DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

COMMON SOCIAL SECURITY TERMS AND WHAT THEY MEAN      When you file or consider a Social Security disability application there are dozens of unfamiliar terms that you will encounter.  Most of these terms have an three-letter initials to shorten the term.  For example:  DLI for "Date Last Insured." Here are some common Social Security terms and their meaning: Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):  Work that pays over a certain dollar amount per month.  If your earnings are at or above SGA, you cannot get SSDI benefits because you are gainfully employed.  SGA for 2023 is $1,470 per month for non-blind claimants, and $2,460 for blind claimants. __________________________________________________________________________________ Past Relevant Work (PRW) :  Any work that the applicant has done within the past 15 years, was performed at SGA level, and lasted long enough for the claimant to learn how to perform the work. Alleged Onset Date (AOD) :...

  SSI and SSDI are different programs, however, both are administered through the US Social Security Administration.  Thus, they are often confused. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) SSDI is based on earnings and having payroll taxes deducted from those earnings.  Persons who have earned sufficient work credits may apply for SSDI if they become unable to work due to a medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last 12 straight months or more--or is expected to end in death. A qualifying claimant may get SSDI benefits even if they have wealth or high family income. Persons who have never worked, or who have not recently worked, may not be able to get SSDI even if they are severely disabled. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) Is based on financial need + disability or advanced age--not on earnings. Requires no work history and no payroll tax withholding. Requires that an individual be disabled or elderly (65 or above). Is for individuals with very restri...

A denial of your Social Security disability application does NOT end your prospects of getting benefits.  In fact, it is the beginning of the most important process--the appeal. You have filed for disability benefits which you desperately need.  You have filled out tons of forms and waited for months.  Finally, a denial letter arrives stating that "you are not eligible for benefits under our rules."  About 7 out of 10 applications will be denied, so it's all too common. This letter can be extremely disappointing but it is only the beginning of the process to get your benefits.  There are important and vital steps that you must take right away. STEP 1:  Within 60 days , file a written appeal with the Social Security office. Phone calls do not count.  This appeal will put into a stage called "Reconsideration."  Social Security will re-examine your claim to be sure their decision was correct.  This process may take a few months, but it keeps yo...

The average Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit is $1,358 per month.  However, if you had high earnings the last several years, your benefit could be as much as $3,345 per month. In addition there are 2 other important benefits with SSDI .   1. Each eligible dependent may receive additional benefits.  For example, dependent children under age 19 who have not graduated high school, can get their own benefit.   2.  Medicare health insurance is provided to individuals who receive SSDI benefits. This puts affordable health care within reach of disabled persons. Is it difficult to qualify for SSDI benefits?  Yes, it honestly is for many people.  The government has set very high standards that must be met to prove disability.   Are there only certain medical conditions that qualify?  No.  Almost any medical or mental condition may qualify for benefits--if it is so severe that it makes you unable to work.   Many claimants choose to h...

 T he average wait time for disability benefits is three times longer than a decade ago according to an CNBC article . An initial decision takes an average of six month and a final decree typically takes two years or more.  From 2010 to 2021 the operating budget of the Social Security Administration (SSA) was reduced by 14%. Meanwhile the number of recipients climbed by 22% over the same period. This has put a strain both on those waiting for news about their applications and the employees working to ease the pressure. The average wait time for a call to an SSA office is roughly thirty-one minutes.  The 2020 COVID pandemic closed all Social Security offices from March 2020 to July 2022.  The effects of COVID left Social Security crippled with a smaller workforce, high employee turnover, inadequate funding and other problems that spell excessively long wait times for those served by the agency. It now takes 3 times longer to get an initial disability decision c...

  Get your Social Security application right - get paid.   There are hundreds of ways to mess up a Social Security disability application.  One of the most common ways that I see?  Blank lines.  Questions left blank.  One way or another, these questions will get answered before a decision is made on your claim.  They may get answered 6 months later when the Social Security office calls you--but you have just wasted 6 months.   Worse yet, Social Security may assume that since you didn't answer the questions, all the answers are "no," so nobody bothers to call you. This will lead to a negative action on your claim.   The complete disability application will consist, not just of the basic application, but several forms.  Many of those forms will be mailed to you AFTER you file the claim.  The following is always required for a complete application: The basic disability application (5 pages)  Disability Report (14 p...

  Helping Social Security to define your "residual functional capacity" (RFC) will help you get approved for disability benefits. Your RFC is an estimate of how much work you are still able to do, in spite of your impairments.  Social Security is required by law to come up with an RFC before approving or denying your claim.   Your residual functional capacity (RFC) estimates such things as how much you can lift, how long you can sit, stand or walk--and many other physical demands of work.  Your mental RFC will estimate how long you can concentrate, your ability to remember instructions, your ability to work around coworkers and supervisors, etc. Important Rule:  You Always Want to Help Social Security determine your RFC How do you help influence the RFC that Social Security assigns to you? The best way is to get your doctor to provide a detailed statement about what you are able to do.  This statement must be very specific and very detailed.  Here...