The Social Security Administration (SSA) will require recipients of Social Security Disability benefits, Social Security Retirements and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to receive their monthly benefits electronically starting March 1, 2013. This means you will have your monthly check direct deposited into your checking or savings account. If you do not have a bank account… Read more »
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Poll Shows Americans Support SSDI Program
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is a safety net for disabled workers who are no longer able to continue to work at a Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. A new poll conducted by a research firm indicates that most Americans believe the SSDI program is important and they don’t want to see… Read more »
Will getting married affect my disability benefits?
Depending on what type of benefits you are receiving getting married can affect your eligibility for payments or reduce the amount of your monthly benefits. If you do get married the Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine any changes. If you are receiving Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) getting married will have no effect on your… Read more »
The Function Report: Your Best Friend
When you apply for Social Security, and found you either have paid enough into the system to meet the non-medical requirements for SSDI benefits or have the requisite few assets to met the technical requirements, your case then gets moved on to your state’s respective Disability Determination Services. It is a very rare occasion that… Read more »
Simultaneous Applications for Unemployment Income and Social Security Benefits
It is not uncommon for my clients to be receiving unemployment compensation during the same time period that they are seeking Social Security Disability benefits, so I often get questions about whether it harms an SSDI claim to tell one government agency, “I’m ready, willing, and able to work,” while simultaneously telling another agency, “My… Read more »
Child Disability and Individualized Education Programs (IEP)
Social Security Supplemental Security Income makes monthly payments to people with low income and limited resources who are ages 65 or older, blind, or disabled. A child younger than age 18 can qualify if he or she meets Social Security’s definition of disability, and if his or her income and resources fall within the eligibility… Read more »
What is Presumptive Disability and do I qualify?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) may be able to pay you Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits while you wait for your medical determination if you qualify for Presumptive Disability or Presumptive Blindness benefits. These are temporary benefits awarded to a claimant whose alleged conditions make them likely to be approved. These benefits are paid out… Read more »
Who Makes Lower Level Decisions on Disability Cases?
In most states, the majority of Social Security disability cases are denied twice, which results in the need to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Obviously the ALJ makes the disability determination after the hearing, but who makes disability determinations prior to this level? Most people who are applying for either Social Security… Read more »
Transgender Identities and the Social Security Administration: Part 2
Transgender Identities and the Social Security Administration: Part 2 In Part 1, we looked at how the Social Security Administration determines a person’s gender and sex within the confines of marriage. We discovered that it may be possible for the Social Security Administration to recognize a transgender person’s preferred gender or sex if… Read more »
I eventually want to go back to work. Is social security for me?
To apply for Social Security Disability, most people have to stare the fact that they cannot work in the face. It is a hard truth for a lot of people. For many, they don’t foresee being out of work permanently, and hope to eventually heal from their conditions and rejoin the workforce. A common question… Read more »