What are disability benefits? If you’ve ever struggled with a disability, you know that one health concern can ripple out and affect other areas of your life. Your disability may cause you to rely on others for daily tasks or you may have to give up beloved hobbies. Your work life could be affected as well. If you are unable to work, that lack of income could have a devastating impact on your finances: that’s where Social Security disability benefits come into play. If you qualify, the benefits you receive from the Social Security Administration could be instrumental in allowing you to carry on with your life in good financial health. So what are disability benefits and how do they help people with disabilities? Read on to find out.
What Are Disability Benefits?
So what are disability benefits? They are an integral part of the Social Security Administration’s disability programs, which provide help and assistance to people with disabilities. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based on prior work under Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is based on financial need. To qualify, your disability must be expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or result in death, and if your condition improves, you will no longer be eligible. The benefits you receive are based on your average lifetime earnings prior to your disability, your age, and the date you became disabled, so the total amount varies from person to person.
If you are approved, Social Security will begin paying you disability benefits six months after the established “start date” of your disability. So if you were disabled in January, you will not receive your first benefit until July. Also, the benefits will arrive during the month after they are due. So if your benefits are due in July, you will receive your first benefit (your July benefit) in August.
To qualify for disability benefits, you must complete an application. Most first-time applicants are denied, so you will likely need to file an appeal as well. It’s hard to say how long you will have to wait to hear back about your case because the length of processing depends on where you live and the unique characteristics of your application. Be patient and stay strong! Also, consider working with a disability representative from the get-go. Your representative’s extensive experience and strong knowledge of the Social Security program will ease your stress and make it far more likely that you will be approved.
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Now that you can answer the question, “What are disability benefits?” you may be wondering if you or a loved one qualify for the program. If this is the case, I urge you to first check out our blog post on the Social Security definition of disability to ensure that you are eligible. Then, you might want to find out what you need to apply for Social Security disability benefits and read our disability tips to improve your chances of winning disability benefits. And before you do anything else, please call BTS Group, Inc at 1-866-441-4BTS (4287). Our disability representatives would be happy to answer all of your questions and help you fight to get the benefits you deserve. Please call now for a free consultation.