When disability disrupts your ability to work, SSDI can provide crucial financial protection and support. Our experienced Client Advocates at Advocator Advantage are here to guide you.
You work hard to support yourself and your family, but sometimes the unexpected can change everything. If you experience disabling events or circumstances that disrupt your life and prevent or limit your ability to work, Social Security Disability (SSDI) can help preserve your financial well-being.
If you are unable to work due to a disabling medical condition, Social Security Disability benefits may be available to replace lost income on a temporary or permanent basis, allowing you to preserve your financial well-being. At Advocator Advantage, our team of experienced Client Advocates can help determine if you are eligible for Social Security Disability benefits and help you receive the benefits to which you are entitled.
SSDI is funded by a portion of the payroll taxes (FICA) that you pay while working and determines what your SSDI benefit amount will be.
These benefits are paid to qualifying workers who can’t work due to severe illnesses or injuries that are expected to last at least one (1) year or result in death.
SSDI is an insurance benefit that you have paid for and earned. SSDI is not welfare. To qualify for SSDI benefits, most disabled workers must have worked and paid FICA taxes for at least five (5) out of the last ten (10) years.
Eligibility for SSDI is based on your work history and medical condition. Here are the key qualifications:
You will qualify for Medicare health insurance coverage after you receive Social Security Disability benefits for two (2) years.
You may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits as you transition back into the workplace.
Social Security Disability benefits may increase each year because of an annual cost-of-living adjustment, and your COBRA coverage may be extended.
You may have potential tax savings, and it may increase your potential Social Security retirement benefits. Your family could receive benefits as well.
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance can feel like a daunting task, but Advocator Advantage is here to help you understand the necessary steps and make the process much more manageable. Here’s how we help you to apply for the benefits that you deserve:
Many SSDI applications are denied on the first attempt due to:
If your condition doesn’t meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability, the application may be rejected. Working with an advocate reduces the chance of a denied application.
SSDI benefits typically last as long as your disabling conditions persist. However, the SSA periodically reviews your case to determine if you remain eligible. Reviews are categorized as follows:
Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE):
Reviewed every 5-7 years.
Medical Improvement Possible (MIP):
Reviewed every 3 years.
Medical Improvement Expected (MIE):
Reviewed every 6-18 months.
If your condition improves and you can work, benefits may be adjusted or discontinued.
I am receiving long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefits. Will I automatically qualify for SSDI benefits?
No. Receipt of private LTD benefits does not impact your claim for SSDI benefits. Likewise, if at some point your LTD benefits are terminated, the fact that you no longer receive LTD benefits would not have a negative impact on your SSDI claim.
Can I receive SSDI benefits for my dependent children?
Yes. Children up to 18, or those who have not graduated from high school, may be entitled to benefits if you become disabled. Generally, dependent children receive 50% of the amount of your monthly SSDI benefit, which is divided equally among all eligible dependents.
How will my benefits be calculated, i.e., how much will I get?
The amount of your monthly benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security and is reduced if you receive other government benefits, such as workers’ compensation – including Black Lung payments – or public disability benefits.
When will my monthly benefits begin?
If your application is approved, your first SSDI monthly benefit will be paid for the sixth full month after the date that SSA determined that you became disabled (Disability Onset Date). For example, if SSA finds that your disability began on June 15, 2021, your first monthly benefit would be paid for the month of December 2021. Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they come due, so the benefit due for December would actually be paid to you in January.
How long will it take for SSA to process my application?
Unfortunately, the process of applying for and being awarded SSDI benefits can be extremely long. Depending on the number of appeals needed to get your case awarded, the process can take anywhere from six months to three or four years.
How long will it take to get my first check after I am awarded?
It can take up to 60 days to receive your first check after you have been awarded. Processing time is generally faster at the initial claim and reconsideration levels, while it tends to take longer for clients who are awarded at the hearing level.
SSA can delay the processing of a claim for many different reasons and will not release any benefits until all necessary documentation is in order. This may include a copy of your birth certificate, citizenship papers, representation payee documents, or proof of other public payments such as state disability or workers’ compensation. We will help you provide these documents to SSA in a timely fashion to avoid unnecessary delays in processing your monthly payments
How much will it cost to have Advocator Advantage help me?
Our fees are statutorily capped by SSA. Generally, we receive a percentage of your retroactive, lump-sum award, up to a maximum amount established by SSA. There are no hidden fees or costs associated with our services. We only earn a fee if we help you obtain an award, so you can be sure that we are working as hard as we can to get your claim approved.
If I am awarded SSDI benefits, how long will I continue to receive them?
You will continue to receive SSDI benefits as long as you continue to meet SSA’s definition of disability. SSA may find that you are no longer disabled due to medical improvement or if you return to work at a Substantial Gainful Activity level.
You are required to inform Advocator Advantage and/or SSA of changes in your work status or if your health improves. This is necessary to avoid incurring an overpayment to SSA.
Will SSDI benefits also help me obtain health insurance coverage?
Yes. You will become entitled to health insurance through Medicare 24 months after the date that SSA determines that you first became eligible for SSDI cash benefits. When you become eligible for Medicare, Aevo Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Advocator Advantage, can assist you with your health plan selection and enrollment process.
What is Supplemental Security Income? Should I apply for that too?
Unlike SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a welfare program. SSI is a Federal income supplement program that is funded not by Social Security taxes but by general tax revenues. The program is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have little or no income and provides cash benefits to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. If you have limited income and resources, you should also consider applying for SSI.
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Even if you started the application process on your own or with a different advocate, we can help.
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