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SOCIAL SECURITY LAW GROUP

Frequently Asked Questions

See if You Qualify

We’ve compiled the answers to your most frequent questions about Social Security Benefits.

What is SSDI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a monthly benefit for people who have worked in the past and paid Social Security taxes. SSDI benefits are paid to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of their disability.
Disability is when you have a documented mental or physical impairment that is expected to result in death or has lasted or expected to last for at least 12 months.
On average the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies about 65 percent of people who file initial disability application without using professional representation such as SSLG. Receiving SSDI benefits can be a difficult and confusing process without the help of a qualified Social Security advocate.
You are not required to have representation, but Social Security Administration (SSA) denies about 65 percent of people who file initial disability application without using professional representation. SSLG can greatly improve your chances and shorten the time of receiving disability benefits. SSLG has a 97 percent success rate in winning our clients benefits.

How much you can get paid on Social Security Disability depends on the type of benefit you qualify for—SSDI or SSI—and your personal work and income history.

For SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), your monthly payment is based on how much you’ve paid into Social Security through past work. Most people receive between $1,200 and $2,000 per month, though some may receive more depending on their earnings record.

For SSI (Supplemental Security Income), payments are need-based. The federal maximum benefit is set each year, but your actual amount may be lower depending on your income, living situation, and other factors.

Because every case is different, the best way to estimate your benefits is to review your Social Security earnings record or speak with a disability professional who can evaluate your situation.

To qualify for benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. In general, we pay monthly cash benefits to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability.
You can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in three ways:
  • Online at ssa.gov/applyfordisability — the fastest option for most applicants
  • By phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778), Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
  • In person at your local Social Security office (call ahead to schedule an appointment)

Apply as soon as you become disabled, as SSDI benefits have a five-month waiting period. Payments won’t begin until the sixth full month of disability.

The hearing process can be daunting, but we are here to prepare both you and your case to win.

You can usually expect these things to happen at the hearing:

  • You and the witnesses answer questions under oath. The hearing is informal but is recorded.
  • The Administrative Law Judge explains the issues in your case and may question you and any witnesses you bring to the hearing.
  • The Administrative Law Judge may ask other witnesses, such as a doctor or vocational expert, to come to the hearing.
  • You and your representative may question any witnesses and submit evidence.
After you request a hearing, your Social Security office sends your case file to the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) office who will notify you in writing of your hearing date. There may be delays in scheduling due to the volume of pending appeals.
 
Your hearing will likely be scheduled within 75 miles of your home at one of the Social Security Administration’s 161 hearing offices nationwide. This lessens the likelihood that you may need to travel far for your hearing. If travel presents a problem, indicate that when you request the hearing along with a doctor’s report (documenting why you can not travel), and you may be given the option of a video conference hearing. Often, a hearing by video teleconference can be scheduled faster than an in-person hearing.
The hearing process does take time. According to Social Security Administration figures, the average amount of time needed to process a hearing request during fiscal year 2010 was 426 days. We at Social Security Law Group work diligently to reduce that timeframe and get you and your case prepared for trial.
The hearing process can seem endless. But there are things you can do to shorten the process:
  1. If you are appointing someone to represent you during the Social Security Disability Hearing, do so early in the process so that they have time to review and build your case and make certain it is 100% complete for the hearing.
  2. Make certain that any new or updated evidence are submitted well in advance of the hearing date.
  3. Notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of any address changes as soon as possible.
  4. Unless absolutely necessary, do NOT cancel your hearing date.
The SSA governs the fees of representatives.
 
Our typical fee is 25% of the retroactive (back) award, not to exceed $9,200.
 
We do not charge a fee unless we are successful in obtaining your benefits. And there are no add-on fees for travel, collecting medical records, etc.
Yes. A Medicare specialist can help you develop a customized health insurance strategy when you become eligible for Medicare.
 
We can assist you in determining which parts of Medicare you need and in selecting the best, most affordable Medicare plan available to you based on your unique treatment profile and financial circumstances.
 
Additionally, you may contact Medicare at 1–800-MEDICARE or contact your State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.
Most Medicare drug plans have a coverage gap, also known as the “doughnut hole.”
 
This means that after you and your drug plan have spent a certain amount of money for covered medications, you have to pay all out-of-pocket costs for your drugs (up to a limit).
 
Your yearly deductible, your co-insurance or copayments, and what you pay in the coverage gap all count toward this limit.
It’s a complicated formula largely determined by the amount of your past earnings that have been subjected to FICA taxes.
 
The Social Security website has several calculators you can use to get an idea of your benefits.  Use Calculators Here.
The Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program, also known as “Extra Help,” is available to help pay for a portion of Part D costs, including premiums, copayments, and deductibles, for certain people with low incomes and minimal assets.
 
Depending on your income and assets, the Extra Help program may provide a full or partial subsidy. Some people are automatically enrolled in the Extra Help program, while others must apply for the subsidy.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older, people under age 65 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and people of any age who suffer from ALS or end-stage renal disease.

Your income does not affect your eligibility for Medicare.

Medicaid, on the other hand, is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. To qualify for Medicaid, you must have low income and limited resources.

