Pennsylvania SSI Lawyers
HOW DO I RECEIVE INCOME FROM SOCIAL SECURITY BECAUSE MY INJURIES HAVE LEFT ME DISABLED?
There are 2 types of income that you might be able to get from Social Security as a result of your injuries. There is SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME (SSDI) and there is SUPPLEMENTAL SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI). Both of these programs require you to be disabled, but they have very different requirements.
SSDI, Social Security Disability Income, requirements include
- You must have a permanent disability that will last for at least one year.
- You must not be able to earn an income greater than $1,000.00 per month.
- You must have worked and paid into the social security system at a rate high enough to have earned this income. At least 50% of these earnings must have been in the 10 years prior to your disability. If you are under age 22, you can make use of your parent’s earnings for this category.
Applications for SSDI are at an all time high. It was hard to get SSDI in the past; now it is even harder. Currently about 60% of initial applications are denied. In the reconsideration stage, denials are approximately 80%. Even the government web site for the Social Security Administration strongly advises you to get an attorney to help wade through this complicated and frustrating process. The SSDI specialist attorneys at Reiff & Bily have vast experience working with the government to get you SSDI benefits. There will be no fee if they are not successful. When Reiff & Bily get benefits for you they will only take a small portion of your award as their payment. Of course, the initial interview will be without charge.
The second type of income from Social Security is Supplemental SSI. This type of income is not funded by social security taxes. It comes out of general tax revenues. There are very strict guidelines about who is eligible for this help but it also means that it does not depend on your prior work history.
This program is designed to help aged, blind, or disabled people who have little or no income. It provides cash for basic needs like food, clothing and shelter.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Aged means at least 65 years old.
Blind, for this discussion, is "statutory blindness" which means either that your best eye has central visual acuity of 20/200 or less while using a corrective lens or that the visual field in your best eye has a widest diameter angel of only 20 degrees.
For an adult, disabled means that you are over 18 years of age and have been medically determined, either physically or mentally, to be unable to do any substantial gainful activity and can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or will last for over a year.
Supplemental SSI for a child is defined as:
Unmarried, under age 18 or under age 22 and regularly attending school who is either blind or disabled. The definition for blind is the same as for an adult (see above). A disabled child is 18 years old or less, and has been medically determined, either physically or mentally, to have marked and severe functional limitations which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or will last for over a year.
Supplemental SSI requires that you have limited income defined as money gotten from work or money you receive from other sources, such as Social Security benefits, workers compensation, unemployment benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs, friends or relatives; or free food or shelter. Also taken into account are any cash or tangible property that you have. If you try to transfer you assets to someone else to meet the requirements, you will be ineligible for these benefits for up to 36 months.
You will lose your benefits for any month that you leave the United States while receiving Supplemental SSI; If you stay out of the country for more that 30 days, you will have to be back for 30 consecutive days to be eligible again.
To learn more about the terms and conditions of these programs, or to see if you or a loved one qualifies for SSDI/SSI benefits contact one of the experienced Social Security Income and catastrophic injury attorneys in Philadelphia of Reiff & Bily at 1800.421.9595 or on the web at www.ReiffandBily.com for your free consultation.
