Disability - a word we never think about. It will never happen to us. Yet, one in four Americans will face long term disability before they reach retirement age.
What happens when your pay check suddenly stops but the rent or mortgage keeps right on going? How do you buy groceries, pay the utilities, the insurance, the car payment? When the pay suddenly stops, you realize you have a dozen bills you never even thought about before.
The program that most disabled Americans fall back on is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). It's a program you paid into by payroll deduction (FICA) during all the years you worked. You can usually file a claim for benefits within 5 years of the date you stopped working. After that, your coverage probably has expired.
The maximum benefit from Social Security disability is $3,011 per month for an individual. The exact amount is based on your lifetime earnings and FICA paid. Most people will get at least $1,200 per month, some a lot more. The benefit is individualized to your account and work record.
Some things you need to know about Social Security disability:
1. It does not provide any benefit for temporary disability; you must be unable to work for at least 12 straight months.
2. It does not pay for the first 5 months of disability.
3. You must have enough recent work credits to be covered. Generally, you should have worked at least 5 out of the past 10 years.
4. You must have a severe medical condition that prevents your ability to work a full-time job, and this must be proven with objective medical evidence from your doctor.
5. The odds are your claim will be denied at the initial step and will require months of appeals to be approved. It takes around 5 to 6 months to get the initial decision back. Up to 80 percent of these are denials (often in error). The following 6 to 12 months will be spend in appeals.
6. You may proceed on your own (without an attorney) but this is risky. The appeals process is technical, requiring you (the claimant) to prove that you meet the rigid and technical rules of the Social Security Act and all its appurtenant regulations. Representation will increase your chance of being approved, and the representative can't charge you a fee until after you win and receive your back pay.
SOME WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
- Put aside some regular savings to cover a few months of disability--to give you time to get Social Security started. It isn't quick or easy.
- Enroll in your employer's group disability plan if you can. Get short term disability (STD) and long term disability (LTD) if offered.
- At least consult with a disability advocate or attorney before you file your Social Security claim. Often, this can save you countless mistakes and delays--and it won't cost you a penny.
- Don't depend on advice from a relative, neighbor, friend or co-worker. They mean well, but no two SSDI claims are alike. They are different in at least 15 ways. No "one size fits all," and advice based on someone else's claim may be the absolute wrong advice for your claim. Talk to an expert, a professional.
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Huntsville, AL 35806
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