Disability Benefits-
Social Security Disability is available for physically or mentally disabled people. It is a means of helping them to live their lives in spite of their inability to work. Applying for disability benefits is a long process since it involves the government giving large amounts of money to the person applying. You must take this process seriously, since it may take a little bit of work on your end to ensure that you get the results you feel you deserve. The first step to getting your claim on the right track is knowing how to apply for your benefits.
Should You Apply for Disability Benefits?
The Social Security Administration looks at a few different things to determine whether you will qualify for disability benefits or not. The first thing they look for is whether you have worked in jobs that are covered by Social Security or not. There is a point system set up to determine if you have worked long enough in these jobs to receive benefits. The next thing they look for is if you have a problem that the Social Security Administration deems a disability and whether you will be out of work for more than a year as a result of the disability.
Gather Your Information
Before you apply, it will help if you have already gathered the information necessary to process your application. Basic information on you and your family will be required as well as information on your savings or checking accounts. After you have completed the basic disability benefit application form and have been approved, you will have to fill out a disability report as well as an Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration form. Your disability report will consist of all information you have regarding your medical claim and your past jobs. A full list of the information you will need is available on the Social Security Administrations website.
Decide How You Wish to Apply
There are a few options on how you can apply for your benefits: in person, over the phone, or online. It is up to you on which way is best for you. If you have difficulty using a computer or would prefer to have a professional there to assist and explain things to you, an in-person or telephone interview may be a better option for you.
Be Prepared for an Appeal
Receiving disability benefits is a serious matter. Social Security Disability benefits are funded through taxpayer money, which means that the government is very particular about who can receive these benefits. It is not uncommon for you to be dissatisfied with the results of your application, but a denial is not always final–you have the right to appeal. If you feel that you have been wrongfully denied Social Security disability benefits, the first step is to apply for an appeal. You have 60 days after you receive your letter of denial to make a written request for an appeal. Before you receive the results of your application, you may want to seek out a disability lawyer. Whether you end up needing the lawyer or not, it is a good thing for you to have one in place so that you can get the appeal started as quickly as possible.
Recommended Books from Amazon:
Nolo’s Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & Keeping Your Benefits
Make Them Go Away: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Reeve and the Case Against Disability Rights
Children with Disabilities, Seventh Edition
The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation
See Also:
High Performance Savings Accounts
Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
What can be done to fix Social Security?
Retirement Planning- Start Early
Photo Credits: by DonkeyHotey | Social Security Card