Social Security-
Questions and Answers on Disability
By Erin Thompson, Public
Affairs Specialist, Toledo, OH
Question:
How do I apply for
disability benefits? And, how long does it take to get a
decision after I apply for disability benefits?
Answer:
You can apply for disability benefits online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityssi/apply.html.
To get a decision on your disability application usually
takes three-to-five months. The time frame can vary
depending on
-
The nature of your disability;
-
How quickly we can get your medical evidence from your
doctor or other medical source;
-
Whether it’s necessary to send you for a medical
examination; and
-
Whether we review your application for quality purposes.
Learn your claim status at
www.socialsecurity.gov/claimstatus.
Question:
I am expecting a child and
will be out of work for six months. Can I qualify for
short-term disability?
Answer:
No. Social Security
pays only for total disability — conditions that render you
unable to work and are expected to last for at least a year
or end in death. No benefits are payable for partial
disability or short-term disability, including benefits
while on maternity leave.
Question:
I have been getting Social
Security disability benefits for many years. I’m about to
hit my full retirement age. What will happen to my
disability benefits?
Answer:
When you reach “full
retirement age” we will switch you from disability to
retirement benefits. But you won’t even notice the change
because your benefit amount will stay the same. It’s just
that when you reach retirement age, we consider you to be a
“retiree” and not a disability beneficiary. To learn more,
visit our website at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question:
I need to apply for disability benefits. Where do I start?
Answer:
Begin by looking at our
Disability Starter Kit. You can find it online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/disability_starter_kits.htm
or you can request a copy by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY
1-800-325-0778). The Disability Starter Kit will help
you prepare for your application and interview. When you are
ready, you can apply online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability or make an
appointment to apply in person at a local Social Security
office.
And remember, our online disability application is
convenient and secure. Don’t stand in line, go online at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question:
My husband has been in
poor health for some time, and doctors have recently
diagnosed him with Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – commonly referred to as Lou
Gehrig’s Disease. I’ve heard Social Security has a
“fast track” for some people who are disabled. Can you tell
me about it?
Answer:
We have two processes to “fast track” applications for
disability benefits. Our Compassionate Allowances initiative
allows us to fast track certain cases of individuals with
very severe disabilities. There are dozens of different
types of disabilities that qualify for this expedited
decision, including ALS, and that list continues to expand.
Learn more about Compassionate Allowances and see the full
list of conditions at
www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
Another way we speed up decisions is with our
Quick Disability Determinations initiative, which uses
technology to identify applicants who have the most severe
disabilities and allows us to expedite our decisions on
those cases. Read more about Quick Disability Determinations
at
www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/qdd.htm.
Question:
I am 57 years old and I currently receive Social Security
disability benefits. Can I still get my regular Social
Security retirement benefits when I reach full retirement
age?
Answer:
If you are still receiving Social Security disability
benefits when you reach your full retirement age, we will
automatically switch you from disability benefits to
retirement benefits at that point. The money amount will
remain the same. For more information, visit our website on
disability benefits at
www.socialsecurity.gov/disability. |