Social Security Disability
APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND SSI
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, also called DIB, SSD, or Title 2 benefits, are for any disabled person who can no longer work, but who has the required history of working. The disabled person's spouse, dependent children and parents, and even a divorced spouse might also be able to get DIB. This program is an insurance program while a person works he or she pays money into the Social Security system and is eligible to get benefits if he or she becomes disabled and can no longer work. Who can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? SSI, also called Title 16, benefits are for any person who is blind, disabled or elderly (65 or over) and who meets certain income and resource rules. You do not need to have a work history. The income rules depend on your living arrangements and whether you apply as a single person or couple. Resources include cash, savings, investments and valuables. But they do not include a needed car, your home, ordinary belongings, or some life insurance policies. How can I get SSI if I'm aged or blind? If you are applying for SSI as aged, you must show that you are 65 or over. If you are applying for SSI as blind, you must give evidence that you have corrected vision of 20/200 or worse in your better eye. How can I get benefits for a disability? To get benefits from the DIB or SSI disability programs you must show you are "disabled." "Disabled" means that a physical and/or mental impairment or impairments keep you from working any regular, paying job. Your disability must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death. It is normally not enough to show that you cannot do your old job. You must show that you cannot do any kind of full-time work, taking into consideration your age, education and experience. Different rules apply if you are over 50 years of age. You cannot get benefits if you are able to work, even if no one will hire you. When should I apply for the DIB and SSI programs? Apply as soon as possible after disability occurs. You do not need to wait 12 months to apply. An application for DIB may also be filed after the death of a disabled worker. You must apply within three months of the worker's death. If the claim is approved, back payments may be made for some months before the worker died. Where do I apply for Social Security programs? You must make an appointment to apply. You can make this appointment at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213. What evidence should I include with my application? To get SSI or DIB, you must have medical evidence that shows you have some physical or mental impairment(s) that makes you unable to work. Medical evidence includes doctor or hospital reports, chart notes, test results, and letters. The more medical evidence you have the better chance you will have of winning benefits. List all the medical evidence that you have when you apply. Are there special rules if my disability is based on alcoholism or drug addiction? Beginning in April, 1996, people who are disabled because of the current use of alcohol or another drug are not eligible to receive benefits. If you have a drug addiction or alcohol problem your disability must be caused by another medical problem that makes you unable to work in order to be eligible for benefits. The basic test is: would you still be disabled if you stopped using drugs or alcohol? If so, then you are eligible for benefits. What happens after I apply? The SSA will contact your doctors and request records. They also may send you to a doctor for an evaluation. Whenever possible you should try to take copies of your medical records to the doctor because the doctor will usually have no records of your medical history. Can I get other help while waiting for Social Security benefits? While you are waiting for a decision by SSA you may be able to get General Assistance from the State of Oregon if you are single or have a disabled spouse, and have very little in the way of financial resources. You must have medical evidence showing that you will be disabled at least one year. You will also be asked to sign a statement saying you will pay back welfare for your General Assistance if you get SSI benefits. If you do not get those benefits you do not have to repay welfare. What happens if I'm found to be eligible for benefits? If you are found eligible for DIB, you will get benefits beginning 5 full months after you became disabled, but only for a maximum of 12 months before you applied for benefits. If you are eligible for SSI, you will get benefits back the first day of the month after the month in which you applied, or later if Social Security believes your disability began after you applied. If you were getting General Assistance you may have to pay back the state out of your retroactive benefit check. [ Top ]
Many people do not get benefits when they first apply, but don't be discouraged. You can many times get benefits by appealing and having a Social Security hearing. Most people are denied benefits because the SSA thinks:
If you think Social Security was wrong in denying you DIB or SSI benefits you can fight the decision by: asking for a reconsideration and (if you still don't get benefits) (2) then asking for a hearing. (You have to go through a reconsideration before you can ask for a hearing.)
To get the SSA to reconsider your claim you must write the local Social Security Office within 60 days of the denial of benefits. You must also sign and give SSA a form entitled "Request for Reconsideration." Your case will be reviewed again and you will be notified by mail of the decision. Most of the time you will again be turned down. Do not be discouraged if your claim is denied at first or on reconsideration. Many people win their cases at hearings.
