DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

Here are 5 things that give claimant's a better chance of being approved for Social Security Disability Benefits: You are over 50 years old (55 is ever better) You regularly see a medical specialist You’ve been hospitalized for your condition You had a physically demanding job You don’t have an advanced education If there were a number 6, it would be: You have an experienced disability attorney or advocate. Claimants do sometimes win SSDI benefits without being in any of the above categories. Talk to your attorney or professional advocate about the strengths of your claim. How can you make it stronger? The average Social Security disability advocate has participated in hundreds of cases and knows what it takes to get approved.   

  Instead of the word 'difficult' I might use words like complicated, complex, lengthy, multi-phased or confusing . Most claimants seeking Social Security disability benefits will go through 3 distinct phases: 1.  The application process which is likely to be denied. 2.  The "Reconsideration" process, even more likely to be denied. 3.  The Appeal Hearing before a judge, representing the best chance for approval. The issue becomes increasingly more complicated as it goes along--until it reaches the hearing level--the most complicated phase. It takes a long time to get from the application stage to the hearing stage.  In fact, 18 to 24 months may pass while you maneuver your way toward a hearing. During that time you cannot receive any benefits. If you don't understand the Social Security disability process, you may be in for a long, frustrating and confusing ride.  You need to understand the Grid Rules, the Listings and the other requirements that Social Sec...

After you apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI), you will be sent a FUNCTION REPORT to fill out and return.  This form asks a lot of very detailed questions about your daily activities:  driving, cooking, cleaning, dressing, visiting others, hobbies, etc. The Social Security Administration will use your answers to determine whether you can work or not.  You must show on this Function Report that you have limitations that do not permit you to work a full-time job.  You do this by showing your limitations in activities of daily living. Your goal in the Function Report is to show the struggles and challenges you have with everyday life.  It may not be sufficient to answer a question with "Yes" and fail to explain. For example:  "Can you drive?"  If you answer "Yes," Social Security will assume that your ability to drive is unlimited:  you can drive anytime, anywhere and as often or as far as you want.  That may not be true and would need t...

CAN A PERSON LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PAYMENTS ALONE? I would say that depends on the amount of the payment and the lifestyle of the recipient.  The benefit amount varies from person to person--based mostly on how much money they earned during their working lifetime. Social Security was never intended to be the sole source of income. The average SSDI (disability) benefit in 2024 is around $1,580 per month.  The maximum benefit is $3,822 per month. Whether you can live on that benefit also depends on other things:  for example, do you own your home or do you pay rent or mortgage payments?  Do you have other large debts? Keep in mind that an individual on Social Security disability (SSDI) may be allowed to work a limited amount without losing his/her benefits.  Be careful with this, however; too much earnings can cause you to loose your disability benefits with Social Security. * This limit is always calculated on gross pay, not "bring home pay." Also, n...

  The US Social Security Administration makes cash payments to covered individuals who have long term disabilities that make them unable to continue working. You may qualify if Your condition will keep you from working for 12 straight months or more You are not currently working You have worked at a qualifying job during the past 5 years You have medical evidence to support being disabled The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville has helped thousands of disabled individuals collect Social Security disability payments.  We are specialized in Social Security and that's all we do. Why would you need a lawyer or advocate to help you? 1.  The majority of new applications are denied.  Up to 8 out of 10 are denied.  (Your chances are better with legal representation)! 2.  Social Security's process is complex and unusually difficult. 3.  Your claim will probably require an appeal and/or a hearing to be approved. 4.  You will need help gathering medical evidence to ...

 HOW SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY IS A TYPE OF INSURANCE POLICY Individuals are often surprised when I refer to Social Security Disability as "insurance." Yet, the name of the program is "Social Security Disability Insurance," often abbreviated as SSDI. SSDI is really a disability insurance program provided to workers by the US Government through the Social Security Administration. It was established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression, although today's disability part wasn't added until 1954. Like all other insurance, SSDI has defined benefits, requires certain qualifications and must be paid for by each individual. The tax which pays for Social Security is called FICA, which stands for the law which mandates the tax: The Federal Insurance Contributions Act. Each worker pays a portion of wages, usually through payroll deduction. (Look at your pay stub and you will see a deduction for FICA; this is the Social Security ...

SSDI stands for "Social Security Disability Insurance" SSI stands for "Supplemental Security Income," a fancy name for welfare.   The main difference between Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is that SSI is an entitlement program with no work-related requirements, whereas SSDI is an earned benefit that has work requirements to qualify . Both programs pay monthly benefits to people with disabilities. You pay into SSDI out of every paycheck.  The deduction appears on your payroll stub as "FICA," Federal Insurance Contribution Act.  It's a New Deal law passed in the 1930s to force workers to set aside some money to cover a period of disability.  The current FICA tax is 7.65 percent of gross earnings.  Your employer matches and pays an additional 7.65 percent.  If you are self-employed you get stuck paying the entire amount on your own. When you have worked enough "quarters" (3 month periods), an...