Get Help Qualifying For Disability Benefits
The truth is, applying for disability can be a long and sometimes frustrating process. Most first-time applicants are denied, and appeals can take months. However, this doesnt mean you should give up hope. With the help of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer, you can increase your odds of being approved the first time and strengthen your claim should you need to go through the appeals process.
To find out the difference having dedicated representation on your side can make, contact us at Social Security Disability Advocates USA today. Well arrange a free, no obligation consultation with our legal team to review your disability claim and help you make the right decision for you and your family. Get in touch 24/7 by calling , connecting with one of our LiveChat agents, or by filling out this form to request your complimentary case review.
This is attorney advertising. SSDA, LLC is a group of attorneys that pursues claims for Social Security Disability benefits on behalf of its clients against the Social Security Administration. SSDA, LLC is in no way a part of the Social Security Administration. Further, the information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a representative-client relationship.
How To Apply For Social Security Retirement Benefits In Sc
The intersection of disability and retirement benefits can be an important one, especially when considering how to manage your Social Security Disability benefits.
With one small exception, you cannot receive SSD benefits and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. The purpose of SSD is to provide benefits to those unable to work because of a disability and who are too young to draw Social Security retirement benefits. This means that even if you do collect SSD disability benefits, you will be converted to Social Security retirement benefits once you reach retirement age.
Can I Qualify For Ssi While Collecting Social Security Retirement Benefits
While you cannot collect Social Security retirement and SSDI at the same time to increase your benefits beyond the full retirement amount, there is a program that may allow you to collect additional income.
SSI, which stands for Supplemental Security Income, is a Social Security program that helps seniors and those with a disability who have an extremely low income or limited assets. To qualify for SSI, you need to meet strict income qualifications and have only a minimum amount of resources. Resources, as the SSA defines the term, can be anything that can be turned into cash, such as:
- Bank accounts, stocks, or U.S. savings bonds
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Questions About The Social Security Administration
How Do I Apply For Disability Benefits?
To apply for benefits, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. They have a TTY phone connection at 1-800-325-0778. You can ask SSA to send you the correct forms, and they can answer questions you may have.
How Do I Apply For Supplemental Security Income ?
To apply for benefits or to ask questions, contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. They have a TTY phone connections as well at 1-800-325-0778.
Supplemental Security Income is an income assistance program administered by the Social Security Administration for people who are elderly , blind, or disabled who don’t have many assets and who don’t earn much money
To apply for benefits or to get more information about the SSA retirement program, call 1-800-772-1213. They have a TTY phone connection as well at 1-800-325-0778.
How Do I Apply for Survivors’ Benefits?
A family member or other person responsible for the beneficiary’s affairs should do the following:
How Do I Apply For Medicare Benefits?
If you are already getting Social Security retirement or disability benefits or railroad retirement checks, Social Security will contact you a few months before you become eligible for Medicare and give you the information you need to register.
If you are not already getting checks, you should contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 about three months before your 65th Birthday to sign up for Medicare. They also have a TTY phone connection at 1-800-325-0778.
Can You Collect Social Security Retirement And Disability At The Same Time
Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Can You Collect Social Security Retirement and Disability at the Same Time?
In most cases, you cannot collect Social Security retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance at the same time. You may, however, qualify for Supplemental Security Income if you meet the strict financial criteria while drawing either Social Security retirement or SSDI benefits.
The Social Security Administration created the SSDI program to bridge the gap between when someone must leave the workforce due to a disability and when they can draw retirement benefits. For this reason, there is only one way to collect both retirement and SSDI at the same time.
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When Should You File For Social Security
Although claiming Social Security before FRA will mean getting stuck with a lower monthly benefit, filing early isn’t automatically a poor choice. But before you make that call, think about what your entire financial picture looks like.
If you don’t have a lot of money stashed away in savings, you may end up regarding Social Security as your primary retirement income source. In that case, you may not want to file early and get stuck with less monthly income for life.
But if you’re in the opposite boat — your IRA or 401 plan has millions in it — then you may not care what monthly benefit Social Security pays you, as long as you get something. And you may decide that if you’re eligible to first claim Social Security in 2023, you’re going to do so and let those benefits lead you to an early retirement — because you’ve saved enough to buy yourself that option.
All told, seniors on Social Security could see a nice lift in their benefits once 2023 begins. But if you file for benefits early, you may end up disappointed in how little money Social Security pays you — not just next year, but throughout your retirement.
Take the time to think about when to sign up and talk things through with your spouse, if you have one. That way, you can arrive at a joint strategy that helps both of you make the most of the benefits you’re entitled to.
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Qualifying For Retirement Benefits
Retirement benefits, like SSI and SSDI, are a type of monthly payment paid to eligible Americans by the SSA. Once you have amassed enough work credits, paid into Social Security through federal taxes, and reached age 62, you can begin collecting retirement benefits. The amount of your monthly benefit depends on how much you worked, how much money you made, and whether you decide to keep working past the age of 62.
If you wait until your full retirement age , your monthly benefit will increase. And, if you are able to and decide to keep working until you are 70 years old, you can maximize your monthly retirement benefits. Once you begin receiving retirement benefits, you will continue to receive them for the rest of your life.
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How Much Are Social Security Survivors Benefits
The Social Security Administration calculates survivors benefits based on how much the deceased person could get in retirement benefits at full retirement age. That amount, called the primary insurance amount, is based on the persons average lifetime earnings. The higher their earnings, the more they would receive in retirement benefits.
The table below shows what percentage of the deceased persons benefit a surviving family member could get in survivors benefits, depending on their relationship to the deceased person and other factors.
