DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

  As a rule, there are no Social Security disability benefits for individuals who have reached their full retirement age.  At your full retirement age, Social Security will give you retirement benefits--which is the same benefit you could have received for disability at an earlier age. So, if you are already getting full retirement benefits, there are no additional or increased benefits for disability. Example:  Jane Doe took early retirement from Social Security at age 62.  She received a reduced benefit because she was not yet full retirement age (67).  Jane continued to receive these benefits until she reached age 67--her full retirement age.  Can she now receive a larger benefit at age 67?  No, since she locked in her benefit by retiring early at age 62, the benefits will not increase at age 67 (except for the annual Cost of Living or COLA adjustments).  Even if Jane became disabled after reaching full retirement age, her monthly benefit would...

  Athens, Alabama doesn't have its own Social Security office.  Athens is served by the Social Security office in Decatur, AL. (888) 289-9185. The process of applying for disability is to file a new written application.  This can be done online at www.socialsecrity.gov.  Or, you can apply by calling the Social Security office listed above.  A third way to apply is to contact a disability attorney and get assistance with filing a new claim. Around 70 percent of new disability claims are denied.  That's because the rules to receive disability benefits are very strict and it's difficult to prove "disability" according to Social Security's rules and regulations.   What You Need to Know :   While most disability applications are denied, a lot of the denials will be overturned and paid in the subsequent appeals process.  That's right, benefits come to those who don't give up, file their appeals on time, and continue to fight. In Alabama there are 2...

  There are two ways a disability claimant can ask the Social Security Administration (SSA) to review a denied claim for Social Security or SSI benefits: by appealing the denial or by reopening the previously denied claim. Both of these methods can result in an approval of benefits and an award of backpay.   I recently got a judge to reopen an old previously denied claim and won a back pay award of over $120.000.  You may request that a claim be reopened within 12 months of closing for any reason.  After 12 months, you may request a claim be reopened for good reason--new and material evidence.  Your disability attorney or advocate can advise you on the best course of action:  appeal a denied claim, reopen a denied claim, or file a new claim.   Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the denial date.  If you miss that deadline, it may be possible to reopen the denied claim.    __________________ Charles W. Forsythe is a founding ...