What Happens if I am Over Age Fifty and Apply for Disability Benefits?

If you are between the ages of 50 and 55:

There are particular rules for those age 50 or older from which you can benefit. These kinds of rules may make things much easier to get approval of your Social Security disability benefits.

If you have difficulty and restrictions in your ability to stand up or walk, or other medical troubles that affect your neck, back, ankles, knees, feet and legs - these might make your eligibility more feasible.

Other health issues like diabetes, heart or lung issues, or arthritis may boost your qualifications for disability benefits. This is especially accurate if your prior job has required you to be on your feet, walking or standing up, for most of your workday. Even if your previous employment was not considered to be physically demanding, you may still take advantage of some of the rules which are reserved for those older than 50 years of age.

If you are in between the ages of 55 and 60:

If you are above age 55 and have health issues which are preventing you from doing your prior employment, there are more special rules that might apply to you. If your health problems prevent you from doing a modest level of lifting items greater than 20 pounds on a regular basis, your qualification as a Saint Louis disability candidate is enhanced.

If you are age 60 and over:

Once you are age 60 and older, the guidelines for disability are much more in your favor. Your disability benefit approval will most likely enable you to get your complete Social Security retirement which you would normally obtain around age 66, but sooner. When you get to age 66, you can draw your full retirement benefit for the rest of your life.

No matter what age bracket you find yourself in, applying for disability benefits in Saint Louis, MO might be a confusing and tough process. That is why you ought to very seriously think about getting in touch with a disability lawyer in Edwardsville, IL or Saint Peters, MO. Kassin & Carrow has been serving the folks of Saint Louis with those very services for years.

Do I Qualify For Disability Benefits?

You may qualify for benefits from the Social Security Administration. At Kassin & Carrow - we will help you know very quickly. The benefits will differ depending upon your unique and specific situation. So if you reside in Edwardsville, Illinois, Saint Peters, Missouri, or the surrounding areas, think of this basic overview of disability benefits eligibility.

You might qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits if you:

• are handicapped and worked/earned adequate credits to become insured
• are a disabled widower or widow between the ages of 50 and 60 and your departed husband or wife earned enough credits to get insured
• were handicapped prior to the age of 22 and either of your parents is handicapped or deceased, and earned adequate credits to become insured

You may qualify for Saint Louis, MO Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payments if you:

• are age 65 or older
• are blind (vision acuity of 20/200 or less in your better eye with use of a correcting lens) or handicapped
• have reduced income
• have limited resources
• are a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens and is a resident of one of the 50 States, Washington D.C., or the Northern Mariana Islands
• are not missing from the country for a total calendar month or for 30 successive days or more
• make an application for some other cash payments or benefits (Social Security benefits, pensions, etc.)
• submit an application
• satisfy certain other requirements

Being disabled as an adult means that you possess a physical or psychological condition which:

• results in the inability to perform significant gainful activity (earning less that $1,010 in an average month)
• is expected to result in fatality
• has lasted or is expected to last for more than 12 months

As you can see, there are a lot of considerations to think of when you are identifying whether you would like to seek SSDI or SSI benefits. If you are trying to find a qualified disability attorney in Edwardsville, IL? If so, please think about the law office of Kassin & Carrow.

How Can Someone In Saint Louis, MO Get Supplemental Security Income?

If you have a disability, you could qualify for a program handled by the Social Security Administration. SSI benefits are paid with the United States Treasury general funds and are usually set aside for people who have modest earnings and few resources. Children who are blind or disabled may also acquire SSI benefits. The basic amount of benefits are the same nationwide, but some states might add cash to the basic benefit. At Kassin & Carrow, we want to help you receive the maximum benefit possible. A specialized disability lawyer could be an invaluable resource to you as you make these important decisions.

Getting SSI depends on things like your income and resources. Wages, Social Security benefits and pensions all count as earnings. In addition, food and shelter benefits may count as income. If you are espoused, a part of your spouse's income and resources may be taken into consideration. If you are a student, some of the wages and/or scholarships may not count.

If you are blind, Social Security does not count wages that you use for work expenses. For example - using wages to buy transit to and from work are not tallied as income. Furthermore, some of the income you utilize for training or buying items needed to work might not count.

