What's The Five Month Waiting Period On Social Security Disability?

Disability claimants who are approved to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits (referred to as SSDI, SSD, and Title II disability benefits) are subject to a five-month waiting period before Social Security owes the claimant disability benefits. This means that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will withhold five months of an accepted claimant's benefits before commencing monthly payments (or, more likely, before determining back payments owed to the claimant, since it takes so long to get a disability approval). 

Exceptions to the Waiting Period

SSI claimants who've been approved to receive disability benefits aren't subject to the five-month waiting period. SSI claimants will be qualified to receive their very first payment on the first of the month after they submit an application for disability (but they will likely receive the first few months' payments in SSI back payments, since the SSA takes no less than a couple of months to grant disability benefits).

If you were approved for SSDI benefits, went back to work, stopped getting benefits, and then become disabled again, you won't need to wait five months to get benefits, provided no more than five years has passed between your first onset date of disability and the second. This is called expedited reinstatement.

If you are trying to get benefits as the child of a disabled employee, your application isn't at the mercy of any waiting period.

When the Waiting Period Starts

The five-month waiting period starts on the claimant's established onset date (EOD) of disability. (This is the date that the SSA states the claimant became disabled.) Hence the date of entitlement to Social Security benefits (when the claimant will be owed a monthly payment) does not start until five months after the EOD.

For more great information about SSI and SSDI benefits, call Kassin and Carrow today at 1-800-273-8380!

What Is the Difference Between Social Security Disability (SSDI) and SSI?

The main difference between Social Security Disability (SSD, or SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the fact that SSD is available for workers who've accumulated a sufficient number of work credits, while SSI disability benefits are around for low-income individuals who have either never worked or who haven't earned enough work credits to qualify for SSD.

While many individuals don't distinguish between SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), they are two totally different governmental programs. While both programs are overseen and handled by the Social Security Administration, and medical eligibility is determined in the same fashion for both programs, there are distinct differences between the two.

What Is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income is a program that's strictly need-based, as outlined by income and assets, and is financed by general fund taxes. SSI is called a "means-tested program," meaning it does not have anything to do with work history, but purely with financial need. To meet the SSI income requirements, you need to have less than $2,000 in assets (or $3,000 for a couple) and a very limited income.

Disabled people who are eligible under the income requirements for SSI are also able to receive Medicaid in the state they live in. Most people who are eligible for SSI will also qualify for food stamps, and the amount an eligible person will receive is based on where they live and the amount of regular, monthly income they have. SSI benefits will begin on the first of the month when you first submit your application.

What Is SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance is financed through payroll taxes. SSDI recipients are viewed as "insured" because they have worked for a particular number of years and have made contributions to the Social Security trust fund in the form of FICA Social Security taxes. SSDI candidates must be younger than 65 and have attained a particular number of "work credits." After getting SSDI for two years, a disabled individual will become eligible for Medicare.

Under SSDI, a disabled person's spouse and children dependents are eligible to receive partial dependent benefits, known as auxiliary benefits. Nevertheless, only adults over the age of 18 can be given the SSDI disability benefit.

There's a five-month waiting period for benefits, which means the SSA will not pay you benefits for the first five months once you become impaired. The amount of the monthly benefit after the waiting period is over depends on your earnings record, like the Social Security retirement benefit.

Kassin And Carrow are ready and willing to help you with any needs you have with SSI or SSDI benefits. Give them a call right now and schedule a consultation.

Disability Benefits For Veterans

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces with issues connected to, or exacerbated by, active service can be qualified to receive veterans disability benefits. After the veteran has sent applications for benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assesses the medical evidence and determines whether the veteran is eligible for benefits. The VA then assigns the disability a rating level, which determines the quantity of monetary compensation the veteran will receive because of his handicap or disease.

Disability Ratings

To be able to be eligible for veterans disability benefits, specific criteria must be met. If the VA determines that a the veteran qualifies for disability benefits, it assigns the disability a rating to indicate the degree of the disability or disease. The disability rating represents the "average detriment to earning capacity" as a result of the disability or disease.

The ratings are assigned in 10% increments, starting from 10% to 100% handicapped. A higher disability rating indicates the veteran has a more severe disability, and subsequently receives a greater monthly compensation payment. For example, under the current rates for veterans without dependents, a 10% handicapped veteran is entitled to $123 monthly, a 50% disabled veteran is eligible for $770 per month, and a 100% (or entirely) disabled veteran is eligible for $2,673 every month. Usually, the compensation rates are subject to a yearly cost of living increase.

The law also provides for special compensation rates for many enumerated, more serious disabilities or injuries. Injuries like loss of a single hand or foot, blindness or severe injury to one eye, loss of ability to talk, and deafness, to name a few examples, are eligible for an increase of $96 every month per injury (maximum $4,667 per month) over the base compensation rate. Loss of both hands, both feet, blindness in both eyes, or a permanent bedridden state entitles the veteran to $3,327 compensation each month. The law also lists other disabilities that may merit higher, specific payments. Additionally, the statute enables the Secretary of the VA to approve higher payments for more serious disabilities if necessary, with a maximum of $4,667 per month.

If you are a veteran and you feel that you are entitled to disability benefits, call Kassin and Carrow today for a consultation.

What Does "Social Security Disability" Mean?

