If you qualify for both Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits, you can receive payments from both programs at the same time. However, your total payment from both programs cannot exceed the maximum monthly amount currently allowed to SSI beneficiaries.
You may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits if you have a significant recent work history, if you have contributed payments to the Social Security fund, and if you are disabled as that term is defined by the Social Security Administration.
You may be eligible for SSI benefits if you have little or no income and few resources—and if you are either disabled or you are over the age of 65. However, the amount that you can collect is limited to the SSI maximum payment. For example, if the maximum payment is $700, you could receive a combination of disability payments from the two programs, but no more than that amount regardless of your disability or other factors.
Navigating the two disability programs offered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be difficult and overwhelming, especially if you are also struggling with serious health conditions. However, in order to recover benefits from either program you are going to have to complete the application process that is unique to that program and have it approved by the Social Security Administration. This can be difficult and many initial applications are denied.
The experienced disability attorneys at Morgan & Weisbrod can help you understand what benefits you are eligible for and what to do in case you are wrongfully denied benefits. We will fight for your rights and help you get the maximum amount of benefits to which you are legally entitled. To find out more, please schedule a confidential initial consultation by reaching out to us via this website or by phone at any time.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not allow people to collect Social Security disability benefits and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. If you are currently collecting Social Security disability and you are about to reach retirement age, you should know what is about to happen and be prepared for the coming change in benefits.
When you reach retirement age you will begin to collect retirement benefits from the SSA instead of disability benefits. Generally, if your health condition does not change, you will receive Social Security disability benefits until the age of 65 and then your retirement benefits will begin.
No. Once you are of retirement age and receiving Social Security retirement benefits you should not receive less than you were receiving while you were eligible for Social Security disability. Additionally, you will not be subject to periodic disability reviews. The government will not be trying to prove that you can go to work and that, therefore, you are ineligible for benefits. As long as you have paid into the Social Security system, you are entitled to retirement benefits, regardless of your physical condition.
If you have questions about Social Security disability benefits, Social Security retirement benefits, or your denied disability claim, we encourage you to contact our experienced Social Security disability attorneys for more information about your rights. If you are in your early 60s, but not yet at retirement age, then it is especially important to be aware of your rights and to pursue the Social Security benefits that are right for you.
At Morgan & Weisbrod, our Texas disability benefits attorneys can answer your legal questions and get you the benefits you need and deserve. Contact us today via this website or by phone to schedule a no-obligation appointment about your rights.
You may have an idea in your head about what it means to be disabled, but there is not one single definition that is used consistently. Generally speaking, a disability is a mental or physical impairment that limits peoples’ daily activities—such as the ability to work or to move. Even partial or temporary disabilities can be life changing.
However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not include partial or temporary disabilities in its definition of the word “disability”. Instead, Social Security disability benefits are only awarded to people who are permanently and completely disabled.
According to the SSA, you have a disability that could qualify you for Social Security disability benefits if you:
Even if you know that you are disabled and cannot work, you must still prove to the SSA that your condition falls under their strict definition of disability. You can accomplish this by presenting your medical records and other evidence during the application process.
The majority of initial applications are denied. Many of these applications are denied because there is an error on the application or the supporting documentation that prevents the applicant from proving that he is disabled according to the SSA’s unique and strict definition of that word.
If you are truly disabled—according to the SSA’s definition of disability—you deserve the benefits you’ve worked for and earned. Thus, we encourage you to contact our experienced lawyers today. Do not wait and try to fill out your application on your own. Instead, save yourself the hassle of completing the application and potentially needing to appeal a denied claim. Contact us today for a confidential consultation about your rights and to find out more about how we can help you get the benefits you deserve.
The short answer is that once you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you will continue to receive Social Security disability payments until you reach retirement age, until you become employed, or until you become healthy enough to work. Learn more about each of the factors that could stop your Social Security disability benefits below.
If you reach the age of 65 and are still suffering from a disability, you will stop receiving Social Security disability payments and begin receiving Social Security retirement payments. You cannot receive both types of Social Security benefits simultaneously.
If you believe you are well enough to return to the workforce, or if you begin substantial gainful activity (SGA), then you must contact the Social Security Administration so that they can review your case and change your disability benefits accordingly. If you are unsure if you are well enough to work, or if you would like to return to the workforce for a trial period, call your local Social Security office to speak with someone about your case or talk to your own disability lawyer.
Depending on your health condition, the Social Security Administration will review your medical information and your case periodically to determine whether or not you still qualify for Social Security disability. This could be as often as every few months or as rarely as every seven years. If the Social Security Administration believes that you are healthy enough to work, your benefits may end.
You don’t want benefits to end if you are still entitled to benefits. It is easier to prevent a break in your payments by proving why benefits should not end than it is to begin the entire eligibility process over again. Accordingly, if you are concerned about your Social Security disability benefits stopping, we encourage you to contact the experienced lawyers at Morgan & Weisbrod via this website or by phone to schedule an initial meeting about your rights.
At first glance, there is no way to speed up your Social Security disability benefits claim. There is a backlog of cases, and you have to wait in line for your case to be heard. just like everyone else.
However, you should keep a few things in mind during your application process that could potentially save you months of waiting. Specifically, you can:
You become eligible for Social Security disability benefits in the sixth full month after your disability onset date. Our goal is to help you get the Social Security disability benefits you deserve as close to your eligibility date as possible so that you can start receiving the benefits to which you are legally entitled. To learn more about how we can help you, please schedule an initial consultation with us today. You can reach us by phone or via this website at your convenience.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monetary support to workers with disabilities. In order to understand SSDI, we have provided answers to some of the commonly asked questions we receive below.