If your request for reconsideration is denied, you can appeal the decision by asking for a hearing. The hearing is your chance to explain your situation face-to-face to someone who can grant you benefits. You can have a lawyer represent you at the hearing. (See below.) Many people win benefits after the hearing, so it is worth trying. If you don't appeal your case you can apply again later, but you might no longer be eligible for benefits or you might get a smaller amount of retroactive benefits. You must ask for a hearing in writing within 60 days of the date of denial of reconsideration. Forms for appeal are available from any Social Security office. On the form for requesting a hearing, be sure to mark the box by saying that you want to "appear" at your hearing. [ Top ]
After you request a hearing it usually (but not always) takes approximately 18 months for the Social Security hearings offices in Oregon to set a hearing date. Social Security will tell you the date and place at least 20 days in advance. The hearing will usually be held within 75 miles of your home. If the hearing will be held more than 75 miles from your home you and your witnesses will be paid back for reasonable travel expenses.
An administrative law judge will run the hearing. The judge's job is to make an independent decision based on the evidence in your case. This evidence includes medical records, other documents, and testimony you and others give at the hearing. The judge will question you about your disability. The hearing is private and is held in a small conference room. The only people at the hearing will be the judge, the judge's assistant, you, your representative, and any witnesses. The judge will usually also ask a "vocational expert" to testify and sometimes also ask a "medical advisor" to testify. The hearing will be tape-recorded.
You can go to the hearing with a lawyer. You do not have to have a lawyer, but if you can get a lawyer to represent you, you have a better chance of winning. It is important to obtain an attorney with experience in representing Social Security disability claimants. You should ask the attorney you talk to how many years of experience he or she has with Social Security representation and how many hearings he or she has handled. An attorney can help you with:
An attorney will usually expect a fee for representing you, and normally you will be charged a fee only if you win your case. The fee must be approved by the Social Security Administration and is usually in the amount of 25% of your back benefits. Talk to the lawyer about the fees when you first contact the attorney. Make sure you understand and agree to any fee agreement you sign. You will also be responsible for what are called "out of pocket" costs of your case whether you win or lose. These costs usually involve charges by medical providers for copying costs or letters, and in a typical case are less than $100.00. [ Top ] PREPARING FOR A DISABILITY HEARING
It is usually very important to prepare for a Social Security hearing. Your chances of winning the hearing are much better if you take time long before the hearing to:
It is part of an attorney's job to take care of these things. [ Top ]
You need to prove that you have a serious medical problem that has lasted or that will last for at least 12 months, or will result in death, and that keeps you from working. You do this with:
What kind of medical evidence do I need? SSA helps you gather medical information for your case, but sometimes they do not have all the medical information that is available. It is important that your SSA file has all of the medical information in your case (from your treating doctor, medical specialists who have seen you, any hospital records, etc.). If you think there is anything else the judge should see before making a decision in your case, you can ask the judge if you can add that information after the hearing. [ Top ]
1. Medical Condition The judge will ask how your medical condition makes you feel. You should tell the judge about the symptoms you experience such as pain, dizziness, numbness, nausea or paralysis as well as you can. For example, if your case involves pain, you might be asked: Is the pain burning, stabbing, crushing, sharp, throbbing, radiating or aching? Do your activities affect the pain? What do you do to relieve pain? What medicine do you take for pain? How well does the medication work? Are there any side effects from the pain medication? Before the hearing, you should make notes to yourself about what conditions you have and how they affect you. Don't leave anything out.
The judge may ask you how often you see your doctor, what sort of treatment your doctor provides, what medication you are presently taking, how often you take each medication and whether there are any side effects. You may also be asked to describe the symptoms and treatment of your medical condition since it began. You may be asked what your doctor has told you about your problem, but the judge won't ask you medical questions about your disability. 3. Physical Abilities If you have a physical disability, the judge will ask you a lot of questions about what you are able to do. For example: How far you can walk before resting; How long you can sit and stand at one time during an eight-hour day; How much you can lift. 4. Mental Abilities The judge will ask about your ability to understand, carry out and remember instructions, to use good judgment, to respond appropriately to supervision, co-workers, usual work situations, and changes in your work setting.
