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Archive for the ‘Supplemental Security Income’ Category

More Benefits of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Another benefit of receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is that you may qualify to receive Medicaid. It is important to remember that Medicare and Medicaid are not the same thing. Medicaid is a federally-funded, state-run program that provides medical assistance for individuals and families with limited incomes and resources. Medicaid pays for your health care costs, including doctor’s visits and eye care.

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and you get Medicare, your state may pay your Medicare premiums if you have low income and few resources. In some cases, your state may also pay Medicare expenses like deductibles and coinsurance.

Only your state will know if you are qualified. Your state or local welfare office or Medicaid agency can tell you whether you are qualified to receive these benefits.

You also may be able to get extra help paying for the annual deductibles, monthly premiums and prescription co-payments related to the Medicare prescription drug program (Part D). You may qualify for extra help if you have limited income (tied to the federal poverty level) and limited resources. These income and resource limits change each year and are not the same as the SSI income and resource limits. You can contact Social Security for the current numbers.

If you have both Medicaid with prescription drug coverage and Medicare, Medicare and SSI, or if your state pays for your Medicare premiums, you automatically will get this extra help. You will not need to apply for it.

As you can see, there is a worthwhile monthly cash benefit that you will receive if you qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In addition, there are the additional benefits listed above that you may qualify for because you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It is certainly worth the time and effort to apply for SSI.

You may have applied and been denied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). What can you do now? What options are open to you?

If you decide to appeal the denial by the Social Security Administration, you are probably going to need the help and advice of a good disability attorney. People who have an experienced disability lawyer are approved more often than those without an attorney.

SocialSecurityHome.com is the Web site where you can get in touch with a disability lawyer who can help you get the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits that you are entitled to.

Appealing the denial by the Social Security Administration can be a long and trying process. The disability attorney at SocialSecurityHome.com can counsel and assist you in your efforts to win your claim.

Do not put this off. Do not wait or delay. This is something that is vitally important to you and your future. Contact the disability lawyer at SocialSecurityHome.com, today.

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Asperger’s Syndrome and Receiving Social Security Disability

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Have you applied for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits on behalf of your child with disability from the Social Security Administration because of the disability caused by Asperger’s syndrome? Was your child with disability denied?

You may intend to appeal the denial by the Social Security Administration. If you do, remember this.

Your child with disability will need the help of a good disability lawyer like the one at socialsecurityhome.com in this process. This is true because people who are represented by a knowledgeable disability attorney are approved more often than those without a lawyer.

If your child was just diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, you may want a little information about the disorder.

In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger noticed four children in his practice who had a hard time integrating socially. The children lacked nonverbal communication skills, were physically clumsy and failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers even though their intelligence appeared normal.

Their all-absorbing interest in a single topic dominated their conversations, and their way of speaking was either overly formal or disjointed. Dr. Asperger called the condition “autistic psychopathy” and described it as a personality disorder primarily marked by social isolation.

In 1981, an English doctor named Lorna Wing published a series of case studies of children who demonstrated similar symptoms. She called this “Asperger’s” syndrome. This is where the name comes from.

This disorder is known by some other names. It is also called Asperger syndrome, Asperger’s disorder, Asperger’s or AS.

As mentioned above, Asperger’s syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate and socialize effectively with other people. Children with Asperger’s syndrome typically exhibit an all-absorbing interest in specific topics and social awkwardness.

Asperger’s syndrome is a milder variant of autistic disorder. Doctors group Asperger’s syndrome with four other conditions that are called pervasive developmental disorders or autistic spectrum disorders. These disorders all involve problems with social skills and communication.

Two out of every 10,000 children have Asperger’s syndrome. Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to have this disorder.

There are several effects that Asperger’s syndrome may have on your child with disability. Some of the effects to watch for in your child with disability are:

  • Appears not to understand, to be sensitive to, or to empathize with the feelings of others
  • Displays unusual, nonverbal communication like few facial expressions, lack of eye contact, or awkward gestures and body postures
  • Has a rigid gait or an odd posture
  • Has a hard time understanding humor or “reading” other people
  • Engages in long-winded, one-sided conversations, without noticing if the listener is trying to change the subject or if the person is listening
  • Shows an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects like snakes, train schedules, baseball statistics or weather.

If you have a child with disability who has Asperger’s syndrome, you may need help. You may need financial assistance.

There is help available from the Social Security Administration in the form of disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income. You can apply for these benefits without an attorney, but it is shown that the help of a good advocate on your behalf increases your chance of receiving benefits.

This is something of great importance. Do not delay. Contact the experienced disability attorney at socialsecurityhome.com, today.

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Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children and Receiving Social Security Disability

Friday, August 21st, 2009

You may have a child with disability who has separation anxiety disorder. This may be the cause of your child’s disability.

If this is true, you may need help. You may need financial assistance.

Have you applied for Social Security disability benefits or disability benefits for your child with disability from the Social Security Administration because of the disability caused by separation anxiety disorder? Was your child with disability denied?

