The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. This increase will help nearly 75 million Americans who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits keep up with inflation and rising living costs.
When it comes to getting disability benefits, age really does matter. The Social Security Administration has special rules known as “grid rules” that apply to for workers over 50.
These “grid rules” recognize that it’s harder for older workers to retrain for new jobs or adapt to different work demands. If you’re over 50 and you have a disabling condition, you should apply for disability benefits. Don’t think that your age will make it harder to get approved. It will actually make it easier for you to get approved.
What does that mean for Social Security recipients and applicants if the government shuts down? If you are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, SSI, or retirement benefits you probably are worried about receiving your benefits on time. Good news is that applicants will still receive their disability paychecks, even if the government is shut down.
The waiting time for having an application for SSA benefits is too long, and the SAA is taking steps to fix that. The SSA knows that delays can cause hardships for people who are waiting to have their claims approved.
To help speed up the application process the SSA has developed the HeaRT: Hearing Review Technology system. This new AI-driven platform is designed to help administrative law judges review disability claims more efficiently so that claims are approved faster.
There’s been a lot of headlines about DOGE lately and how they are cutting government spending. People who receive Social Security benefits need to know if and how DOGE cuts could impact their Social Security disability benefits. If you’re worried about how DOGE cuts could affect Social Security benefits, you’re not alone.
If you’re receiving Social Security benefits the amount of benefits that you receive will go up starting on January 1st, 2025. The Social Security Administration has announced there will be a cost-of-living adjustment to benefits starting in 2025. The additional money that you receive from the Social Security benefit increase in 2025 is meant to help pay for housing, food, utilities, and other essentials that have gotten more expensive over the last year.
Suicide is sometimes the sad and preventable end result of deteriorating mental health, but suicide can be avoided with self-help and help from others. There are many resources that can be used to help prevent suicidal thoughts and suicide. National Suicide Prevention Month occurs every year in the month of September and is used to focus on spreading hope and useful information to those contemplating suicide and anyone who is in a position to help them.
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There is generally a five-month waiting period before you get begin to recieve your disability payments. However, how long it takes to collect your medical records and any other evidence needed to make a determination will determine the exact timing. Your application will be forwarded to a state organization that conducts disability determinations.
There are two main federal disability benefits programs that offer financial assistance to people who have been diagnosed with a medical condition that will prevent them from working for at least 12 months. These are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and they are both administered by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA).
