Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Benefits

11/13/08

Which social security benefits are you eligible for? The regulations can be labyrinthine, and trying to puzzle them out can be an exercise in frustration. To work out which disability benefits you may be able to receive, and to find out whether you will be able to earn an income while receiving disability, read on.

Does SSA offer partial disability benefits?

No, you cannot qualify for disability benefits through Social Security if your disability is partial or short term. Social security benefits are available only to applicants who are completely disabled and whose disability is considered likely to last at least a year. (Note that you may continue working while collecting disability benefits if your highest possible income is beneath a certain level.)

Although I am still working, I cannot work the same hours or skill level that I used to, and my income has dropped as a result. Am I still eligible for social security benefits?

Yes, if your income is lower than a certain SSA determined level, you are eligible to file for disability benefits. Social Security changes the maximum income level yearly. You can find the current limit in the official SSA web site or in official SSA booklets.

However, be aware that your earnings in your current job are not the only earnings the state agency will take into account. If you are capable of earning a higher income by changing to another job, you will not be approved for disability benefits. The state agency will consider your training, experience, age, and medical condition when deciding whether you are able to do other work, so you will not be pushed into doing work for which you are untrained or which strains your physical capacity.

According to my doctors, there are no effective treatments for my condition, so why do I have to continue to make office visits?

In the beginning, the state agency that handles your social security benefits will request that you go to doctors several times in order to get a complete evaluation of your medical condition. The doctors you usually go to may not be able to provide enough information; for example, you may need tests or equipment that your doctor does not have. In that case, the state agency may arrange for you to be examined by another doctor.

Once you are determined to be disabled, you will need regular examinations to determine the progress of your medical condition. Not all disabilities are permanent; you may improve enough to return to work, even if there is no medical treatment that can speed your improvement along.

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