Social Security Benefits For Family Caregivers

Eligibility For The Lifespan Respite Programs:

• Caregivers must live full-time with the family member .
• Caregiver and care recipient cannot be receiving any other respite services paid with federal, state or insurance funds.
• The care recipient needs constant care and cannot be left alone.
• For ADHC only: The caregiver is not working outside the home.

Allowance To Cover Tuition Fees

If you are taking an education that NAV has approved, you may be entitled to allowance to cover tuition fees.

The education must be necessary and appropriate to help you find work or keep your job.

Financial support for former family caregivers stops

• when you turn 67 years old or if you start drawing your old-age pension before the age of 67
• if you are granted disability benefit
• if you get married. However, if you get divorced before two years have passed, you may be entitled to start receiving benefit for former family caregivers again. In this case, you must submit a new application.

• if you receive a public sector contractual early retirement pension . In some cases, you can combine financial support for former family caregivers with a private sector contractual early retirement pension .

Modernizing Social Security: Caregiver Credits

The briefs key findings are:

• Traditionally, Social Security has supported family caregivers typically women through a spousal benefit.
• Today, however, many women are not eligible for this benefit because they are not married or they qualify for their own workers benefit.
• As a result, many mothers receive little to no support to offset lost earnings due to childrearing responsibilities.
• In response, some propose caregiver credits to boost Social Security earnings, a common provision in other developed countries.
• These credits could be offset by reducing benefits somewhat for higher earners.

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Jumping Right In: Will Social Security Pay For A Caregiver

The answer is that social security for retirement will not pay for a caregiver directly. However, older adults in need of care may use their social security income to hire and pay someone to look after them. If someones lifetime earnings are sufficient and they have waited to collect benefits until their full retirement age or beyond, their monthly checks might be adequate to pay for a caregiver.

Similarly, social security will not directly pay for any other costs associated with caregiving, such as medications, medical equipment, home modifications, and personal care supplies. Once again, social security recipients may use this income to cover these costs.

Benefits For Your Children

When you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, your children may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. Your eligible child can be your biological child, adopted child, or stepchild. A dependent grandchild may also qualify.

To receive benefits, the child must:

• Be under age 18 or
• Be 18-19 years old and a full-time student or

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Ways Of Getting Paid As A Family Caregiver

1. Medicaid programs

Most states have Medicaid programs that give money to seniors so they can hire an in-home caregiver.

That person could be a family member or friend instead of a professional caregiver. Some states also allow a spouse to be the paid caregiver.

Each state has its own eligibility requirements and name for its program.

If your older adult is accepted into the states program, the amount of money they receive will depend on a Medicaid assessment of need and the average state wage for in-home care aides.

To find the local Medicaid office and learn how to apply for the program, its best to start with the local Area Agency on Aging.

Ask them how to contact the local Medicaid office or how to apply for a program that would pay you for caring for your older adult.

2. Special state programsSome states may have similar programs that pay family caregivers, but for people who are not eligible for Medicaid or who have specific conditions like traumatic brain injury.

To find out if there are any special programs that your older adult may qualify for, contact your local Medicaid office or the state department of health.

To find the correct government office, it might be easiest to start with the local Area Agency on Aging and ask them to direct you.

3. Veterans benefits programsVeteran-Directed Home and Community-Based Services This home-based care program helps veterans of any age who are at risk of institutional placement to continue to live in their own homes.

Which Medical Conditions Qualify For Ssi Or Ssdi

The SSA Bluebook lists all of the medical conditions that qualify a person for SSI or SSDI benefits. Examples of conditions include:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Severe arthritis
• Genetic disorders

Some conditions, such as ALS or having vision less than 20/200 with correction, automatically meet the medical requirements for Social Security benefits. Other conditions may only qualify if an applicant can document the severity of the disability. For example, a person with arthritis may only qualify if they can show mobility impairments or an inability to complete daily living tasks.

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What To Include In A Disability Application

As a caregiver you can take on the responsibility for submitting a claim for disability benefits for the family member you care for everyday. However, to help ensure the initial application is successful you need to provide the Social Security Administration with as much evidence as you can to show that your family member is unable to work for at least 12 months: This includes the following:

• a physicians report with diagnosis and treatment plan
• names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them
• names and dates of medical tests you have had and who ordered them
• results of tests, x-rays and scans confirming the diagnosis
• names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers, and treatment for all doctors, hospitals, and medical clinics
• proof that the disability is listed in the SSA Blue Book
• the results of a Residual Functional Capacity test if required.

