What Are Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security disability benefits come from payroll deductions required by the;Federal Insurance Contributions Act; to cover the cost of;Social Security benefits;such as retirement, as well as spousal and survivor benefits. Some of this;funding goes into the Disability Insurance Trust Fund; and pays for disability benefits.
According to the Social Security website, to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must have worked a certain length of time;in jobs covered by Social Security. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year when you became disabled. You must also have a medical condition that meets Social Securitys;definition of disability.
Social Security Disability Insurance should not be confused with Supplemental Security Income , which pays benefits to those who have financial needs regardless of their work history. Although these two names sound similar, the qualifications to get the payments and what you might receive are very different.
What Medical Conditions Qualify For Short
To qualify for short-term disability your medical condition must prevent you from doing your regular job duties. You must show how the symptoms or impairments from your medical condition interfere with your ability to perform you job duties.
To do this you will need to have an official list of your job duties. Then you can get your doctor review the list of duties and confirm that you cannot perform the majority of these duties because of your medical condition.
Most short term disaibltiy plans will require you to be continuously disabled for 7 days or so before you can qualify for benefits. This is called a waiting period or elimination period.
Following is an example of typical wording of the disability requirement for a short-term disability plan. Please note this is only an example, the exact wording is different for each plan:
An employee is entitled to payment of a short-term disability benefit if that employee proves that:
- the employee became totally disabled while covered
- the total disability has continued beyoned the elimintation period
- the employee has been following appropriate treatment for the disabling condition
An employee wil be considered totally disabled while the employee is continuously unable due to an illness to do the essentional duties of the employees own occupation in any setting.
Not Being Descriptive Enough
Dont assume a diagnosis for a certain medical condition will be enough to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. Rather, the Canada Revenue Agency wants to know how the disability or medical condition affects ones ability to perform basic activities of daily living .
Weve seen applications that fail to connect ones disability with BADLs these applications often get declined.
Case in point, one application that passed our hands simply described chronic leg pain. When we interviewed this client thoroughly, we discovered his leg pain prevented him from walking more than 20 metres and advised him to tell your doctor exactly what you told us just now.
Our recommendation to anyone: description is key for your DTC applications success.
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List Your Diagnosed Medical Conditions
As part of the SSA’s requirements for Social Security disability insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income , you must be diagnosed with a medical condition by a licensed doctor or psychologist. In addition, to be evaluated for disability, this impairment must have more than a slight effect on your ability to perform work.
If your medical records are not that lengthy or comprehensive, by submitting a medical source statement to Social Security, your doctor can show exactly what medical conditions you have been diagnosed with. Moreover, the doctor can explain what symptoms and limitations you are experiencing from your impairments. The failure of the SSA to properly consider all of your impairments can be a strong basis for any future disability appeal, so it is good to have them all documented in your claim file.
Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits
The EI Sickness program provides temporary income replacement benefits to eligible workers for up to 15 weeks. To qualify, your income must be reduced by at least 40%, you must be employed by a qualifying employer, and you must have already earned 600 hours of insurable employment.
To learn more about EI Sickness benefits, read our Ultimate Guide to EI Sickness.;
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The Right Medical Records And Statement From Your Doctor Will Go A Long Way In Getting Approved For Disability Benefits
When applying for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration , you will need to present evidence showing that you have been unable to work for at least a 12-month period. You can help satisfy this burden by having your primary care doctor complete what Social Security calls a “medical source statement.”
Here’s what the doctor should include in a good medical source statement.
Am I Eligible For Disability Insurance Benefits
Disability Insurance provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers.
You may be eligible for DI if you are unable to work and are losing wages because of your own non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy.
In order to be eligible for DI benefits, you must:
- Be unable to do your regular or customary work for at least eight days.
- Have lost wages because of your disability.
- Be employed or actively looking for work at the time your disability begins.
- Have earned at least $300 from which State Disability Insurance deductions were withheld during your base period. Learn more with Calculating Benefit Payment Amounts.