When it comes to resources, or things that you own, Social Security will consider things like real estate, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and cash money. If your resources are worth no more than $2,000, you might have the capacity to obtain SSI benefits. For couples, the resources may be worth no more than $3,000.

Social Security does not count everything you possess. Things which are typically not counted are:

• Life insurance policies with face value under or equal to $1,500
• Your vehicle in most cases
• Burial plots for you and people of your immediate family
• Burial funds up to $1,500 for you and $1,500 for your husband or wife
• Your residential home you live in and the land it is on

You may also get approved for SSI benefits:

• If you reside in a public institute while attending approved job or academic instruction
• If you live in a public emergency shelter denoted for the homeless
• If you live in a private or public institution and more than half of the price of your care is compensated by Medicaid
• If you live in a public community residence serving no greater than 16 people

Whenever we formally apply for benefits and to process your application promptly, we will need:

• Your Social Security number
• Details regarding your house - mortgage, lease, and property owner's name
• Birth certificate or other evidence of your age
• Payroll stubs, insurance policies, bank statements/records, and additional information about income and resources
• We will need the names, address, and phone number of doctors, hospitals, and clinics which have treated you.
• Proof of citizenship in the USA or eligible noncitizen status

Kassin & Carrow is right here to support you every step of the way if you are looking for Missouri or Illinois Supplemental Security Income. Bear in mind, you never pay a fee except if we win your case.

Social Security Disability Insurance: Your Safety Net

You may be able to obtain benefits to you and also certain members of your family if you are "insured." This means you worked for enough time and paid taxes into the Social Security system. Your adult child may also be eligible for benefits under your earnings record if she or he has a disability which began before age twenty-two. The law offices of Kassin and Carrow are pleased to present you with this helpful guidance.

Medical and other information will be collected when the government makes a decision about benefits. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration's website, a 20-year-old worker has a 30 percent chance of being disabled before reaching the age of retirement.

When determining if somebody is disabled, the federal government uses five questions:

Is the person employed? If you're employed and your total earnings are more than $1,010.00 per month, you usually can't be considered disabled. If you're not working or your total earnings are under $1,010.00 per month on account of a medical condition, then the SSA will go to the next question.

Would the condition that the person is suffering from be classified as "severe"? Your condition must interfere with basic work related activities for your claim to be viewed. If your condition is not severe, then the SSA will not find you disabled. If your condition is severe, then the SSA will proceed to the next question.

Would the individual's particular condition be located on the official standardized list of disabling conditions? The regulations list impairment for each one of the major body systems that are so serious they automatically mean you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, then the SSA has to decide if it is of equal severity to an impairment on the list. If your condition matches or equals one of the listed impairments, then the SSA will discover that you are disabled. If your condition doesn't meet or equal one of the listed impairments, then the SSA moves to the next question.

Is the individual able to carry on working in the same manner in which they did before being stricken with the condition? If your condition is severe, but not at the same or equal severity as a condition on the list then the SSA will have to determine if the condition interferes with your ability to do the work that you did formerly. If your condition does not prevent you from doing your previous work, then the SSA will not find you disabled. If your condition prevents you from performing your past work, then the SSA will head to the next question.

Is the person capable of getting some other means of a steady income? If you can not do the work that you did in the past, then the SSA determines if you are able to adjust to other employment. The SSA views your medical conditions, your age, education, prior work experience, and any transferable skills that you might have obtained. If you can't adjust to other work, then the SSA will find you disabled.

When you withstand this labyrinth of questions, the following are going to be available to you:

• You will be eligible for Medicare health insurance or Medicaid, dependent on the kind of Social Security benefit
• You might receive yearly cost of living increases
• You may receive tax advantages or get your benefits tax-free
• You may shield any potential future Social Security benefits (with Retirement or Survivors benefits if eligible).
• You may qualify for vocational rehabilitation programs or work incentives to get you back to work.
• Your spouse or children might be qualified to receive benefits on your record.

