Blog posts

Are Disability Benefits Being Cut?

Disability benefits are available to Americans who are disabled or unable to work due to a medical condition. The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays disability benefits to help cover the costs of everyday living expenses and medical bills. Over the years, there has always been talk of disability benefits being cut due to the lack of government funding. A recent congressional act has halted this from happening in 2016.

Social Security Changes affect File-and-Suspend Benefit Maximization for Couples

The “File-and-Suspend” method of maximizing Social Security retirement benefits has been used by married couples for decades. Recent budget bill changes passed by Congress however phase out this process by closing the “loophole” in Social Security regulations that allowed spouses to increase their Social Security income as a couple.

The File and Suspend Method Explained

One of the most common questions we receive is “How do I actually get approved for benefits?” The fact of the matter is that there’s no sure-fire way to get approved, and less than 50% of applicants receive benefits even after they have an ALJ hearing. So we decided to speak with a woman who WAS successful with her claim to see what she did to win her benefits.

Q: How long did it take for you to be approved?

Who is eligible for benefits under my account and how do I get them benefits?

If you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), then some members of your family may also be able to receive monthly benefits under your work record. Only certain family members meet Social Security Administration (SSA) eligibility rules, and the rules that govern who gets benefits and how much they receive are a bit complex, but here’s the gist of it.

Dependents

Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are distributed through the Social Security Administration (SSA) for those who have become disabled and unable to work, yet are too young to start receiving retirement benefits.

If you are applying or have been approved for Social Security Disability benefits, you may be wondering if you will receive Medicare along with your monthly Social Security Disability payments. After all, medical bills can be an overwhelming expense. If you do not receive medical assistance, your medical expenses could possibly wipe out all of your Social Security Disability benefits.

Beginning in December 2007, the United States suffered an economic downturn considered to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. During this time period, layoffs increased at an alarming rate. In the fourth quarter of 2007 there were 5.7 million layoffs. By the first quarter of 2009, that number had quickly grown to 7.6 million—a 34% increase. The unemployment rate grew from 5.0% in December, 2007 to 9.5% by the end of the recession in June 2009.

When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, many people assume that it will be a smooth process with minimal complication. You file the application, provide the necessary documents, and wait for the approval letter. Unfortunately, receiving Social Security Disability benefits is rarely ever that simple. In fact, only about 30 percent of initial applications for Social Security Disability are approved. What happens if your application is one of the remaining 70 percent that are denied disability benefits at the initial stage of the process?

Having a disability may prevent you from working and may impose other limits on your social interactions. It doesn’t have to mean you lose all contact with the outside world or that you stop doing things that are important to you. You can continue your involvement in certain volunteer activities.

It is important to understand however that the amount of volunteer time you commit can affect disability benefit eligibility. The types of volunteer activities in which you participate can affect eligibility as well.

Volunteer Work Evaluations

Social Security Disability Insurance provides financial assistance and help for people who cannot work due to a crucial disability. It is paid for by a Social Security Fund, which is funded by taxpayer dollars. Millions of Americans are dependent on this fund to pay rent, food and other monthly bills. Americans who work legally and pay taxes are contributing into a system that those that are permanently disabled and have certain medical conditions can take advantage of. However, there are some things that are jeopardizing the effectiveness of the program.