Health Care Benefits Based On Receiving Ssa Benefits
Depending on the type of Social Security benefit you receive, you may be eligible for health care benefits too.
- If you receive SSI, you will be eligible for Medicaid starting in the month your benefit payments start. You only need to be receiving $1 of SSI in order for Medicaid coverage to kick in.
- If you receive SSDI, you become eligible for Medicare 2 years after the date your SSDI entitlement begins.
If you are receiving Social Security Retirement benefits, you should automatically be enrolled in Medicare.
If I Start My Va Disability Application Does Va Consider This Intent To File
No. Simply starting your VA disability application doesnt show your intent to file. Youll need to submit an intent to file form, which sets the effective date . Then you can focus on gathering supporting documents to turn in with your disability application. If you submit an intent to file before you file your claim, you may be able to get retroactive payments .
Note: If you file your claim online, you dont need to separately send an intent to file form. The online application already includes your intent to file.
Survivors Benefits For Children
Unmarried children can be eligible to receive Survivors Benefits generally 75 percent of the workers benefit amount as long as they are:
- Under 18 years old
- 19 or under and attending an elementary or secondary school full time or
- Disabled before age 22 and remain disabled.
Stepchildren, grandchildren, step grandchildren or adopted children may also receive benefits under certain circumstances.
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If You Were Overpaid By Ssa
If the Social Security Administration says that you have been overpaid, you are entitled to written notice explaining why the overpayment occurred and how much you have been overpaid. If you are still receiving benefits, SSA can withhold some or all of your benefits to repay the overpayment.
Some reasons for overpayments include:
- Your income is more than what you reported to SSA
- Your living situation changed
- Your marital status changed
- You have or received more resources than allowed or
- You are no longer disabled but continued to receive benefits this includes receiving benefits while an appeal of a reduction or termination is pending.
How To Qualify For Disability In Florida
The American Community Survey reports that approximately 12.8 percent of the American population suffers from some sort of disability. Focusing on Florida, that number jumps to 13.7 percent . But when it comes to applying for disability, its important to understand that individual states do not create qualifying criteria that job is left to the Social Security Administration .
States then work with the SSA to determine whether or not claimants meet the criteria for both Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income .
What is the qualifying criteria for SSA benefits?
To be considered for disability benefits, the SSA states that you must:
- Have worked in jobs covered by Social Security
- Have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability
How does the SSA define disability?
Disability is generally based on the following three key factors:
- Youre unable able to do the work you once performed
- Youre unable to reasonably adjust to a different line of work
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or may result in death
How long will my disability benefits last?
The SSA pays monthly cash benefits to individuals unable to work for a year or more due to disability benefits will continue until the individual is able to return to work again on a regular basis.
What are SSA work incentives?
For a full breakdown of all nine work incentive programs, you can read more here.
How does my work history factor in?
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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.
How To Qualify For Disability In Florida As A Veteran
As a veteran living in Florida, you have two options for qualifying to receive disability benefits. You may be eligible to get disability payments from the US Department of Veterans Affairs or from the Social Security Administration . Depending on the nature of your disability, you may qualify to receive benefits from one or both of these federal agencies.
To be eligible for veterans disability benefits through the VA, you must have a disability-related to your service in the military. Physical and mental health conditions qualify.
Eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits depends on two main factors. First, you must have paid enough taxes into Social Security. Then, you have to meet the SSA definition of disability.
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How Do You Apply For Disability Benefits
There are three ways to apply for Social Security benefits:
- file online atwww.ssa.gov/applyfordisability
- go to your local Social Security office without an appointment.
Before you apply, make sure you have the names and addresses of all doctors and clinics you’ve visited over the last five years. Applying for benefits involves much more than filling out the disability application. Your first step should be making sure that you have sufficient medical records for Social Security to make a decision on your claim. If you’ve been seeing a doctor regularly, have a conversation with your doctor about your limitations , and whether the doctor thinks they rule out full-time work for you. If your doctor agrees, it’s time to apply for disability benefits.