St. Louis, MO SSDI benefit seekers should turn to the trusted law offices of Kassin and Carrow. They've got plenty of experience making sure that individuals with disabilities in Belleville, Granite City, Alton, Edwardsville, Arnold, St. Peters, and St. Louis, Missouri receive the benefits that they have earned.

What’s the difference between Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDIB) and Supplemental Security Income Payments (SSI)?

The law offices of Kassin & Carrow wants you to read the important info below regarding the differences between SSDIB and SSI. For many St. Louis area residents, disability benefits are a lifeline. While having a lawyer can be a game-changer for an applicant, going to that lawyer equipped with data is never a bad idea.

Social Security Disability Insurance was made for people who work, while Supplemental Security Income was created to cover non-workers, or those who don't qualify for SSDI. To be more specific, SSDIB is earned by paying into the social security system by way of automatic deductions from your payroll. The money you pay into the system is converted to social security work credits, which then determine your eligibility for “fully insured” status within SSDI. Along with accruing the needed number of social security work credits, an applicant also needs to show eligibility by having worked recently.

SSI assists those that don't qualify for SSDI or do not qualify for a big enough amount of SSDI to satisfy their needs. Since the watchword for SSI is “need,” appliers need to show need by exhibiting that they don't go over the income and resource limits at the time of their application. Also, applicants should know that they will be required to show that they're under the income and resource limits periodically so long as they draw SSI benefits.

There are some other differences between the two disability benefits programs. For example, it is possible for SSDIB benefits to be paid to an eligible family member depending on the disabled insured individual’s eligibility during their lifetime or upon their death. SSI is offered only to the qualified individual. Disability applicants in Edwardsville, IL, St. Peters, MO, and St. Louis should also note that SSDI has a five month waiting period and SSI does not.

Although finding information on the web is certainly a sensible move, no amount of online research can replace the experience of a well-trained and experienced disability lawyer in St. Peters, MO or the Metro East St. Louis area. Kassin & Carrow serves your needs with offices in both Missouri and Illinois. If you're ready to take the next step in the disability benefits application process, get in touch with the law offices of Kassin & Carrow. We can help you through each step of the process (initial claim, reconsideration, hearing, or appeals council) or start our representation after you have filed a claim or have been denied at any level.

Do not consider this information as legal advice or opinion, or guarantee of a particular outcome for a legal matter. This site provides general information that may or may not apply to your claim.

Do not substitute this information for competent legal counsel, or make legal decisions solely based upon the information provided on thissite. You should consult an attorney before making any important decisions regarding any legal matter. The choice of a lawyer should not be based solely upon advertising.

How Does Back Pay Work For SSI and SSDI benefits?

If you are considering making an application for disability benefits under SSI or SSDI, you may not know exactly how significant it is to get your application for benefits in as quickly as possible. The primary reason for this is the possibility that a quick application has to boost the amount of back pay that you will receive whenever your case is eventually approved. If you aren't familiar with how back pay for Edwardsville, Illinois SSI and SSDI benefits works, pay attention to this important information from the law offices of Kassin and Carrow in Edwardsville, IL and St. Peters, MO.

It ought to come as no real surprise that the judge awarding your benefits will take the date that you were disabled into consideration when deciding how far your back pay goes. When you and your attorney apply for Social Security Disability initially, you will choose an AOD, which refers to Alleged Onset Date. What this means is that it is the date that you think you became disabled. Once the process is allowed to carry on to its conclusion, the DDS disability examiner or administrative law judge will allot what's referred to as an EOD, or Established Onset Date. That is the date that the examiner or judge has determined that your disability really started based on the work and medical records surrounding the case. Although the EOD can be important for individuals applying for SSI as well, that is not always the case. As a rule, you can't get SSI back pay on benefits before the date of application, but you can get restricted to only the time following the EOD if the EOD is following the application date.

Of the three main issues influencing back pay, the date that you file your application is probably among the most important. It makes sense to take into consideration application date with a disability filing because benefits such as that take a very long time to process. The process may be long and complicated, which is the reason why you need an experienced disability law attorney like Kassin and Carrow. The exact way in which the application date impacts back pay is determined by whether you're filing for SSI or SSDI benefits. As stated earlier, for SSI you can get back pay only to the first of the month once you apply for benefits. In contrast, SSDI enables you to collect for the twelve months preceding your application in some circumstances.

