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Social Security

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Hank Visits Rockdale Senior Center

Since the pandemic, we’ve been reminded just how vulnerable so many Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck really are. The cost of gas, food, and everyday essentials has placed a strain on many households, particularly people on a fixed income. Social Security benefits are an essential safety net for many people, including seniors and children.

Understanding Social Security Disability

There are two types of disability benefits the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers:

  1. Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI is generally referred to as disability.
  2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program disability benefit for those who are disabled but do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI.

SSDI

  • You must have worked in jobs that pay into Social Security (e.g., paid Social Security taxes).
  • SSDI is essentially your retirement benefit that you’re getting early due to disability.
  • In addition to meeting SSA’s definition of being disabled, you must have earned 40 credits.
  • Every $1470 in wages counts as a credit.
  • 20 credits must be earned in the last 10 years.
    • Younger disabled people may qualify with less credits.

To qualify, you must meet:

  1. SSA’s medical disability requirement
  2. Non-medical Requirement
    • whether the claimant has the required number of credits

SSI

To qualify, you must meet:

  1. SSA’s medical disability requirement
  2. Non-medical requirements
      • Cannot exceed income/resource limit
      • Because it is essentially a needs-based program, it has very strict income & asset restrictions.
      • Individual beneficiaries cannot have more than $2,000 in resources, and couples cannot have more than $3,000.

Compassionate Allowance Listing

The Compassionate Allowance Listing is a list of illnesses that if medical records reflect the illness, SSDI or SSI will automatically approve the application pending you meet the other requirements.

For example, if applying for SSI benefits and your medical illness is listed, but you exceed the resource limit, you will be deemed ineligible for benefits.

To review the current listings, click here.

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

More than 66 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2024. Increased payments to approximately 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 29, 2023.

Your local Social Security office can be found here.

Disability Application Process Quick-Step Guide

  1. Applicant applies for benefits
  2. Field office screens application
  3. Medical records are reviewed by the Disability Determination Service (medical experts)
  4. Decision sent back to field office
  5. Unfavorable decision→ “Request for Reconsideration”
  6. New adjudicator will make new decision
  7. Decision sent to field office
  8. Field office sends letter to applicant
  9. If request for reconsideration is denied→ request hearing is made before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
  10. If ALJ makes unfavorable decision → appeal with Appeals Council
  11. Appeals Council favorable decision→ case remanded back to hearing office for new decision by new judge
  12. Appeals Council unfavorable decision → file in federal court