Social Security Questions and Answers

I was on the phone with my local SS agent and was told something I had never heard of.  They have already deducted 25% of my SSDI backpay and paid my attorney.  However, I was told that they also have to pay him out of the SSI backpay they will be giving me on 6 month intervals.  Have any of you ever heard of this and had it done out of both of your backpays?  They can't tell me how much they will have to deduct from the SSI part since they are still working on my case.  This is the first time I have ever heard of this.  Thanks for any info.

I believe the 25% is set by SSD regulation and is automatic. My husband qualified for disability last year and we consulted with an attorney but ended up using a company provided through his company's disability carrier instead. I think, the set amount of 25% is to prevent excessive fees being charged and is paid once the person is approved and receives the SSD payments.

Hi SyrMom,

The Supplemental Insurance is what they call a Secondary Insurance on all the insurance forms we fill out at the MD office. Medicare would be your Primary and any Supplemental Insurance (you pay for additionally) tries to pick up " most" of the balance of your Bill. There are many plans out there and you have to research your State for plan info, cost and requirements. They offer medical and drug coverage. Some are costly!!! I wish all of us did not have to wait 2yrs to get Medicare. It "should" start when SSDI payments start but I'm just "preaching to the choir"!!! Best of luck to you!!!

Pat

From their own info and everything I have been told, Medicare starts 2 years after the date you are eligible for Disability payments not two years from the date you get your first payment.  Since it takes quite some time for one to get approved after denials etc., once you are approved, you should be eligible for Medicare within a few months from then.  Many people have to wait so long for approval they use up their 2 year wait period during that time.  It is not as long as it sounds unless you are misunderstanding how it works.  Once you are approved, the social security agents should be able to tell you exactly when to expect to be eligible for Medicare.

I'm just starting this process.  I have been reading this thread, but still unsure. Where do I start?  Is there a website to go to?  I haven't worked in the past 10 years , but did work before that. I'm looking to receive any benefits that I paid into  Social Security  when I was working.  Thanks.

You have to have worked 5 of the last 10 years to qualify for disability . It doesn't matter how many years you have worked in the past, they only look at the last 10.





Laurie

Thanks everybody ! I apprecite your time and answers. My brain is so fried I just don't have the mental capacity I use to.

I'm not an expert so others will need to weigh in but my husband is on disability for Parkinson's Disease and receives Social Security Disability. He had something similar last year when  he first left work on disability. He received a severence package of a full year's salary, Social Security said that did not factor into his disability benefits because although he received money from  his employer he was not working. What it did impact was taxes as he received both the severence payments and disability so his income was higher (I also got a promotion which boosted our income too so it was quite a tax year for us). I put as much as I could into my tax-deferred savings plan at work to help lessen the tax burden. The deciding factor seemed to be was he "at work" or receiving money from his employer. 

Steven,

I was approved in may 2013. I have stage 4 cancer through out my body, so it was easy to get disability. I was told by my Social Security disabilty would not start till november 2013. according to the casework have to wait six months for my first checkwas, also said they would not retro six months back pay. my last day to work was april 12, 2013. what do they expect people to live on? i got insurance through the Indiana Health Department for breast and cervical cancer only. This is the state of Indiana.

Debi, its good that you found additional help through ACS. If you had no income after leaving your job you might have qualified for the income based SSI? Did your job provide any short term disability?



It can be frustrating to await that first check but that is how SSDI has always worked.

Appealing wont work. I was short a few credits so I did some part time work to get enough credits. You only have to make around 5000 a year to get 4 credits. If they haven't told you how many you are short, I would call them to find out, just in case it is only a few.





Laurie

I have disability (Short Term and Long Term) insurance through work. Does anyone know if I am eligible to apply for SSDI benefits for my 16 year old son as well?

Just an FYI - when I applied, I told them about the kids.  I was approved but my approval letter stated an amount that seemed low (we have 3 kids).  I called the # for my local office - it was listed on the approval letter.  When I gave the girl my SS# she looked it up and then said, "I guess you're calling about the kids".  Well, yeah.  So she set up a phone interview with my husband, since the kids' money will be in his name.  After that phone interview, we got the letter about the kids.  I thought this was strange but I just thank the Lord for approval.

 Penny

It was only about a month, but would've been sooner.  Once you send in your application, they send it on down to your state disability office, who then requests (and pays for) records from your doctor.  Apparently, my state disability office was sending their requests to the wrong doctor.  It took a couple of phone calls from my doctor's office to straighten out the matter.  Could've been worse.  My letter stated that my benefits would begin in six months.

 Penny

It could be.  I supplied NOTHING in regards to medical documentation, so they had to request it from my doctor.  Did you know that you can check the status of your application online?  Early on, my status said something like "your application is currently in the hands of your state disability office and we are awaiting information".  Then it said something like "a decision has been made and you should expect to receive a letter shortly".  I tried to call before I got the letter and they wouldn't tell me over the phone if I was approved or not.  It took a good 2 weeks after the status update changed to the "decision has been made" for me to receive my letter.

 Penny