If you haven’t been seeing a doctor, it’s time to start. As mentioned above, you need to have medical records that support your claim, including your diagnoses, your limitations, your test results, and your treatment plans. Once you’ve had several doctors’ appointments, ask if your doctor thinks your limitations are disabling and about your long-term prospects for work. Only then should you apply for disability.
Why Your Claim May Be Denied And What To Do About It
Many Social Security Disability claims are denied on the initial application. If your claim is denied, you can use the SSAs online appeals application to start the appeals process. Before you appeal, however, it is wise to speak to an experienced SSD attorney as soon as you can. Your lawyer can help you determine why your claim was denied and gather the information you need to build a strong case on appeal.
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Ssdi Vs Ssi: Whats The Difference
The Social Security Administration manages two programs that may provide benefits to disabled workers. They differ in purpose and scope, and not all workers qualify for both.
- Social Security Disability Insurance : SSDI pays benefits to you and to certain family members if you or they qualify as disabled and you are insured, meaning you worked long enough and paid enough in Social Security taxes to be covered.
- Supplemental Security Income : SSI pays benefits based on financial need to those who are over age 65, deaf, blind or disabled and unable to work. Although it is run by Social Security, the funds come from the U.S. Treasury, not the Social Security fund. Your work history is not a factor in qualifying for SSI.
An experienced Florida Social Security Disability attorney can help you determine whether you may qualify for SSDI, SSI or both, and file the necessary paperwork to seek benefits. If you have already applied and received an initial denial, our lawyers can help you appeal.
What We Mean By Disability
The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.
We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if all of the following are true:
- You cannot do work that you did before because of your medical condition.
- You cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition.
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers’ compensation, insurance, savings, and investments.
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What Are The Medical Conditions That Qualify For Quick Determination Of Disability
If you are an SSI applicant with one of about 15 severe physical or intellectual impairments among them amputation, Down syndrome, total blindness or deafness, and HIV/AIDS Social Security may find you have a presumptive disability . This qualifies you for up to six months of benefits while your claim wends its
What Happens If The Adult Child Gets Married
If he or she receives benefits as a disabled “adult child,” the benefits generally end if he or she gets 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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Request An Appeal Online
Recent changes to the appeals process now make it possible to request an appeal online if you were recently denied Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income . This can save you time and may lead to a faster decision. You can also go online to check the status of your appeal.
To request an appeal online:
Prerequisites For Receiving Ssdi
SSDI works similarly to an insurance programhence its name. To receive the benefit, applicants will have had to work for a specific period of time, paying into a Social Security Trust Fund through payroll taxes. In addition, applicants need to meet the following SSDI prerequisites:
- You can no longer do the type of work you did before
- You have worked and paid into Social Security earning satisfactory work credits
- You cannot easily adjust to another type of work because of your medical condition
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or result in death
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Request A Change In Overpayment Recovery Rate
If you agree that you have been overpaid but are unable to repay the overpayment at the SSA has asked you to, you can work out a payment plan. https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-632.html.
Keep a copy of any documents you file with the Social Security Administration and get the names of any Social Security representatives you speak with concerning your case.
- Report wages for SSI or SSDI
- Update your direct deposit information
- Get replacement forms for tax purposes
- Get online notifications about your account and
- Access multiple planning tools, such as the Retirement Calculator.
You can create your own account here:
What Diagnosis Automatically Qualifies You For Disability
A mere diagnosis will get you an automatic disability approval for only a few conditions, however, like ALS, an organ transplant, or certain serious cancers , such as esophageal cancer, mucosal melanoma, anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland, or small-cell carcinoma (of the prostate, ovaries, breast, lungs, pleura,
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Social Security And Medical Benefits
SSI beneficiaries automatically receive Medicaid benefits.
