If you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, your minor children are also awarded benefits. These benefits are in addition to your monthly disability payments, and are intended to help provide the necessities of life for your children. If you remain disabled, the children’s benefits will continue until their 18th birthday (a child still in
Benefits
The 36-month Reentitlement Period
The reentitlement period is a safety net for Title II disability recipients who return to work. The reentitlement period begins at the end of the 9-month trial work period, and lasts for 36 months.
If you cannot continue working at the SGA level due to your disabling impairments during the 36-month rentitlement period, you do…
Social Security disability – Workmen’s Compensation Offset
For those with Workmen's Compensation (WC) benefits who are awarded Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, there is an offset for the SSDI benefits.
The applicable regulation is 20 C.F.R. 404.408. It states that if the total of WC and SSDI are more than 80% of your average current earnings (ACE), then the SSDI…
SSA Conducting more “Continuing Disability Reviews”
I have received several calls lately from individuals who are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, and have just gotten a letter from the SSA saying that their disability status is being reviewed. Obviously, the receipt of such a letter causes a great deal of concern.
Social Security periodically conducts continuing disability reviews (CDRs)…
New SSI and SGA Amounts for 2012
The Social Security Administration recently announced a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3.6% for Social Security beneficiaries. The COLA affects several different numbers in the Social Security ecosystem.
The monthly maximum SSI amount will be $698 in 2012. For a married couple on SSI, the "couples rate" will be $1,048.
The monthly amount for…
The ALJ decision says that I remain insured through December 31, 2013. Do my disability benefits stop then?
A fully favorable ALJ decison usually contains a sentence like this:
The claimant's earnings record shows that the claimant has acquired sufficient quarters of coverage to remain insured through December 31, 2013.
Sometimes the successful claimant will read that sentence and think that it means that the Social Security disability benefits will terminate on…
Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits
An adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child's benefits if a parent is deceased, or receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The SSA considers this a "child's" benefit because it is paid on a parent's Social Security earnings record. Here is the DAC page on the SSA website.
The DAC benefit…
There is No Partial Disability for Social Security
I get inquires regarding partial disability every now and then. Potential claimants believe they may qualify for partial Social Security disability benefits. They could still work a bit, but can no longer do the same job, or earn the same income, they earned before. Or perhaps, due to their medical condition, their earnings have dropped significantly…
Social Security – Early Retirement Benefits or Disability Benefits?
I have written before about Social Security early retirement benefits versus disability, but the issue is worth revisiting. If you are approaching age 62, and are not working, please read this article.
Many people who are approaching the early retirement age of 62 are unable to continue their employment due to a physical…
Benefits for the Disabled Widow or Widower
Every now and then I encounter a case that potentially involves a claim for benefits by a disabled surviving spouse. This is a claim for disability benefits based upon the work record of the deceased spouse.
A claimant without enough quarters of coverage for Social Security disability insurance on his/her own work record could…