Posts under ‘Useful Sites’

People often ask, “Do I have to pay taxes on Social Security benefits?”
Here is the answer directly from Social Security:
Some people who get Social Security will have to pay taxes on their benefits. Less than one-third of our current beneficiaries pay taxes on their benefits.
You will have to pay federal taxes on your benefits if you file a [...]

This is just pure gold.  I wish I could take credit for finding this, but Gordon Gates deserves major kudos for discovering this service.
…there is a number (not a person) to call to inquire about a Social Security disability claim. Call the automated file locator number: 1-410-965-8882. The number is available only during business hours. You will be [...]

Before you put yourself through the drudgery of going down to your local Social Security office, check the Social Security website to see if you can take care of your problem without going in.  
There are a lot of things you can take care of online.

Would you like to know what percentage of cases the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) assigned to your Social Security disability, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case, approves and denies?
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The Oregonian, the Social Security Administration released the production numbers and approval rates for all of its administrative law [...]

Do you want to know how much you would receive in Social Security benefits if you were disabled, retired, or if your spouse died?  
Social Security has online calculators, as well as calculators you can download (Mac versions too), to help you estimate what your Social Security benefits will be. 
If you have problems using these calculators, Social Security [...]

If you wonder if you are eligible for Social Security benefits, Social Security has an interactive website to help you answer this question.
Visit Social Security’s BEST (Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool). 
BEST checks if you are eligible for the following benefits:

Medicare
Social Security Disability
Social Security Retirement
Social Security Survivors
Special Veterans
Supplemental Security Income

Have you tried BEST, share your experiences in the comments!

Whether you are applying for benefits or need to get a form, sometimes you just need to find the closest Social Security office.
The Social Security website has a great tool to help you find your local Social Security office.
Just enter your zip code and Social Security will tell you which office is closest to you [...]

There are several ways to start an application for Social Security benefits:
At your local Social Security office
While this make take the longest amount of time (depending on the wait times at your local office), applying in person has the advantage of having a live person to ask to if you have a question.  The downside [...]

Paul Nidich has a warning about using the online services at Social Security’s website.
Tuesday I posted a message with information about the Social Security Administration’s new benefits’ estimator and other online services. Use these new tools, but use them with caution. Assume that the “bugs” haven’t yet been worked out of the system, [...]

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) has a great FAQ about Social Security disability claims.
Check it out!

ALISON (Automated Licensure Information System Online), is the online licensing database for the state of Colorado. I previously wrote about how this site is a great resource for finding an address for your doctor.
This site also has another use. If your doctor has been suspended, this will show up Alison.

When you apply for Social Security benefits, you will need to provide the name and address of each doctor you have seen for the last several years.
You may have this information for your current doctors, but finding the addresses for your older doctors may be trickier.
How do I find your doctor’s address if she has [...]

The Bipolar Blog has a great series of posts on applying for Social Security benefits. The first article presents this situation:
My wife feels disabled. She used to teach junior high school Spanish full time for over $60,000 per year. She can no longer work as a full-time teacher, because the stress triggers mania. Believe [...]

Social Security has a great website that describes the hearing process including how to file an appeal, what happens at a hearing, and how to file a complaint if you feel you have been mistreated by an Administrative Law Judge.

The Georgia Work Incentives Planning and Assistance site provides some great overviews of the Social Security system including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
There are even several examples of how monthly benefits are calculated. 
 photo credit: Incase Designs