You will also be asked to provide the following about your family member:

• the place and date of your birth
• social security number
• the name, social security number, and date of birth of his or her spouse and any former spouse
• names and dates of birth of children who have not reached 18 years of age
• your bank or other financial institution’s routing transit number and the account number.

Will Social Security Disability Insurance Pay For A Caregiver

SSDI will not pay for caregiving directly except in the case where the recipient uses the monthly benefit to pay someone privately. A family member caring for someone who is disabled may qualify for either SSDI or SSI.

However, there are some other cases where other folks may receive money or the recipient could use it to pay for a caregiver. Here are some possibilities:

• The spouse of the disabled person, should they meet certain requirements , are also eligible to receive financial assistance. They may have been financially dependent on the now disabled person. The spouse receives that assistance regardless of whether they provide care to their disabled spouse, and the amount they receive does not increase if they provide care.
• The other option is for the disabled person to use their funds to pay a family caregiver. You and your disabled family member can put together a care contract so that you can receive funds for caregiving. It is recommended to speak with an attorney to make sure your contract is legal.

When in doubt, consult with a representative from your local Social Security office to determine your eligibility.

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Give Work Credits For Caregiving Work Done At Home

Home caregiving is essential work that benefits our society by enabling older adults and people with disabilities to live independently. About 40 million family caregivers provide $470 billion annually in unpaid care. Women and people of color are more likely to have to provide intensive unpaid caregiving. Caregivers who stop earning a wage also stop earning Social Security work credits. When they later need benefits, they are ineligible or receive a low benefit. They deserve the same tax credit they would receive if they were still earning a wage.

What Is A Pcs Caregiver

Medicaids PCS program offers services to those with limitations who would not normally be able to live independently in their homes without help. These groups include:

the elderly

those with temporary-but-debilitating conditions

In Nevada, Medicaid recipients can receive care from loved ones such as friends and family members through the PCS program. These caregivers are known as Personal Care Aides .

PCAs and other PCS caregivers offer assistance with everyday tasks so that people can remain in their homes and communities.

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What Is A Caregiver

A caregiver is a person who tends to the needs or concerns of a person with short or long term limitations due to illness, injury or disability. Family caregivers are members of the family who choose to care for a loved one. These caregivers may be children, spouses, or other family members. Caregivers have many responsibilities including:

• understanding any new medical information in relation to the family members disability
• learning medical terminology
• being prepared to provide prescribed treatment
• finding adequate time to take the family member to medical appointments
• completing the family members administrative tasks such as paying bills
• performing daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and shopping
• providing companionship.

A Word About Social Security: Social Security Disability Insurance And Supplemental Security Income

Social security benefits are complicated. Most people are familiar with traditional social security benefits that anyone who has worked long enough will be eligible for when they reach age 62. This is considered a retirement benefit.

There are two other social security benefits as well: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, better known as SSDI and SSI. To know whether SSDI or SSI can help you pay for caregiving, it is important to understand the federal requirements to qualify and the differences between the two.

The source of information to help you determine benefits for any of these programs is the Social Security Administration. Their site is where you can determine your expected retirement benefits and apply for social security disability benefits or supplemental security income. Some people opt to hire a disability attorney who specializes in these benefits to assist with determining eligibility.

Eirene: a modern approach to cremation

Eirene offers direct cremation packages. Your loved one is transferred into their care, they file the necessary paperwork, and the remains are returned to you.

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Collecting Required Records And Other Information

Youll need to gather as many details as possible before applying for benefits, and the Disability Checklist, which is part of the Adult Disability Starter Kit, will help you know the types of records and information youll need. If you apply online for SSDI, then the online application checklist will help you as well. Necessary documents include past employers, tax history, and current financial statements.

How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits

Applications for SSI and SSDI can be submitted online or by telephone at 1-800-772-1213 or at TTY 1-800-325-0778 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Once an application is submitted, it may take several months for the SSA to process. However, back pay may be provided if the application is approved.