- Be under the care and treatment of a licensed physician/practitioner or accredited religious practitioner within the first eight days of your disability. The date your claim begins can be adjusted if it does not meet this requirement. You must remain under care and treatment to continue receiving benefits.
- Complete and submit your Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits no earlier than nine days after your first day of disability begins but no later than 49 days, or you may lose benefits.
- Have your physician/practitioner complete the medical certification portion of your disability claim.
- A nurse practitioner may certify to a disability within their scope of practice.
- A licensed midwife, nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner may complete the medical certification for disabilities related to normal pregnancy or childbirth.
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About A Disability Grant
If you have a physical or mental disability which makes you unfit to work for a period of longer than six months, you can apply for a disability grant.
You get a permanent disability grant if your disability will continue for more than a year and a temporary disability grant if your disability will last for a continuous period of not less than six months and not more than 12 months. A permanent disability grant does not mean you will receive the grant for life, but that it will continue for longer than 12 months.
How do you know if you qualify?
To qualify, you must:
- be a South African citizen or permanent resident or refugee and living in South Africa at the time of application
- be between 18 and 59 years old
- not be cared for in a state institution
- have a 13-digit, bar-coded identity document
- not earn more than R86 280 if you are single or R172 560;if married.
- not have assets worth more than R1 227 600 if you are single or R2 455 200 if you are married
- undergo a medical examination where a doctor appointed by the state will assess the degree of your disability
- bring along any previous medical records and reports when you make the application and when the assessment is done.
The doctor will complete a medical report and will forward the report to South African Social Security Agency .
The report is valid for three months from the date you are assessed.
How much will you get?
The maximum is R1 890 per month.
How will you be paid?
When may your grant be suspended?
How Much Time Off Do You Get With Short
While I might sound like a broken record, a concern like, How long is short-term disability? is another aspect that can vary depending on your own plan.
By definition, its short-term, but it can range in duration. Ive seen be as short as 30 days and as long as one year, Bartolic says, pointing to the maximum covered benefit periods hes seen in his own practice. It depends on the overall structure of the disability benefits through the employer.
Your time off also depends on your specific health problem. The medical field has guidelines as to how long recovery should take, explains Bartolic. That provides a roadmap for your employer or plan provider to establish a reasonable amount of time for you to be out of work.
What if things are really serious and youre not looking at a few weeks or even months away from the jobbut much longer? That would fall under a long-term disability benefit, if your employer offers such a thing.
As the names imply, short-term disability is used to cover injuries or illnesses that persist for a shorter amount of time . In contrast, long-term disability comes into play for any issues that will take you out of work for longer than that.
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Other Ways You Can Apply
Apply With Your Local Office
You can do most of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot use these online services, your local Social Security office can help you apply. Although our offices are closed to the public, employees from those offices are assisting people by telephone. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free Office number is your local office.
Apply By Phone
If You Do Not Live in the U.S. Or One of Its Territories
Contact the if you live outside the U.S. or a U.S. territory and wish to apply for retirement benefits.
Mailing Your Documents
If you mail any documents to us, you must include the Social Security number so that we can match them with the correct application. Do not write anything on the original documents. Please write the Social Security number on a separate sheet of paper and include it in the mailing envelope along with the documents.
What Kind Of Social Security Disability Benefits Are Available To Louisiana Citizens Who Can Get Disability Benefits Under The Social Security Administration
The Social Security Act provides benefits to disabled individuals under Title II and Title XVI .
Under Title II there are three basic categories of individuals who can qualify for benefits on the basis of disability:
- ;A disabled insured worker under 65.;
- ;A person disabled since childhood who is a dependent of a deceased;insured;parent or parent entitled to Title II disability or retirement benefits.;
- ;A disabled widow or widower age 50-60 if the deceased spouse was insured under Social;Security.
Under Title XVI there are two basic categories under which a financially needy person with limited income and resources can get payments on the basis of disability:
- ;An adult age 18 or over who is disabled.;
- ;A child under 18 who is disabled.