To receive SSDI benefits, you must have a work history and must have paid into the Social Security system through your taxes. To qualify as disabled, you must have an injury, illness, or medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Additionally, your disability must affect your ability to continue working. If you are unable to work, if you have a qualifying disability, and if you have contributed enough to the Social Security system, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
If you qualify for benefits, your SSDI payments will come monthly. Your medical condition may be assessed periodically for changes. Benefits can be discontinued because of medical improvement, a return to the workforce, or when retirement benefits begin.
No. Both programs are administered through the Social Security Administration, but they have different eligibility criteria. While SSDI is based on your work history, your payment into the program, and your disability, supplemental security income (SSI) is based on your income level, your resources, and your disability.
Social Security disability is a complicated program, and many initial applications are denied on technicalities. Accordingly, it is important to know whether your unique circumstances qualify you for Social Security disability benefits. A board certified disability attorney can help you determine whether you are eligible and can help you file a successful application if you are entitled to Social Security disability benefits. To learn more about your rights and about whether you qualify for Social Security disability, please contact us today via this website or by phone.
Every case is unique. However, for some Social Security disability applicants, the time that it takes to get Social Security disability benefits may seem exceedingly long. Even if your application is approved on the first try (and most are initially denied) the wait can be several months long.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine the date on which your disability began. You only become eligible for benefits in the sixth full month following that date. The first five months are considered a waiting period and, even if your application was to be approved during that time, you would not be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
Of course, in some cases, the waiting time for Social Security disability benefits can be much longer. Your benefits may be delayed, for example, if your initial application for benefits is denied. Two-thirds of Social Security disability applicants have their initial applications denied. You have the right to appeal the denial; however, it could take over a year to finish the process and to get the Social Security disability benefits you deserve.
The more you know about how to complete your paperwork and how to successfully apply for benefits, the more likely you are to secure disability benefits sooner.
Additionally, there is a group of 100 different diseases and conditions on the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list. If you are suffering from one of these illnesses, your application for benefits can be fast-tracked.
Our board-certified disability lawyers are committed to helping our clients get the benefits they deserve as quickly as possible. We will do our best to shorten your wait time so that you can start receiving the benefits you need. For more information about how we may help you, please start a live chat with us now or call us directly to schedule an initial consultation.
Yes. Your housing status has no impact on your Social Security disability eligibility. Whether you are currently living in a homeless shelter, living with a friend or relative, or living on the streets, you are absolutely still eligible to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if you qualify.
A significant percentage of the homeless population is disabled. Having a disability may make it difficult or impossible to work and, without an income, it can be difficult to have consistent housing. The Social Security disability benefits system is in place to help you if you can’t work because of a disability and if you cannot afford basic needs like shelter, food, and clothing.
Sadly, being homeless often serves as a barrier to successfully apply for disability benefits. Faced with long waiting periods, a trying application process, limited access to medical care, and other stumbling blocks, many homeless or sheltered people do not receive the benefits they so desperately need.
However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) must consider your application and, if you meet the Social Security disability eligibility requirements, the SSA must approve your application. Then, the SSA should work with you to determine how best to get your benefits to you if you qualify.
The first step is to file a complete application with the SSA online or at your local office. The SSA may also be able to provide you with information about local housing resources and support.
Our board-certified Social Security disability lawyers believe that everyone—regardless of their housing status—has the right to apply for Social Security disability benefits. If you are disabled and homeless, we encourage you to contact us via this website or by phone for more information. We will work hard to make sure that your rights are protected and that you get the benefits you deserve.
In your initial application for Social Security disability benefits, you have to prove that you have worked for a significant amount of time in jobs with Social Security coverage. You must also prove that you have a disability that prevents you from working, and that this disability will last for at least one year (or is expected to be fatal).
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is not going to take your word for it. Instead, you must present evidence that supports your claim.
To complete the Social Security disability benefits application process, you will need the following information:
Other information may also be required by Form SSA-16 and the Adult Disability Report that accompanies that form.
In order to get the benefits that you deserve, your application must provide the SSA with the evidence that it needs to find in your favor.
If your initial SSDI benefits application has been rejected or if you have other questions or concerns with your case, contact a board-certified disability lawyer today for assistance. We will fight hard to get you the fair Social Security disability benefits that you deserve.
No, you are not required to have an attorney represent you during the Social Security disability application process or the appeals process.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not require you to have an attorney. Instead, you have at least three options for representation. You may:
While you are not required to hire a lawyer, there are benefits to hiring an attorney.
A Social Security attorney is well versed in disability law, in the SSA’s policies, and in the process of correctly and thoroughly completing an application for benefits. A lawyer can also make certain that you take the right steps, meet deadlines, and do everything legally possible to get you the support you deserve. This includes appearing before an administrative judge or going to court, if necessary, to protect your rights.
At Morgan & Weisbrod, we absolutely agree that not all people require a disability attorney and that in some cases a disability attorney is simply not necessary. We also understand, however, that we have the tools and the knowledge help those who have been wrongfully been denied disability benefits or those who have difficulty navigating the application and appeal processes alone.
For an honest evaluation of whether or not you need the assistance of a board-certified attorney, please contact our office for a confidential consultation. You can reach us via this website or by phone at your convenience.
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