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 If you, your spouse or your child are disabled, frustrated, and are trying to collect Social Security disability benefits, you are not alone. This guide can help you understand and get through the process of filing and collecting social security disability benefits. Not every attorney understands the process or has the experience to maximize your chances of recovery.
The Social Security disability program really is two systems, known as (1) Social Security Disability Benefits (Title II) and (2) Supplemental Security Income/SSI (Title XVI). Social Security disability benefits can be paid to the worker, and auxiliary benefits to a spouse and minor children. . Disability benefits can also be paid to the child, age 18 and over, of a disabled, deceased, or retired worker, if disability starts prior to age 22. Social Security survivor benefits can be paid to the spouse and minor children of disabled, deceased, or retired workers.
Social Security retirement benefits can be paid to workers of appropriate age and their spouses. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are a form of welfare benefits payable to disabled, blind, or aged (65 and over) individuals. The definition of disability is the same for both Social Security and adult SSI disability benefits. For claimants age 50 and over, there are different combinations of age, education, prior work, skills, and the level of work one can do that help determine if disability exists.
 The Disability Process: If your claim is denied, you can request reconsideration. This allows a claimants to go directly from the initial denial to the ALJ hearing level. The SSA process can be aggravating, frustrating, time-consuming, and duplicative. Not all claimants have the resources, willpower, or stamina to deal with SSA's lengthy process.
A significant percentage of claimants are denied at one level do not appeal to the next level. Representation by an experienced attorney who is willing to press your claim through all steps and levels of the process relieves much of the burden of the claimant in completing the process.
The AL J level is the single most favorable level of the process. Not every lawyer understands the SSA process from both sides of the table. Social Security disability benefits cannot be paid more than one year prior to the application date. The burden of proof of disability is on the claimant. Being awarded VA benefits, Worker Compensation benefits, disability benefits from an employer or insurance company is not necessarily proof of disability to SSA by Regulation. Every disability program has its own unique medical and legal criteria.
Most claimants do not understand what their medical records say or whether they help or hurt regarding the SSA claim. You need an attorney who will professionally represent a you at all levels of the process, before or after the ALJ hearing. | When to Retire  Choosing when to retire is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. If you choose to retire when you reach full retirement age, you will receive your full retirement benefits. But if you retire before reaching full retirement age, you will receive reduced benefits for the rest of your life.
If you work past your full retirement age, you will get full retirement benefits no matter how much you earn. If you continue to work and decide not to collect your retirement benefits until you reach the age of 70, you will get higher benefits when you retire. If you opt not to collect retirement benefits before you reach full retirement age, you must file for Medicare Insurance when you reach age 65. If you do not, you may have to pay a higher premium when you file later.
Social Security Statement
Indeed, retirement is important for employees like you since it determines how much benefits you are to gain. You definitely need to evaluate every possible option prior to finally deciding on your retirement. One step that can surely help you plan for your retirement is the annual checking of your social security statement which gives you an estimate of the monthly benefits that you and your family may qualify for now and in the future. When you review your statement you may want as well to explore a variety of retirement scenarios using a range of assumptions about your future earnings or when you stop working.
Employment after Retirement
You can continue to work even after reaching full retirement age and still receive retirement benefits. Your earnings in (or after) the month you reach full retirement age will not reduce your Social Security benefits. However, your benefits will be reduced if your earnings exceed certain limits for the months before you reach your full retirement age.
Once you reach full retirement age, you can keep on working and your Social Security benefit will not be reduced no matter how much you earn. For more information about how work affects your benefits, contact us today! |
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