The judge will ask you how far you went in school, if you have had any training in the military, if you can read and write, and if you have had any job training.
The judge will ask you about the jobs you have had during the past 15 years. If your condition caused you to miss a lot of work or caused you to stop working, you should explain this.
The judge will ask you a lot of questions to find out how your disability affects you. For example: How do you spend your time during the whole day; How well you usually sleep; If you take naps during the day; What things you do around the house, such as cooking, housework, or gardening; If you go shopping; If you drive a car; What hobbies and activities you have now. You may also be asked how your daily routine has changed since you became disabled. For example, what kinds of activities did you do before you became disabled that you can't do now? [ Top ]
You can bring relatives, friends or others to the hearing as witnesses. Good witnesses are persons who see you regularly and see how your medical condition affects you. The best witnesses are usually not friends or relatives, but someone else who knows you, such as a neighbor or former boss. Witnesses should talk about the activities that you are not able to do.
Usually the judge will ask a vocational expert to testify at the hearing, at SSA's expense. A "vocational expert" will testify whether or not your disabilities make a job too hard for you to do, and which jobs you might be able to perform in spite of your disabilities.
Sometimes the judge will ask a doctor or psychologist to testify at your hearing. The medical advisor is paid by SSA to help the judge decide if you have a serious medical problem that keeps you from being able to work. [ Top ]
It often takes a few months to receive a decision from the judge. It is very unusual for a judge to announce a decision at the hearing.
If you win benefits, you will get DIB benefits retroactively depending on the date that you applied and on the date the judge says you became disabled. For SSI, you can only get benefits as far back as the first day of the next month after your application. The judge may also request that you have a "representative payee" if you have trouble handling money. This is a person who gets your checks on your behalf. If a representative payee is recommended you should think about who would be willing to help you in this way. SSA will ask for your suggestions.
If you lose your hearing you can ask that your case be reviewed by the Social Security Appeals Council. You must make this request within 60 days of your unfavorable hearing decision. Your attorney will normally do this for you. If the Appeals Council refuses to review your case or decides against you, you have another 60 days to appeal to the U.S. District Court in your area. You will need a lawyer to appeal your case to the federal court.
If you are getting SSI or DIB, Social Security may review your case at some time to see if your medical condition has improved and, as a result, if you are now able to work. If SSA reviews your case, and if you are still disabled, try to get medical evidence from your doctor that shows that your condition has stayed the same or is now worse. It is also very important to get a lawyer to represent you if you can. If Social Security decides to terminate your benefits, you can appeal the decision. You will have 60 days to make a written request for an appeal. But, if you make a request within 10 days, your benefits will stay the same until you have a hearing and the Administrative Law Judge has made a decision on your case. If you receive an unfavorable notice, appeal immediately! If you lose the appeal you may be asked to pay back the benefits as an overpayment. [ Top ]
You will get a notice of overpayment if the SSA thinks they paid you more money than you should have received. If this happens, you can: 1) File for reconsideration if you think the amount of the overpayment is wrong or there was no overpayment. 2) File for a waiver of repayment if you think the overpayment was not your fault and you cannot repay the money. A request for a waiver asks SSA to free you from having to pay back the overpayment. If you do not want your checks reduced while you are contesting the overpayment, SSA should stop trying to collect the overpayment if you a) ask for reconsideration or waiver within 30 days of the date of the overpayment notice, or b) ask for waiver at a later time. (If your request is more than 30 days after the date of the overpayment notice, SSA probably will have started to try to collect the overpayment. But they should stop when you make your request.) If the overpayment is not successfully contested, and SSA does not waive the overpayment, and you are continuing to receive benefits SSA will recover the overpayment from the money you are being paid. If you are not receiving benefits it is very unlikely that SSA will take action against you to collect the moneys. Normally SSA will simply wait until you are again entitled to benefits and recover the overpayment at that time, without interest. [ Top ]
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