The definition of disability under Social Security differs from other programs. Social Security pays just for total disability. No benefits are payable for limited impairment or even for temporary disability.

"Disability" under Social Security is dependent on your inability to work. They consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:
•   You can't do work which you did before;
•   We determine that you can't adjust to other work due to your medical condition(s); and
•   Your disability has lasted or is anticipated to last for around one year or to result in death.

This is a rigid definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families get access to other resources to give support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

Along with meeting our definition of disability, you need to have worked long enough--and recently enough--under Social Security to be eligible for disability benefits.

Social Security work credits are derived from your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can make as much as four credits annually.

The amount required for a credit changes from year to year. In 2014, for instance, you earn one credit for every $1,200 of wages or self-employment income. When you have earned $4,800, you have made your four credits for the year.

The number of work credits you will need to be eligible for disability benefits will depend on your age whenever you came to be disabled. Usually, you'll need forty credits, twenty of which were earned in the past decade ending with the year you become impaired. But, younger workers may be considered with less credits.

Having the appropriate attorney can greatly expedite the process of applying for disability. Kassin and Carrow would be honored to help you as you seek to get social security disability benefits. If you live in or near St. Louis or the Metro East Illinois area, contact them today.

Information That You Need To Apply For Disability

We advise that you have the following information close at hand. It'll make finishing the application forms a lot easier for your attorney.

Information About You 

•   Your date and place of birth as well as your Social Security number
•   The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your present husband or wife and any previous spouse. It's also wise to know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if applicable)
•   Names and dates of birth of your minor kids
•   Your lender or other financial institution's Routing Transit Number and also the account number, if you would like the benefits to be electronically deposited

Information Regarding Your Medical Condition

•   Name, phone number and address of somebody you'd like to have contacted that knows of your health conditions and that can assist with your application process
•   Comprehensive information regarding your medical ailments, injuries or conditions:
   Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient identification numbers and dates of treatment for every doctor, hospital, and clinic;
   Names of medications you're taking and who administered them; and
   Names and dates of medical tests you've had and who sent you for them.

Information Regarding Your Livelihood

•   The money earned this past year and this present year
•   The address and name of your employer(s) for this year and last year
•   A copy of your Social Security Statement
•   The starting and closing dates of any active U.S. military service that you had prior to 1968
•   A summary of the jobs (as much as five) that you had in the fifteen years prior to becoming unable to work and the dates you worked at those jobs

•   Information about workers' compensation, black lung, and similar benefits you filed, or plan to apply for. These benefits can:
   Be short-term or long-term in nature;
   Include annuities and lump sum transfers that you got in the past;
   Be paid from your employer or your employer's insurance company, private agencies, or Federal, State or any other government or public agencies; and
   Be known as:
1.   Workers' Compensation;
2.   Black Lung Benefits;
3.   Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation;
4.   Civil Service (Disability) Retirement;
5.   Federal Employees' Retirement;
6.   Federal Employees' Compensation;
7.   State or local government disability insurance benefits; or
8.   Disability benefits from the armed forces (Including military retirement pensions based on disability but not Veterans' Administration (VA) benefits.)

Applying for disability can be a tough task to take on. Call the offices of Kassin And Carrow today at 636-936-8300 or visit their website at www.kassincarrow.com. They will work hard to ensure that you get the disability benefits that you deserve.

What's The Best Time To Apply For Disability Benefits Through Social Security?

It is vitally important that you apply for disability benefits as soon as possible when you become disabled. It can take a very long time to process an application for disability benefits ( usually around three to five months). To submit an application for disability benefits, you will want to complete an application for Social Security benefits. By hiring an attorney and compiling some information, it is possible to expedite the process. The information that will be needed includes:


•   Your Social Security number
•   Your birth or baptismal certificate
•   Names, addresses and phone numbers of the doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics that took care of you and dates of your visits
•   Names and dosage of all the medicine you take
•   Medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers that you already have in your possession
•   Laboratory and test results
•   A summary of where you worked and the kind of work you did
•   A copy of your most recent W-2 Form (Wage and Tax Statement) or, if you are self-employed, your federal tax return for the past year.

On top of the basic application for disability benefits, there's some other forms you will need to fill out that a lawyer can help you with. One form gathers information on your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. Other forms give doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals who've treated you permission to send out information about your medical condition. Don't delay in applying for benefits!

If you think that you may qualify, contact Kassin and Carrow today so that you can get the benefits that you deserve fast!

The Basics Of Disability Benefits

Disability is one thing people don't like to contemplate. However the probability that you'll become disabled likely are higher than you know. Research has revealed that a twenty year old worker has a twenty-five percent chance of being disabled before achieving full retirement age. This page offers fundamental information on Social Security disability benefits and is not meant to resolve all issues. For more specified information regarding your circumstances, you should talk with an expert, like those at Kassin and Carrow. The government pays disability benefits with two programs: the Social Security disability insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

Social Security offers benefits to individuals who can't work having had a medical problem that's expected to last no less than one year or result in death. Federal law demands this strict definition of disability. While many programs give money to those with partial disability or short-term disability, Social Security doesn't. Certain family members of disabled workers also can get money from Social Security.

To find out more about disability benefits and to find out if you qualify, visit our website today. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!