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Social Security FAQs

To apply for social security benefits, schedule a telephone interview regarding your claim can be scheduled by calling 1-800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office and file the claim in person.

Prior to becoming disabled, if you worked five of the last ten years under Social Security, you've accumulated enough earnings to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. If you don't meet the work requirements or haven't worked at all, it's possible that you qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

You can file for Social Security disability benefits immediately after becoming disabled, meaning that same day. Do not file a claim if you are only stricken with a minor illness or one that probably will not last beyond a year. In contrast, if you are aware of a serious illness or injury and predict you will be out of work at least a year, don't hesitate to file the claim.

No, but you must have been disabled for no less than a year, expect to be disabled for at least a year, or have knowledge of a condition that normally has a deadly outcome within a year.

You shouldn't wait until workers' compensation expires to file a claim for Social Security disability benefits because you are allowed to do both at the same time. It's best to file the Social Security disability claim as quickly as possible because there could be a delay between when workers' compensation ends and Social Security disability benefits start.

Yes, but the amount of Social Security you can receive may be lowered to offset the amount of workers' compensation you are receiving. However, this offset may work in reverse to reduce workers' compensation benefits if you receive Social Security disability benefits first.

How much money you have saved is irrelevant if you've worked sometime during the past few years, or if you are applying for Disabled Widow's or Widower's benefits or Disabled Adult Child benefits. Income and assets (or "resources") are considered only in connection with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits.

Disability insurance benefits are all based on past wages and the amount of time worked. Monthly SSI disability benefits are set by federal law and are increased annually each January for the cost-of-living. The basic individual monthly SSI benefit in 2008 will be $637; it will be $956 for a couple. Many states further supplement these amounts.

You should only do so if you anticipate being out of work for more than a year.

It depends whether you are approved on the date of your initial filing or if you will have to undergo the two-step appeal process of Request for Reconsideration and Request for Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. If the initial filing goes through, you only have to wait one to three months, while an appeal can be anywhere from two to three years.

If your application is approved, your first Social Security benefit will be paid for the sixth full month after the date the Social Security Administration finds that your disability began. For example, if your disability began on June 15, 2008, your first benefit would be paid for the month of December 2008, the sixth full month of disability. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they're due. This means that the benefit due for December 2008 would be paid to you in January 2009, and so on.

Yes. In fact, many claimants receive Social Security Disability benefits due to mental illness. The Social Security Administration will determine whether you are capable of doing your past jobs or any jobs based on your specific mental illness.

Possibly, though it's very unlikely. In order to be eligible to receive disability benefits, the Social Security Administration must determine that you are not capable of working. However, in a few limited circumstances, individuals may work highly reduced schedules and still receive Social Security Disability benefits.

Your Social Security Disability benefits will last as long as you are disabled and unable to return to work. Social Security will periodically monitor your condition, and you are required to notify the SSA if your condition improves.

No one is required to have representation when they apply for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income. However, many claims are either improperly decided, decided without crucial records having been considered, or have important deadlines missed because no one who was knowledgeable about disability claims and the Social Security system was working to assist and advise the claimant. For these reasons, retaining a Social Security Lawyer to represent you from the very start is often a good idea and increases the chances of a positive outcome.

If your Social Security benefit is low enough, you may be able to receive SSI in addition to monthly Social Security benefits. The amount of your SSI benefit depends on where you live. The basic SSI check is the same nationwide, but many states add money to the basic check. Generally, the more income you have, the less your SSI benefit will be. If your countable income is over the allowable limit, you cannot receive SSI benefits. However, some of your income may not count as income for the SSI program.