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Consider Working With A Nj Or Pa Disability Attorney
If you believe you have a qualifying medical condition that was denied by your LTD insurance company, then it may be time to bring in a fierce advocate to assist you further. A disability attorney has the training, experience, and finesse to maximize your benefits while creating the best possible case.
At Bross & Frankel, P.A., our disability attorneys work tirelessly for residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania who need LTD benefits immediately. You can schedule a free claim review to learn more about how we can help you. Request yours today by calling 795-8880 or by sending us a message.
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If Your Application Is Denied
After we review your application and the information you provided, we may decide you do not meet the qualifications for disability benefits.
If you disagree with our decision, you have the right to ask us to look at your application again. The notice you receive from us that says you dont qualify will explain how to appeal our decision and the time period in which you must make the request.
If we decide you dont qualify:
-
Because you are not disabled under our rules, you can appeal our decision online.
The online disability report will ask you for updated information about your medical condition and any treatment, tests, or doctor visits since we made our decision.
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Benefits For Disabled Adults
SSDI is available to disabled adult workers who have paid Social Security taxes, while SSI is a need-based program only available to applicants that meet strict limitations on income and asset holdings. If you have never worked due to your mental illness, you will not qualify for SSDI. If you have financial support from friends or family, you will not qualify for SSI.
How To Choose A Disability Policy That Fits Your Needs
If your employer offers STD insurance as mandatory or voluntary part of your employee benefit package, thats great but its just a start. You should also see if they offer a long term group plan; if youre self-employed you may be able to get coverage through a professional association. Either way, group insurance can be an excellent choice. The company or association is buying for a large group of people, so the premium is typically lower than for an individual policy. In addition, your HR department will likely have more expertise and leverage to negotiate favorable terms. On the other hand, youll probably have less opportunity to tailor the policy to your needs, compared to an individual policy. If the premiums are paid with pre-tax dollars then the income benefit you get down the road will typically be taxed. Finally, if you leave the company or association, in most cases youll also lose your coverage.
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How To Get Disability Insurance
You can get disability insurance by finding out if your employer offers a long-term disability insurance plan. If they dont, then you need to get in touch with an insurance professional. Dave recommends Zander Insurance. Theyll walk you through the process and help you get the right amount of disability insurance for your specific situation. ;
Dealing with a disability can be scary enough without the extra worry of how youre going pay the bills. Thats why protecting your paycheck with the right kind of disability insurance is a critical part of keeping your family and future secure. To get started in finding the best disability insurance option for you, check out our new Coverage Checkup Tool today!
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Ramsey Solutions
Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.
What You Need For Apply For Ssdi Or Ssi Benefits
You will get a faster decision when you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income with the Social Security Administration if you provide:
- Your Social Security number
- Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers
- Laboratory and test results
- Names, addresses, phone and fax numbers of your doctors, clinics and hospitals
- Names of all medications you are taking
- Names of your employers and job duties for the last 15 years
If you are applying for a child, you also need school records regarding your childs disability.
IMPORTANT NOTE:;Dont wait to file your claim for disability payments even if you dont have all this information.
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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.
Musculoskeletal System And Connective Tissue
The SSA reports that the largest category of diagnoses among disabled workers receiving disability benefits was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. These disabilities, which represented 32.3 percent of the diagnoses, involve damage to ones nerves, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Examples of this type of disorder include:
- ArthritisAn individual with rheumatoid arthritis, a disorder of the immune system, must experience significant limits on his or her ability to work to qualify for benefits under this medical diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes referred to as a connective tissue disorder.
- Back pain;Abnormal curvature of the spine may affect an individuals ability to walk as well as the function of other body systems. The intensity of back pain and the limitations on an individuals ability to function are considered in a disability diagnosis related to back pain.
- FibromyalgiaFibromyalgia is a complex syndrome in which a person has widespread pain in the joints, tendons, muscles and soft tissues that lasts for more than three months. Claims reviewers will try to assess whether there is adequate evidence to show that the condition limits a persons ability to perform any type of gainful work.
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy; RSD describes a range of symptoms that may occur from injury, diseases or surgery. RSD is characterized by intense burning or aching pain typically caused by trauma to a single extremity.
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