Tag Archives: when to file

Social Security Basics: “How long do I need to be off work?”

If you, or a loved one, are diagnosed with a severe or aggressive condition, you may qualify to be immediately approved!

     One question that I am asked frequently by folks considering applying for Social Security Disability is “How long do I need to be off work?”  This question is based on a slight misunderstanding of the Social Security rules.  Your medical condition, or combination of conditions, that prevents you from working must have lasted or be expected to last a minimum of one year, (or be expected to result in death), in order for you to qualify for Social Security Disability.  That year does not need to have passed, in order for you to file your application.  If your condition is not expected to get better, or if a long course of treatment is planned that would take you out past one year, then you can file your initial application.  If there is clear medical evidence that you will be unable to work for at least a full year, there is no need to wait for the year to elapse before starting!

If you have not been off work for an entire year, but your condition is expected to last at least that long, you should apply right away.

      If your condition is not expected to get better, or if a long course of treatment is planned that would take you out past one year, then you can file your initial application.  If there is clear medical evidence that you will be unable to work for at least a full year, there is no need to wait for the year to elapse before starting!

     If you have not been off work for an entire year, but your condition is expected to last at least that long, you should apply right away. Benefits can’t begin until you have been disabled for five months, and an initial application usually takes 3-5 months (sometimes longer) to process, so the sooner you file your application, the sooner you may get your benefits.

     Of course, Social Security may deny your claim initially anyway, in which case you should appeal the decision.  We have had several clients who hit the one-year duration mark while we were in the appeals process.  A Social Security claim can take up to two years (sometimes longer) from the initial application until adjudication at a hearing, so the sooner you start, the better.

     If your diagnosis is terminal, Social Security will make every effort to expedite the processing of your claim.  I find it heartening that we don’t receive many inquiries for assistance from people with terminal conditions; I take this to mean that Social Security is doing the right thing and approving them right away.

     Social Security has a list of conditions that are automatically approved, called Compassionate Allowances Conditions – if you, or a loved one, are diagnosed with a severe or aggressive condition, you may qualify to be immediately approved!  Check the following list at Social Security’s website:

http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm

     When you file your application, be sure to point out that you believe your condition is on the list.

     I also receive calls with a variation on this question, from folks who are still working: “How can I get my Social Security started, so I can stop working?”  This call is not from people who are attempting to somehow ‘game’ the system, but rather folks who have been told by their doctors that they should stop working, or people who know that their work activity is exacerbating their medical conditions – but who can’t afford to stop working without a guarantee of income.  Unfortunately, this is one of the many Catch 22s of the Social Security Disability world – there is no way to get your benefits started up, until you stop working*. 

     One of the first things that Social Security will do, when you file your application, is look up your recent and current earnings.  If you are still working at a level considered above SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity), then they will not even order your medical records.  The fact that you are working, proves that you can – whether or not your doctor has said that you shouldn’t, whether or not you are in pain, whether or not working is causing your condition to get worse.

     Please, do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about Social Security Disability.

 

*There is a level of earnings under which Social Security doesn’t count your income against you; this level is called “Substantial Gainful Activity”, and it can vary from year to year. In 2013, earnings under $1,040 per month are considered less than Substantial Gainful Activity, though any earnings will cause Social Security to more closely scrutinize your claim (considering, for example, whether you could perform your currently part-time job on a full-time basis, etc.).  A year-by-year look at the Substantial Gainful Activity amounts can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html

 

Photo credit: Viewminder / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

When Should I File for Social Security Disability?

Today’s post comes from guest author Barbara Tilker from Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano. Causey Law Firm can assist you with your application for Social Security disability benefits if you are in the Puget Sound region.

Filing for Social Security Disability (SSD) can be a lengthy process. Every case is different, and some are processed faster than others. However, we’ve found that it takes the Social Security Administration (SSA) between four (4) to six (6) months to make an initial decision.  If that decision is unfavorable (and about 70% of initial decisions are denials), it can take between eight (8) to twelve (12) months to have a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) scheduled. A year to a year-and-a-half wait is not uncommon.

You should file as soon as you know that you will be out of work for at least twelve (12) straight months OR if your condition is expected to result in death.

Due to the lengthy process, you should file for SSD as soon as possible. You should file as soon as you know that you will be out of work for at least twelve (12) straight months OR if your condition is expected to result in death. If you will not be out of work that long, you should not apply for SSD, unless your condition is expected to result in death. You should talk to y our doctor to see how long he/she expects you to be unable to work.  Your doctor’s support is incredibly important to your case – something we’ll talk more about in the future – so talk to him/her before making the decision to apply.

In order to make sure that you get the maximum amount of benefits you’re entitled to, your application must be filed within 17 full months from the time that you become disabled and unable to work. If you’ve already been out of work for a year or more, consider putting in an application right away to prevent any loss of benefits you would otherwise be entitled to.

Once you’ve spoken to your doctor and made the decision to apply, contact our office to schedule an appointment.