Disability and Social Security Benefits
Posted by admin on Jun 15, 2009
Do you qualify for social security benefits? The regulations can be labyrinthine, and trying to puzzle them out can be an exercise in frustration. To work out which disability benefits you may be able to receive, and to find out whether you will be able to earn an income while receiving disability, read on.
Can I get partial disability through SSA?
No, Social Security does not offer disability benefits to people with partial or short term disabilities. Social security benefits are available only to applicants who are completely disabled and whose disability is considered likely to last at least a year. (Note that as long as your highest possible income is below an SSA determined level, you may work while collecting disability benefits.)
I cannot work as long as before or at the same skill level, so although I still have a job, my income has dropped. Can I still file for social security benefits?
Yes, if your income is lower than a certain SSA determined level, you are eligible to file for disability benefits. Social Security changes the maximum income level yearly. You can find the current limit in the official SSA web site or in official SSA booklets.
However, be aware that your earnings in your current job are not the only earnings the state agency will take into account. If you can move to another line of work and in so doing raise your income above the approved level, you will not be considered eligible for disability benefits. The state agency will take into account your medical condition, education, skills, work experience, and age when determining whether you could move to another job, so you will not be required to do work that you are not well enough to do or that you have not been trained to do.
My doctors say there is no treatment that can help me, so why do I have to keep going to doctors?
In the beginning, the state agency that handles your social security benefits will request that you go to doctors several times in order to get a complete evaluation of your medical condition. Your regular doctors may not be able to perform necessary tests or have equipment that is necessary to evaluate you, so you may need to visit another doctor to complete the evaluation. The state agency may help you to find the specialist you need.
Once you are determined to be disabled, you will need regular examinations to determine the progress of your medical condition. Not all disabilities are permanent; you may improve enough to return to work, even if there is no medical treatment that can speed your improvement along.
Q: I own a business, but do not run it myself. Can I have still apply for social security benefits?
A: As defined by the Social Security Administration, disability is the “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity. ” They determine substantial gainful activity according to the National Average Wage Index, which gives a dollar amount per month. They consider a person to be working any day that he or she “is the owner or part owner of a trade or business even if he or she does not actually work in the trade or business or receive any income from it. ”
Your business income may affect your social security benefits.
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Filing for Social Security Disability benefits can be a daunting process Whether you are navigating the waters yourself or have sought the counsel of a social security lawyer, it helps to have as much information as possible on your side. The following are frequently asked questions about applying for Social Security Disability benefits.
Q: I am 10 percent disabled through workers compensation. Can I get Social Security benefits?
A: Yes, you can apply for Social Security Disability, even though you are on workers compensation. You can collect both workers compensation and Social Security Disability benefits, up to a maximum of 80 percent of your highest annual income average.
The majority of cases that win during the hearing process have been represented by an attorney. Regardless of where your claim is in the process, an attorney will also assure that all paperwork is submitted on time and correctly.
Q: Is it possible to keep track of where your file is after you apply for disability benefits?
A: Making sure you know how your claim is progressing is very smart. Claimants with legal representation can rely on their lawyer to do this for them. Take charge and get some updates, if you do not have an attorney.
Disability benefits would be converted to retirement benefits. Social Security will conduct reviews of your file periodically to determine if your medical condition has changed. You do not, however, need to reapply for disability benefits, if the status of your injury and employment has not changed.
Q: When will social security benefits begin, after an individual has received approval for disability?
A: A person must be out of the workforce due to the medical condition for a minimum of five months before social security benefits can begin. Ideally, in that sixth month, a qualified individual would start receiving benefits.
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