Social Security has two different benefit programs for individuals who are disabled.

Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB, also known as SSDI, or Title 2 benefits); and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI or Title 16 benefits).

Because of its name, it is a common misconception that must apply for “Disability Insurance” if you are disabled. Actually, both programs provide disability benefits.  

What is Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB)?

Generally, Disability Insurance Benefits are based on your payroll contribution to Social Security.  To qualify for DIB, you have to have earned enough Social Security credits, in the right time frame, by paying into Social Security through payroll taxes.  

There are several circumstances in which you may not have enough credits for Social Security Disability Insurance:

Continue reading →

Nate Craig of Truth of the Matter Asserted has a great article about what it means if a judge wants you to change the date you became disabled, or in Social Security parlance “amend your alleged onset date (AOD).”
Often, by the time the claimant’s hearing comes to be scheduled, the ALJ will review the file for the first time. During this review, the ALJ will determine if the onset date is established by the medical records. Most factors of a proposal to amend an onset date will be either a specific medical finding that seems to correlate with the claimant’s limitations or the claimant has earning posted to their earnings record, including unemployment benefits.

Long story short, if the Judge is asking you to amend the onset date, they essentially are going to award benefits.
Nate makes a great point, but there is one exception to this general rule of thumb: SSI cases.

Continue reading →

Social Security a bit like car insurance:  you pay your premiums to obtain insurance covered.  

When it comes to Social Security, your premiums are your payroll taxes and the coverage is disability insurance.  

In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, you have to have paid enough into the Social Security system through payroll taxes.  Once you have worked long enough, you become insured for Disability Insurance benefits should you become unable to work.
What happens when you stop paying your premiums?

Continue reading →

Here is a common problem. You apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but then Social Security tells you that your spouse is making too much money for you to be eligible.

How much is too much?

It was surprisingly difficult to track down an answer. But, at long last, I was able to find out that in order to be eligible for Social Security your countable income has to be less than the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). According to Social …

Continue reading →

A lot of things happen after you approved for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

First, Social Security needs to review your financial eligibility.

Second, Social Security must reimburse the State for any interim assistance you received while waiting for your SSI decision. In Colorado, the interim assistance program is called Aid for the Needy Disabled (AND). This means that if you received AND and won your Social Security SSI case, Social Security will first repay the Department of Human Services (Department of Social Services).

Third, Social Security pays out your back benefits in installment payments.

Continue reading →

Updated: 01/01/12.

Supplemental Security Income, SSI for short, pays up to the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR).

For 2012, for the first time in 3 years, the Federal Benefit rate is increasing to $698 and $1,048 for couples. For most people, this means the maximum SSI benefits you can get in 2011 is $698 per month.

in 2011, the FBR was $674 per month.

In 2010, the FBR was $674 per month

In 2009, the FBR was $674 per month.

In 2008, the FBR was $637 per month.

In 2007, the FBR was $623 per month.

The current FBR rate is listed …

Continue reading →