Allsup Provides Social Security and Veterans Disability Appeals Screenings at National Alliance on Mental Illness Convention

Belleville, IL (PRWEB) August 29, 2014

Four of the top 10 global causes of disability are mental illnesses, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the U.S., about one-third of individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits have a diagnosed mental disorder, according to Allsup, a nationwide SSDI representation company.

Allsup representatives will provide free SSDI and veterans disability appeals screenings at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) convention in Washington, D.C., Sept. 3-6. Click here for convention details.

"Mental illnesses cost the U.S. billions in healthcare spending and lost productivity," said Tai Venuti, Allsup manager of Strategic Alliances. "The financial impact on families can be devastating." People with mental illness are the largest and fastest growing group of SSDI beneficiaries, according to a 2014 NAMI report.

SSDI is a payroll tax-funded, federal insurance program. A portion of the FICA taxes workers pay is set aside for SSDI (as well as Social Security retirement and Medicare). It is an important resource for individuals with a mental illness who cannot continue working. It provides monthly income and access to Medicare after a 24-month waiting period. To see Allsup's explanation of the full range of SSDI benefits, click here.

The first step in accessing SSDI benefits is determining program eligibility. Because SSDI is funded by employer and employee contributions, former workers must have a work history to qualify. Typically, if a person has worked five out of the last 10 years, he or she will be currently and fully insured. For more information on work history requirements, visit Allsup.com.

Veterans Administration (VA) benefits and SSDI

Mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma (MST) are leading causes of disability among veterans. Veterans who have been denied VA disability or received a rating decision within the past year they believe is too low may appeal the decision, especially if their claims involve MST. The Government Accountability Office recently issued a study outlining regulatory changes that allow evidence outside of a veteran's service record to be used to document the claims for MST and related disabling conditions. For more information on the study, click here.

While most veterans are aware of VA disability benefits, many are not aware they may also be eligible for SSDI. Similar to civilian workers, active-duty service members also pay a FICA tax, which funds the SSDI system. It's estimated that from 3.6 to 15.9 percent of the nearly four million veterans who receive VA disability compensation also receive SSDI benefits, based on information from the Center for Retirement Research and a 2007 Veterans Disability Benefits Commission report.

The report suggested that the relatively low number of veterans with severe disabilities receiving SSDI was a strong indication that veterans either did not know they were eligible for SSDI, or they were being denied benefits by the SSA.

Allsup handles both VA disability appeals and SSDI claims, providing veterans who are eligible for both programs an efficient option for expert help and representation.

For more information on Allsup's VA disability appeal services, call (888) 372-1190 or visit Veterans.Allsup.com.

For more information on SSDI eligibility, call the Allsup Disability Evaluation Center at (888) 841-2126 or visit Expert.Allsup.com.

ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. For more information, go to http://www.Allsup.com or visit Allsup on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Allsupinc.

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