SSDI Expert Answers Common Questions During Disability Insurance Awareness Month
About three in four
Even though millions of workers pay into the
"Often people aren't sure when, or how, to apply for disability benefits," said
Those who want to apply for
SSDI Expert Answers Common Questions
Below Swierczek answers common questions about the SSDI program.
1. Who can use SSDI benefits? About 151.2 million
2. What is the SSA's definition of "disability"? It means that someone is unable to work because of a verifiable mental or physical impairment expected to result in death, or has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months.
3. How does someone qualify? Generally, the person must have worked and paid FICA taxes for at least five of the last 10 years. An individual also must have been disabled before reaching retirement age (65-67) and must meet the SSA's definition of disability.
4. Is it difficult to get SSDI benefits? Yes, it can be. The SSA denies 67 percent of initial applications.
5. How long does it take to get a decision on an SSDI claim? It's a lengthy process. Someone can expect to wait about three to five months to receive an initial decision. If the claim is denied, the first appeal may take another three to five months. If the claim is denied and appealed to a hearing with an administrative law judge, the additional wait could be more than 17 months. The national average wait time is now about 518 days, according to the SSA. Click here for a comparison of wait times by state.
6. Do I need an SSDI representative like Allsup? You can apply on your own, but Allsup may dramatically improve an applicant's chances of receiving disability benefits.
"A common mistake is that people wait too long to apply for SSDI benefits," Swierczek said. Those who apply must be currently insured -- they must have worked for five of the past 10 years. Someone who waits too long may "time out" of being qualified for benefits, he added.
How much a person receives from SSDI varies, depending on how much money they earned during their working years. The national average is
If a worker has a child under age 18, they may receive an additional amount of about 50 percent of what the parent receives in the form of dependent benefits. "This money can make a major difference for a family when a parent is no longer able to work due to disability," Swierczek said.
Click here for more information about appealing or applying for
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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/05/prweb13389033.htm
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