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As of 2023, there have been no recent notable changes in the SSDI application process. However, there have been some changes in the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and work credit requirements that can directly affect the eligibility process.

People going through bariatric surgery do this to improve their morbid obesity. Once the Social Security Administration finds that your condition has improved, they are likely to terminate disability benefits.

Luckily, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program does offer benefits to individuals with obesity. It evaluates obesity based on the functional limitations it causes.

Yes, they can. As long as they fulfill the requirements of the SDI program and have paid into the program through their payroll taxes, government employees can be eligible for State Disability Insurance programs.

Yes, it is possible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits along with retirement pensions, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. When you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), you cannot receive both full SSDI benefits and full retirement benefits simultaneously.

To file a successful appeal with the SSA, it is important to file for an appeal as soon as possible, submit all the necessary paperwork, draft an effective appeal letter, provide new medical evidence, and maybe even consider hiring a qualified disability lawyer to represent you. 

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) “Blue Book” lists many chronic illnesses for SSDI benefits. If your illness is listed and criteria are met, you may qualify. If not listed, a medical-vocational allowance may allow qualification considering your condition, age, education, work experience, and skills.

The SSDI five-month waiting period starts on your disability onset date and ends five months later. You can collect benefits the month after. Your first benefit payment will be for the sixth full month after your disability began. This period doesn’t apply if your disability results from ALS.

An employer is bound by law to provide legal rights and proper accommodation to disabled workers. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act, the Work Force Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. 

Supplemental Security Income is available for those who are aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled. SSI also has additional requirements relating to an individual’s income and resources. To qualify, you must make less than $1,913 per month in wages as a single person or less than $2,827 per month as a married couple.

If you’re navigating the SSDI process for rare diseases, the SSA has two initiatives in place that can facilitate SSDI benefits even if the applicant’s condition is not listed in its Listing of Impairments. These two initiatives are the medical-vocational allowance and the compassionate allowance program.

Maximizing your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit amount can enhance your back pay, which is essentially your past-due SSDI benefits. Factors like the strength of your medical evidence and your work credits can impact this.

It’s simple: SSDI is a disability benefits program provided by the federal government, whereas private disability insurance is a contract between an insurance carrier and the insured. Private disability insurance also generally has less stringent definitions of disability than SSDI.

Disabled children may qualify for SSI. Parents’ income is factored in, but not all is counted. Benefits can also be based on a parent’s Social Security record. A child can get up to 50% of the parent’s benefit. The parental allowance for one parent is $914; for two, it’s $1,371.

You can maximize your SSDI benefits through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), obtaining spousal benefits based on your record, filing as soon as possible, taking up a part-time job that falls under the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, and applying for back pay.

If your health has improved or you have started working again, the Social Security Administration can reconsider your claim and terminate your benefits. They may also terminate your benefits for a variety of other reasons, like in the case of non-cooperation.

Vocational experts play a pivotal role during the ALJ hearing. They provide expert opinions on the claimant’s occupational abilities based on their medical conditions, educational background, work history, and age. Their testimony can significantly influence the judge’s decision.

As a veteran, if you’re disabled, you may qualify for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, provided you meet certain work history requirements. Receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits doesn’t disqualify you from other programs. You can receive SSDI benefits in addition to your VA benefits.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes neurological disorders as disabling and offers benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. This assistance aims to alleviate the monetary stress associated with these disorders. Eligibility requires meeting certain criteria.

SSDI is inflation-adjusted via the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). Each year, the Social Security Administration determines if the next year’s benefit will include a COLA, ensuring the purchasing power of benefits isn’t eroded by inflation. The 2023 COLA increased the average benefit by $146.