Sep 24

The Social Security Administration is responsible for the payment of social security benefits under the social security system in the United States. Social security benefits come under various types depending upon the category of the respondent’s requirement. Benefits may be payable to persons who have attained the stated pension age, or may be sick pay benefits to employees who are unable to work owing to chronic illnesses. There are several other classes of social security benefits, which certain sections may be eligible to receive. For instance, the disability benefits are available for workers unable to continue their existing jobs, once they cross a required duration at work (calculated as credits). To address the differing requirements of different sections of the society, the Social security administration pays the social security benefits through two different programs; the Social Security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

The main criteria for availing social security benefits is that the person claiming the benefit is unable to work or has to stop working due to a medical condition that may last up to an year or result in death. If an individual is employed with average monthly earnings exceeding a certain amount as decided by the administration, then the person will not be considered as disabled. The administration’s Update (Publication No. 05 10003) stipulates the cut off amount for the present year and this amount changes from year to year depending upon the economic conditions. There is no provision for partial disability under the Social Security Act. If the individual cannot perform the work he was able to in the past, the State agency looks to see if other alternative employment can be arranged. It evaluates the person’s medical condition, age, education, past work experience and any skills that may fit another role. Should such efforts prove fruitless, and the agency is unable to provide the person with an alternative to earn his livelihood, the status of the employee as disabled would still be considered by the agency. State rules are more lenient for persons over the age of 50 and some benefits may accrue if the person applies for such relaxations. The chances of getting social security benefits are also better with persons employed only part time with meagre wages and insufficient savings.

Aug 4

You should be aware that you may be able to claim Social Security Disability benefits or SSD if you have any type of disease or medical condition that makes it hard or impossible for you to engage in any type of income generating activity. SSD is a program of the government that is intended to provide monthly cash benefits to people who fit into the category of “totally disabled”. To be granted these benefits, an applicant will have to fulfill the following requirements: he or she must be suffering from a medical condition that prevents the pursuance of work, or that is expected to result in death.

It is important to note that there are many factors that will determine if you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, with concerns such as how old you are, how much education you have had, your work history, and your compliance with the terms of your medical treatment being some of them. Even if you conform to all of these requirements, there is still a chance that you will not be granted Social Security Disability benefits, which is why you may want to consider hiring the services of a social security lawyer.

A social security lawyer can be a great help to you in compiling the information that you will need in order to make your case for a disability claim. The process of getting your Social Security Disability benefits can take a very long time, and you will have to fill out a lot of documents as well as submit to an interview with a representative from the Social Security Administration. A good social security lawyer will also be useful to you when you are denied a claim, and will therefore have to make an appeal for reconsideration before a judge. When you consider that many SSD applicants are often denied benefits two times or more, and the appeals process can take up to two years to complete, the reasons for hiring a social security lawyer become even more apparent. With a social security lawyer, this process can be speeded up considerably.

It is important for you take your benefits claim seriously and to do what your social security lawyer suggests at all times. Many social security lawyers have had difficulties with clients that do not fulfill the terms of the medical requirement prescribed by their doctor. This may result in you being denied your benefits entirely.

Your social security lawyer is in a sense your partner when you are appealing for Social Security Disability benefits. You should work closely together in ensuring your lawyer wins your case as this will determine whether or not you are approved for benefits.

Jul 19

Q: I recently applied for social security disability benefits and was told I needed to undergo another medical exam. Is this common?

A: Many people who file for disability benefits through Social Security are asked to go through a consultation with one of their doctors. The exam is called a consultative exam, or CE. A CE is requested by the disability examiner who handles your case. If you are currently undergoing a hearing on your case, the judge may also request it. A CE is usually requested for two reasons. If you have not had an exam recently, a CE will provide updated information. If the details on your medical records are old, the disability examiner assigned to your file will not be able to make a sound decision. The second reason would be because your medical files are not complete. Perhaps you do not have recent x rays or a required test for your particular condition. A request for a CE does not mean that your application is heading toward denial. But it does mean that your file cannot be fully reviewed until the information from the CE is obtained. If one is requested, you will have to participate in the CE. If you have any questions or concerns about your particular CE, you many wish to contact a social security lawyer.

Q: Do I need to hire a social security lawyer if my initial application for disability through Social Security was denied?

A: If your application for disability was denied, you should appeal and it is wise to hire a social security lawyer to help with the process. A large number of cases initially reviewed by the Social Security Administration are not approved. Just because a case is denied, does not mean it cannot win in appeal. Often cases are denied simply due to lack of appropriate information. Having a social security lawyer on your side during an appeal process will guarantee that your case will be adjudicated properly. Having a social security lawyer handle your appeal will not guarantee that you will win, but it will give you a better chance than if you handled the process on your own.

Q: Once I submit my application, do I need to follow up with social security?

A: Yes, you should follow up on the status of your application. If you have a social security lawyer, he will do it for you, but you should also check in with your lawyer. In some cases, paperwork can be misplaced. In other cases, notice of approval or denial of an application may never reach the applicant. There are many stages your application must go through to be reviewed. You could miss deadlines if you are not notified. Knowing where your application is in the process, or if it has been lost, can be extremely helpful. Get in touch with the representative handling you case (usually referred to as the “disability examiner.”) Most applications are reviewed within 4 months. You will want to check the status of your application if you have not heard anything during that time.

May 13

How Much Service Is Required? - To be eligible for non-service-connected pensions, you must have 90 days of active duty and at least one day in a “period of war.” However, for a veteran who entered military service after 1980, the service requirement is simply to have completed a full period of active duty. Specifically, an individual who enlisted for the first time on or after September 8, 1980, is required to complete a minimum period of service, either twenty-four months of continuous active duty or the full period for which the veteran was called to active duty. In addition, the active service of the eligible veteran needs to include 90 total days during a period of war or one day of service during a period of war which ended in discharge due to a service-connected disability.

Key Notes: Veterans disability lawyer, Social security help

Mar 26

There are many ways by which hiring a social security lawyer can be beneficial to you. Applying for Social Security disability benefits can be a quite a challenging experience, and doing so without a social security lawyer can make it considerably more difficult. A competent social security lawyer can make it easier for you to avail of such benefits, which are often granted depending on your qualifying points. A social security lawyer can help you with the different types of Social Security Disability benefits available and help you decide which one is the most appropriate to your situation. A social security lawyer will even be able to guide you through the qualification process.

There are actually a few disability benefits offered by the Social Security system. The rules for each one can be quite complicated, which is why hiring a social security lawyer can be helpful. A social security lawyer will be able to tell you the differences between each one and which will best suit your needs. In this article however, we will focus on two major types: Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income or SSI. Your eligibility of SSDI is dependent on your work history and disability, while SSI takes into consideration disability, as well as your income, old age or blindness.

Your social security lawyer can help you apply for SSDI if your Social Security fees are paid, and you are suffering from a physical or mental condition that prevents you from working. You are also eligible for the program if you have been disabled for 12 months, you expect to be disabled for the same period, or if death is a possible result of your condition. Since you are eligible for the program if you expect to be disabled for a 12 month period, you do not have to wait that long before filing for benefits.

There are situations wherein the Social Security office will overpay you. When that happens, and the Social Security office made the mistake, yet they ask you to return the excess amount, a social security lawyer can help you in the process of filing for a waiver. If your request for a waiver is denied, you may have your social security lawyer represent you in an appeal process that will determine whether or not you will have to pay back the overpaid benefits.