Be aware however that there are many special Medicaid and Medicaid waiver programs in Florida that do not require a person to be eligible for SSI. For more information, see the Florida Medicaid Summary of Services.
SSDI beneficiaries qualify for Medicare benefits following a two year waiting period after first receiving SSDI. There are limited circumstances under which SSDI beneficiaries may qualify for Medicare without the two year waiting period.
Some individuals may be dually eligible for SSI and SSDI, and therefore for Medicaid and Medicare. Some individuals who receive SSDI only, may nevertheless be eligible to have Medicaid pay their Medicare premiums, and in some cases, their copays.
Some individuals, who received SSI benefits as a minor, become SSDI beneficiaries based on the work record of a parent or grandparent who is deceased, disabled or retired. As long as the persons SSDI benefits are based on the work record of the parent or grandparent, and not on their own work record, the individual should maintain their eligibility for Medicaid. This is called Protected Medicaid.
How Do You Survive While Waiting For Disability Approval
How can I stay afloat while waiting for Social Security benefits? Tip #1: Work While Waiting . Tip #2: Apply for Other Types of Support. Tip #3: Find Other Sources of Support or Financial Assistance. Unemployment Benefits and Social Security Disability . Speeding up the Disability Application and Review Processes.
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More Questionsschedule A Free Consultation To Discuss Your Disability Claim
Whether you are just exploring the application process, trying to get together the information you need, or deciding what to do after your claim was denied, our dedicated South Florida disability lawyers can help. Schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation today to discuss your SSDI or SSI claim.
Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa has offices in West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie, and our committed SSD lawyers will travel anywhere in South Florida to meet at a place that is convenient for you.
Request An Overpayment Waiver
If you agree that you received an overpayment but the overpayment was not your fault and repaying it would mean that you could not pay you other necessary living expenses or repaying it would be unfair, you can request a waiver. There is no deadline to request a waiver of the overpayment. Social Security can decide to waive all or some of the overpayment.https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-632.html.
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Retirement Benefits For Divorced Spouses
Ex-spouses of the deceased person can qualify for benefits on your account if they:
- Were married to you at least 10 years
- Have not remarried
- Are 62 years old or more and
- Are not entitled to their own retirement benefits which are greater than yours.
If they get their own Social Security benefits but yours are higher, SSA will pay them their regular amount and add an additional amount from your account to equal the bigger number.
The money your former spouse gets does not lower the amount you get.
Contact An Experienced North Carolina Ssd Benefits Lawyer
The SSA maintains a list of impairments that are considered so severe that they automatically qualify one for disability benefits as long as all other requirements are met. These conditions are found in the SSAs Blue Book, which describes the medical evidence that is needed to prove the impairment.
You can also be declared disabled if you have a condition that is considered to be equal in severity to a listed impairment.
Even if you dont have a listed impairment or one considered equal in severity to a listed one, you may still be deemed to be disabled if you can show that your medical condition keeps you from working or doing any other type of work.
Allow Hardison & Cochran to put its skill and experience to work for you in seeking disability benefits. In particular, we can help you to gather the medical evidence you need to show you are disabled.
Contact us today and receive a free and immediate review of your case.
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Is Your Condition Found In The List Of Disabling Conditions
For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditions that we consider severe enough that it prevents a person from doing substantial gainful activity. If your condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is as severe as a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.
We have two initiatives designed to expedite our processing of new disability claims:
- Compassionate Allowances: Certain cases that usually qualify for disability can be allowed as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Examples include acute leukemia, Lou Gehrigs disease , and pancreatic cancer.
- Quick Disability Determinations: We use sophisticated computer screening to identify cases with a high probability of allowance.
For more information about our disability claims process, visit our Benefits For People With Disabilities website.
Applying For Social Security Disability
You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. You can complete some or all of the forms online or you may call the Social Security Administration toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. Staff personnel at SSA office can assist you either in person or by phone.
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