expenses resulting from your disability.
How Can I Receive Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Often individuals with impairments want to attempt to return to work but are in need of job retraining to return to work successfully. In Florida, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation under the Florida Department of Education is the government office that helps individuals to prepare for, get, and keep jobs.
You can apply at your local VR office to receive services. Below is the contact information for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation:
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
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Does The Time Absent On Short Term Disability Count Toward Retirement
The FRS does not consider short term disability payments to be wages for retirement purposes. Any payment of annual leave or part-time hours worked within a month will qualify that month for creditable service. Refer to your FRS Handbook, log on to myfrs.com, or check with Employee Benefits if you are interested in buying back time.
When Toapply For Disability
In general, the SSA advises that you should apply for disability benefits as soon as possible. Disability benefit applications can take months to get approved. And theres a very big chance that it can get denied. While waiting for the SSAs decision, you need to pay for your medicine, food, and rent. With no work and no income, making ends meet might not be possible. Thus, its best to apply for disability benefits at once to avoid missing out on benefits.
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Eligibility Requirements For Supplemental Security Income Benefits
If youre 65 or older, havent paid FICA taxes or stopped working more than five years ago, apply for SSI. SSI is a federal assistance program that helps only the poorest Americans who cannot work make ends meet. This program also has financial eligibility requirements you must meet in order to qualify for monthly payments. While the SSI program pays a lot less to approved Florida disability claimants, payments keep going after your 65th birthday.
You Cant Do The Work You Previously Did
Also known as vocational rehabilitation. If your condition is severe but wasnt on the list of medical conditions eligible for SSDI, the next step is determining whether you can still perform your previous job. If your impairments dont interfere with the work you were doing earlier, your application is denied. However, to help disability determination services approve you, you can find someone experienced to prove to the SSA that you can no longer do your previous job, and thus be eligible for vocational rehabilitation.
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How Long Is Short
Florida residents should also turn to their outline of coverage issued by the private insurance company to estimate how many weeks their benefits might last.Most policies will honor claims while you are unable to work and under the care of a physician due to a covered medical reason up to the benefit period stated in the contract.
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I Am Disabled And Get Disability Benefits Do I Still Have To Pay Child Support
You should not have to pay child support if you receive Supplemental Security Income .
- However, if you were ordered to pay support and later start receiving SSI, you will have to file a Petition to ask for the court to stop the support. To find out which Petition you should use, see I cant afford my child support payment. Can I lower the amount?.
You may have to pay child support out of your check if you receive Social Security Disability Insurance .
- If you do not pay, Social Security can garnish part of your benefit. The largest amount they can garnish is 65%.
- NOTE: If your child receives benefits on your record, then the court can consider that in deciding whether to lower your support amount. You will have to file a Petition to ask the court to change the amount of support you are ordered to pay. To find out which Petition you should use, see I cant afford my child support payment. Can I lower the amount?.
Generally, your VA disability compensation benefit cannot be garnished to pay for child support. Exception: Your benefit can be garnished if you waived part of your military retired pay to receive VA disability benefits.
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