Most people with Medicare get Part A (Hospital Insurance) premium-free because they have sufficiently worked and paid taxes into the system.
 
If you are receiving SSDI benefits, then your Part A will be premium-free. If you do not have enough work history, you have to pay a monthly premium for Part A.
 
Everyone has to pay a monthly premium for Part B (Medical Insurance). In 2013, the monthly premium for Part B is $104.90. Additionally, people with high incomes have to pay a higher Part B premium. Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans are available for an additional monthly premium.
 
If you have low income and assets, you may qualify for help with some of your Medicare costs. A Social Security Advocates for the Disabled (SSAD) Medicare specialist can help you determine whether you qualify.
When you are eligible for Medicare, you have the option to enroll in Medicare Part D, an optional prescription drug insurance program available to everyone who has Medicare, regardless of your income or health status.
 
Part D plans are offered by private insurance companies and require you to pay a monthly premium.
Medicare is not offered as a family or dependent benefit. This means that all people must qualify on an individual basis in order to be eligible for Medicare benefits. For example, a person under age 65 does not automatically receive Medicare because their spouse turns 65 and enrolls in the Medicare program.
 
In addition, when a parent qualifies for Medicare, this does not entitle their dependent children to Medicare coverage.
 
If you have a family member who needs health insurance and does not individually qualify for Medicare, you should consider contacting your State Health Insurance Assistance Program to discuss your options.

If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B in the 25th month of your disability payments. You will be enrolled sooner if you suffer from end-stage renal disease or ALS.

If you are automatically enrolled, you will not pay a premium for Part A, but you will pay a monthly premium for Part B.

Prior to your Medicare eligibility date, Medicare will send you an initial enrollment package containing information about the program, an Initial Enrollment Questionnaire, and your Medicare card. If you choose to keep Part A and Part B, all you have to do is sign the card and keep it.

To assess your options relative to the other parts of Medicare that are available to you, you can call an Medicare specialist at 800-MEDICARE.

Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65.

If you are less than the age of 65, however, you may become entitled to Medicare 24 months after the date that the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines that you first became eligible for SSDI benefits.

It depends. Medicare rules allow you to delay enrollment in Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D if you are covered by an employer group health plan with 100 or more participants, only if your health coverage is based on your or your spouse’s current, active employment.
If your employer plan acts as your primary insurer and has high cost sharing, having Medicare as your secondary insurer may help pay some of your costs. However, if your employer plan includes comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage with low cost sharing, you may decide it’s not worth paying the monthly premium for Medicare Part B and/or Medicare Part D.

 

If you choose not to enroll in Part B and/or Part D when you become eligible, you may delay enrollment only until you, your spouse, or family member stops working or is no longer covered by the employer group health plan.

If your other health insurance coverage is NOT based on the current, active employment of yourself or a family member, you should contact your employer to determine your obligations under the terms of your insurance plan.

If your other health insurance is COBRA continuation coverage, your coverage will terminate when you become entitled to Medicare.

The receipt of unemployment benefits does not necessarily preclude you from receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

It is, however, a factor examiners consider when determining whether or not you qualify for SSDI benefits. Some administrative law judges (ALJs) may not award SSDI benefits if someone is receiving or has applied for unemployment.

Disability onset dates (the date the disabling condition began or the date your condition required you to seek SSDI / affected your ability to be employed) may have to be amended to the day after someone received his or her last unemployment check.

The issue with unemployment versus SSDI benefits is the difference in why someone receives these benefits. When you receive SSDI, you are unable to do your past work or any other work. Unemployment benefits generally indicate you are ready, willing and able to work, but haven’t found employment yet.

ALJs typically look at your individual circumstances when determining the significance of your application for unemployment benefits and related efforts to obtain employment when determining if you qualify for SSDI.

The number of initial SSDI applications being filed is at an all-time high, making it more difficult than ever to receive benefits. Contributing factors include:

  • In a difficult economy more individuals file for SSDI benefits
  • Baby Boomers entering their most disability prone years
  • Strapped federal and state budgets
  • A high denial rate—65% of all claims are initially denied, creating a backlog of appeals
It doesn’t happen often, but you can lose your disability benefits if your condition improves to the point that you no longer meet the SSA’s definition of disabled. SSA must show there has been medical improvement related to your ability to work before they can cease your SSDI benefits.
SSDI provides income until your condition improves, offers assistance to help you return to work, and provides ongoing income if your condition does not improve.
 
You are entitled to it based on payroll taxes you have paid and your employer has matched. Also, when you receive SSDI, you qualify for other important programs like Medicare and prescription drug assistance, and protect your future Social Security retirement benefits.
Children up to age 18 or who have not graduated from high school are entitled to benefits if a parent is deceased, retired or disabled.
 
Generally, dependent children of a disabled parent will receive about 50 percent of the disabled parent’s monthly benefit. The 50 percent is divided equally among all eligible dependents.
Unfortunately, it’s not a quick process. Generally, it takes about three to five months for the initial decision.
 
Reconsideration (first appeal) will take another three to five months. The second appeal is before an administrative law judge in Social Security’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. The average time to receive a decision at this level in 2010 was 426 days.