What Benefits Are You Eligible For?
It is a big task to understand what to apply for and how to do it. It starts with determining which benefits you are theoretically eligible for, so you can build a specific case. There are many different ways to qualify for benefits, but being informed is the best way to stay on top of what you can do. For example, anyone receiving disability benefits will be eligible for Medicaid after 12 months. Keeping abreast of any possible benefits you could receive could be the difference between struggling to make ends meet and being able to support yourself and/or your family.
If You’re Over 65
SSDI is awarded to people who meet a certain set of criteria. People of retirement age (65 and up) are eligible for benefits if they can prove other qualifying factors. At age 67, people become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, so anyone receiving SSDI can be switched over. There are two ways that someone over 65 years old (but under retirement age) can collect SSDI benefits: have a disabling condition recognized by the SSA or qualify for a medical-vocational allowance.
To find out if you are eligible for benefits for a disability, you should look at the Blue Book that the SSA uses. It has all the conditions they cover now, and comparing your abilities to the symptoms they pay benefits for can be useful. You could still qualify under a medical-vocational allowance if you do not have a condition on the list. The SSA will consider factors such as your age, work history, and education level to determine if you can still do your job or any job. First, they will determine if you fit into one of their special profiles. The first profile is based on the absence of work experience. You have to be over 55 years old, have the equivalent of an 11th-grade education or less, and did not work in the previous 15 years. The other profile is for people that worked strenuous unskilled labor for 35 years or more. To qualify under this profile, the person cannot have more than a 6th-grade education with no specialized training. If you do not fit into these profiles, the SSA will determine what level of work you can do (sedentary, light, medium, or heavy). People who can perform sedentary, light, or medium work will be given specific educational and training standards they cannot exceed. See https://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resources/social-security-disability-after-age-65 for more information.
If You’re a Child With a Disability
Disabled children can collect either SSI or SSDI. This is based on whether their guardian has earned enough work credits or if they are very low in financial resources. When applying for SSI, the child must be shown to have a qualifying disability or the equivalent of one that the SSA accepts. Remember that the child’s resources and income will be evaluated during the application process. This includes the resources of the household members that live with the child. The rules on income for a child to qualify for SSI payments are the same as for adults.
Adults who become disabled before age 22 can still collect a “child’s” benefit. It is based on the parent’s Social Security record. There are two ways that someone can collect these payments: at least one parent was getting retirement or disability payments, or a parent has died and had earned coverage under SSDI. These payments for adults with a disability since childhood will get benefits for as long as they are disabled.
If You’re a Family Member of Someone Eligible For Benefits
Certain people can allow you to be eligible for benefits, regardless of your condition. This means that if you receive benefits on your own, you will also render some people in your life eligible for benefits. If your spouse (ex or current) would like to receive benefits, the SSA will likely ask for documentation, like a social security number, marriage certification, and birth certificate. Children and adult children disabled under age 22 are also similarly eligible. Remember that there is a maximum family amount of approximately 150% (sometimes, it can be as high as 180%). The only scenario where someone receiving benefits on your record will not affect the amount of money that your family can receive is when it is a divorced spouse.
Get Help From a Trusted Attorney Today!
People may think getting benefit payments is extremely hard, but more people are eligible than you think. Read the SSA website to learn more about what you qualify for and how to begin the process. Applying for benefits can be long and arduous, so get started as soon as possible so any issues can be quickly resolved. Delaying the payments will only hurt in the end, so do your best to retain an attorney as early as you can. Contact our office today if you want personal help with your SSDI application!