One thing that always throws people for a loop when applying for SSDI disability benefits is the five-month waiting period which can be applied to the back pay that you're qualified for. Don’t get confused; this waiting period does not affect SSI benefits, just SSDI benefits. The number is reasonably arbitrary, however it is one of those legal hurdles that make it a good idea to have the guidance of a disability law attorney. How the waiting period works is that you don't get back pay on benefits for five months following your EOD if your EOD was prior to your application date. As an example, let’s say that you were determined to be disabled in January (your EOD.) But, you filed in November of the same year. With there being ten months between your EOD and your filing date, you can subtract the five-month waiting period from that ten months to get five months of back pay benefits that you will get.

As you can most likely tell, working out the stressful maze of St. Peters, MO disability benefits is hard. You can most likely also tell that the stakes are way too high to take chances with it. Therefore, the best thing that you can do is get in touch with an attorney who focuses specifically on SSI and SSDI benefit law. For people who live in the Metro East St. Louis Illinois area, the law firm to go to is Kassin and Carrow.

Getting Answers About Supplemental Security Income

Everybody who considers SSI disability benefits has a lot of questions. That is the reason why it's so imperative that you get an experienced disability law office in St. Louis in your corner. While there is no way to substitute an experienced attorney with a single article, this quick read from the law offices of Kassin and Carrow should ensure you get on track to finding the answers you'll need.

What's the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and how can I apply?

SSI provides financial assistance to individuals with limited income and resources who are age 65 or older, blind, or handicapped. Children with disabilities can get SSI, also. To find out if you can get SSI and learn to apply, talk with a specialized disability lawyer like Kassin and Carrow or visit the Social Security Administration website.

What do I need to report to Social Security if I get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

You will be required to report any changes in your status which may affect the amount of the benefits you get from the SSA. Some items that may impact the amount of your disability benefits include considerable changes to your income or resources.

If I marry, is it going to impact my benefits?

If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you get married, your benefit will remain the same. That’s not necessarily the case with SSI benefits, widow and widower benefits, or divorcee benefits. With SSI, your spouse’s income and resources could affect the benefits you get. When it comes to widow or widower benefits, you will lose your benefits if you remarry before age 60, or age 50 if you are disabled too. For divorcee benefits or benefits for those under 19 years of age, you will lose your benefits upon marriage.

How do Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments differ?

The two programs are financed differently. Employment taxes mostly finance Social Security retirement, survivors and disability insurance benefits. Normally, Social Security benefits are paid to qualified workers and their households, according to the worker’s earnings. On the other hand, general taxes fund the SSI program, which serves the needy. SSI eligibility depends largely on limited income and resources.

How can I become a representative payee for someone receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits?

If you have a friend getting Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits who needs assistance managing their payments, you should contact your local Social Security office about becoming their representative payee or talk to a disability lawyer in St. Louis, St. Peters, MO or Edwardsville, Illinois.

If I receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and work, do I have to report my earnings to Social Security?

The law requires you to report your wages when you get SSI.

How do I get state supplementary payments for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Most states supplement payments to SSI recipients. The amount of these payments differ from state-to-state and reflect differences in regional living costs. For example, the supplemental state payment would be lower for someone located in Missouri compared to a place like New York, which has a higher cost of living as a whole.

Can a noncitizen obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

The laws and regulations with regards to noncitizens vary for the Social Security and SSI programs. The Social Security Administration administers both, although they have different eligibility requirements. Some noncitizens do qualify for SSI.

I am leaving foster care; will it matter what age I am when I file for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

It does not matter what age you are whenever you leave foster care. Effective August 1, 2016, you may file for SSI benefits as much as 180 days before leaving foster care, irrespective of your age.

Though we made an effort to pick a few of the more common questions about Supplemental Security Income, this list is scarcely exhaustive. The best thing that you can do if you're planning to request disability benefits or if you have questions regarding your current benefits, the best thing that can be done is to get in touch with the law offices of Kassin and Carrow. They have experience in disability law in St. Peters, Missouri and Edwardsville, Illinois.