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Social Security Disability Insurance

To qualify for social security disability insurance you must meet the following criteria:

• You have to have worked a specified amount of time in jobs approved by the Social Security Administration. In other words, you have paid social security taxes.
• You have to have a medical disability that meets the Social Security Administrations definition of disabled. The medical condition has to be so severe that you are unable to work.
• The Social Security Administration has a comprehensive list of medical conditions that qualify, including but not limited to ALS, cancer, heart conditions, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and many others. In addition, certain mental health problems also qualify including, but not limited to, schizophrenia, intellectual disorders, psychotic disorders, autism, etc.
• Your disability is expected to last more than a year or lead to death. The Social Security Administration updates its qualifying disability list continuously. You may need to work with your doctor and an attorney to see if you qualify under the current criteria.
• The more you earn, the higher your disability benefit will be up to a certain limit.
• Eligible family members can receive benefits based on your work record. A spouse or child could receive as much as 50 percent of your monthly benefit. After you receive SSDI benefits for two years, you become eligible for Medicare.

Federal Government Caregiver Resources

• Alzheimers Caregiving – Find out from the National Institute on Aging how to be a caregiver for someone with Alzheimers disease or another form of dementia. Learn skills for coping with a loved ones behavioral changes.
• Caregiver Resources – The National Institute of Health’s MedlinePlus site has an overview of caregiver services. It also offers resources to help you protect your own health.
• Caring for the Caregiver – This resource from the National Cancer Institute is for family and friends who are caring for a person with cancer.
• Managing Someone Elses Money Guide – The family member you’re caring for may not be able to handle their bills themselves. Get information about managing their finances from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• The VA Caregiver Support Line helps people caring for veterans. Find services and benefits for your loved one and get support for yourself.
• Office on Womens Health Caregiver Page – Get tips on how to prevent or relieve caregiver stress and how to find and pay for home health care services.

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Were There To Provide Comfort During Difficult Times

The loss of a parent or guardian can be both emotionally and financially difficult. Social Security helps by providing benefits to help stabilize the familys financial future. Widows, widowers, and their dependent children may be eligible for .

In fact, 98 of every 100 children could get benefits if a working parent dies. And Social Security pays more benefits to children than any other federal program.

Providing protection for parents too

Even if you have never worked in a job covered by Social Security, as a parent, there are two ways that you may still qualify for benefits.

We Are There For Those Who Need It Most

The Supplemental Security Income program helps children with qualifying disabilities by providing critical financial assistance. Children and youth with specific medical conditionswhose families meet certain income and resource limitscan receive SSI from birth until age 18.

If you think your child or someone you know could be eligible for SSI, visit our webpage to learn more and apply.

Assisting Youths with Disabilities Transition to Adulthood

The transition to adulthood is one of the most important periods in lifes journey. For foster children living with a disability, it can be even more challenging. Turning 18 triggers an important change in SSI benefits: Social Security must make a new determination on their SSI eligibility using the adult disability standards. About one-in-three such beneficiaries lose their SSI benefits.

For more information, please visit our .

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Day 2: Protecting Caregivers Through Social Security

Of the many effects that caregiving can have on the caregiverâs financial well-being, one of the most harmfulâand often least discussedâis its effect on future retirement income. The typical caregiver spends a significant period of time outside of the workforce, which leads to a shorter work history and lower lifetime average earnings than those with uninterrupted work histories. As a result, caregivers often enter retirement with lower levels of private pension savings and, because Social Security benefits are based on the 35 highest years of indexed earnings , a lower Social Security benefit as well.

Thankfully, Social Securityâs spouse and survivor benefits protect most caregivers by giving those with lower career earnings than their spouse a retirement benefit based on their spouseâs career earnings, rather than their own. Because of these benefits, many caregivers are able to spend a significant period of time outside the workforce and still receive a generous benefit from Social Security.

As we continue to discuss reforms to the US Social Security system, it is important to focus not only on the financial sustainability of the system but also on ways to improve the adequacy of retirement benefits for the most vulnerable of our population. For this reason, policies that directly acknowledge unpaid caregiving activities should be given serious consideration as we look for ways to improve Social Security for the future.

Resources:

Family Caregiver Alliance®