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Surviving family member |
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Report The Death Of A Social Security Or Medicare Beneficiary
You must report the death of a family member receiving Social Security or Medicare benefits. The Social Security Administration processes death reports for both. Find out how you can report a death and how to cancel benefit payments. In addition to canceling SSA and Medicare benefits, find out what other benefits and accounts you should cancel.
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Social Security Benefits For Workers Turning 60 In 2020 Will Very Likely Drop Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic
Congress could pass legislation that would prevent this outcome.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 3 million retired workers who turn 60 years old in 2020 will very likely have much lower lifetime Social Security benefits than previously expected. Without legislative changes, the average earner stands to lose nearly $1,500 per year for the rest of their life. Fortunately, there is a simple legislative changeexplored in detail belowthat would fix these problems without lowering the benefits of any other cohort of retirees. Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, Rep. John Larson , has introduced such legislation*and Congress should fix this situation as soon as possible.
Lost Or Stolen Federal Payments
Report your lost, missing, or stolen federal check to the agency that issued the payment. It’s usually one of these paying agencies. If your documentation indicates it’s a different agency, and you need its contact information, look in the A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies.
To get an update on your claim, contact the Treasury Department Philadelphia Financial Center at 1-855-868-0151, option 1.
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Why Would My Application Be Rejected Or My Benefits Denied
Some of the most common reasons an application is rejected or benefits are denied are:
To reject or deny your application Social Security must have reasonable legal grounds. If your application is rejected you can contact the Social Security office to learn why it was rejected and the steps you can take to reapply.
How Long Does It Take To Get Approved For Social Security
Its important that you plan for when you want your benefits to start. They are not turned on like a water faucet. If youre claiming Social Security retirement benefits, plan on at least six weeks for your application to be processed. However, if your application has incorrect information or the agency is backlogged, it could take up to three months before benefits begin, warns AARP. However, you cannot apply for benefits more than four months before you want them to begin, according to the Social Security Administration.
So its a good idea to start the application at least three months before you want your benefits to start. Otherwise, you may end up with a deficit in your finances during the transition period.
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How Do Ssdi And Social Security Retirement Work Together
SSDI pays out your full retirement benefits until you qualify to draw them under the traditional Social Security retirement scheme. Once you reach full retirement age based on the year you were born, the SSA will automatically start your retirement benefits and cease your SSDI payments.
The SSA allows you to file for retirement benefits as early as age 62. You can also wait and receive your full benefit amount when you reach full retirement age. Depending on what year you were born, this may vary from 65 to 67 years old.
What Documents Do You Need To Apply For Retirement Benefits
We request different documents depending on your circumstances. You can help by being ready to provide the information and documents listed below. You can also use our Checklist For The Online Medicare, Retirement, And Spouses Application to help you gather the information you need to apply.
Documents we may ask for include:
- Your Social Security card or a record of your number.
- Your original birth certificate, a copy certified by the issuing agency, or other proof of your age.We must see the original document, or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies.
- If you were not born in the U.S., proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status. We must see the original document, or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept documents if they have expired. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies.
- A copy of your U.S. military service paper if you served before 1968. A photocopy is acceptable.
- A copy of your W-2 form and/or self-employment tax return for last year. A photocopy is acceptable.
We will return all documents and photocopies unless specifically told otherwise.
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Theres An Annual Social Security Cost
One of the best features of Social Security benefits is that the government adjusts the benefits each year based on inflation. This is called a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, and helps your payments keep up with increasing living expenses. The Social Security COLA is significant. Its the equivalent of buying inflation protection on a private annuity, which can get expensive.
Because the COLA is calculated based on changes in a federal consumer price index, the size of the COLA depends largely on broad inflation levels determined by the government . In 2023, Social Security beneficiaries will likely see a 9.7% COLA in their monthly Social Security benefits, the biggest increase since 1981. The COLA for 2023 will be announced on October 13.
Heres what COLAs have been in other recent years:
How To Get A Social Security Card
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How Is My Social Security Benefit Calculated
Ive been receiving lots of questions lately about how Social Security benefits are calculated. Its a great idea to have a full understanding of the factors involved to do the calculation, even if you dont actually do the math. Understanding the components of the overall equation may help you to identify ways to impact your benefit in a positive manner.
Recently a reader sent in the following question:
If my husband retires early at 62 and suspends his Social Security until his full retirement age, will his monthly benefit payments be determined by his last 35 years of working, or will it go back 35 years including the four years with no income which would make his benefits less?
Lets start this response with a clarification: Ill make the assumption that the reference to suspends his Social Security is actually indicating that he is delaying his application for Social Security benefits until his Full Retirement Age . This isnt much of a stretch, since technically Social Security retirement benefits cannot be suspended until after FRA.
The reader seems to have a misunderstanding of the use of 35 years worth of earnings in calculating the Social Security benefit. Its not the most recent 35 years worth of earnings, its the highest 35 years.
Are Social Security Checks Retroactive
You may be able to collect Social Security Benefits up to 6 months prior. However, if you choose to collect retroactive Social Security benefits you will lose any credits you earned during those months from delaying your retirement.
For example, say you wait until 70 years old to retire. However, when applying for your Social Security Retirement benefits, you decide to collect retroactive benefits, you will lose the benefits increase you previously received during those months.
So if you had received a 1.1% increase for each month you delay retiring, you will lose that payment increase for the months you receive a retroactive payment.
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Whats The Difference Between Disability And Retirement
First up, lets talk about the difference between disability and retirement benefits. Both are administered by the Social Security Administration , and both are programs designed to provide financial assistance to Americans who can no longer work. Both programs also have specific requirements beneficiaries must meet in order to qualify for benefits.
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