If you appeal the denial by the Social Security Administration, remember this. People who are represented by a caring disability attorney like the one at socialsecurityhome.com in the appeals procedure are approved more often than those people who are not represented by a lawyer.

There is a difference between separation anxiety and separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety is a normal stage of development for secure, healthy babies.

It usually involves crying and distress when the baby is separated from parents or home. With the passage of time, however, the child learns to feel safe in a new environment. The child feels secure that a parent will return. Gradually the separation anxiety fades away.

On the other hand, separation anxiety disorder is excessive, age-inappropriate fear of being separated from family members. This is particularly true of being separated from parents.

Children with separation anxiety disorder are afraid of being lost to their families. Or, they are sure something bad will happen to their family members if they are separated from them. Separation anxiety disorder can inhibit or restrict a child’s normal activities to a significant degree.

Separation anxiety disorder usually begins in children who are of school age. It affects about 4% of children 6-12 and a slightly lower proportion of adolescents. Separation anxiety disorder affects girls and boys about the same

The causes of separation anxiety disorder can involve a traumatic experience a child has gone through. These are things like

§  A scary event (tornado, earthquake)

§  A serious separation (parent in the military)

§  A big change (starting a new school, birth of brother or sister)

§  Stress in the family (coming divorce, serious illness or death of family member or pet)

§  Sickness (major or minor).

The main sign or symptom of separation anxiety disorder is fear that is exaggerated out of proportion to real problems or situations. Other signs and symptoms can be physical or behavioral such as:

  • Headaches or stomachaches when they come persistently before separation from parents
  • Following parents around the house, not wanting them to be out of sight
  • Asking to sleep in bed with parents at night
  • Nightmares of parents leaving or being gone
  • Excessive worry or panic at the experience or anticipation of being away from home
  • Refusing to go to school or other activities away from home
  • Excessive worry about their own safety or that of members of the family.

The Benefits of Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

You are disabled and unable to work. You apply for Social Security disability benefits (SSD) and are denied by the Social Security Administration because you have not worked enough to qualify for SSD benefits.

What do you do now? What other steps can you take? What other options do you have open to you?

One of your best options may be to apply for Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  It is a federal income supplement program. Although the Social Security Administration manages Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the funds come from general tax revenues, not Social Security taxes.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people with little or no income. It provides cash to meet the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

While you may not have worked enough to qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSD), you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). With SSI there are no work requirements that you have to meet.

One of the good things about Supplemental Security Income is that the Social Security Administration does not count all of your income when it decides whether you qualify for SSI. For example, the Social Security Administration does not count:

  •          The first $20 a month of most income you receive;
  •          The first $65 a month you earn from working and half the amount over $65;
  •          Food stamps;
  •          Shelter you get from private nonprofit organizations;
  •          Most home energy assistance.

You may ask, “Is it worth it? What are the benefits available to me through Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

The first benefit that you will receive if you are approved for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is your monthly cash benefit. The monthly benefit for an individual is $674. A qualifying couple receives $1,011 a month.

In addition, if you qualify for SSI, you also may be able to get help from your state or county. You will need to check with the state and county that you live in to see what other benefits are available because you qualify for Supplemental Security Income.

For example, you may be able to get Medicaid, food stamps or other social services. Your will need to call your local social services department or public welfare office for information about the services that are available to you in the community where you live.

If everyone in the home where you live signs up for SSI or gets SSI, Social Security will help you fill out the application for food stamps. If you live in a home where not everyone signs up for SSI or gets SSI, you will have to go to your local food stamp office to apply for food stamps.

Can I get Supplemental Security Income Benefits if I live outside the United States?

Monday, January 26th, 2009

No, unlike the Social Security Disability Insurance program, if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income payments you must live in the United States or Northern Mariana Islands. It is important to talk to the Social Security Administration if you have to leave the United States for an extended period of time. If you leave the United States for a full thirty day period you may have your Supplemental Security Income Benefits suspended.

Other reasons your Supplemental Security Income Benefits could be suspended or denied include:

• If you are a fugitive felon
• If you are sent to prison
• If you intentionally lower their resources or income to qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.
• Non-United States Citizens (Certain exceptions may apply-contact the SSA for more information)
• If you leave the United States for a full 30 consecutive days may have their benefits suspended.

Definition for Supplemental Security Income Benefits:

Supplemental Security Income benefits or the SSI program is a disability program which will provide individuals with monthly supplemental income payments. This Supplemental Security Income benefit program is different than the Social Security Disability Insurance program because an individual does not have to have worked and accumulated “work credits”. To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) an individual must have limited income and resources. The income and resource amount allowed is determined by the federal government. You also must be: age sixty-five or older, or partially or totally blind or have a medical condition that will not allow you to work for at least twelve months or result in death. The method used to determine an individual’s disability is similar for both the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs.

If you qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits the base supplemental payment amount in 2009 per individual is $674 and the standard supplemental payment amount is $1,011 per couple. Certain states may add additional supplemental payments onto the basic federal standard amount. Certain other payments as well as your living arrangements could also affect the Supplemental Security Income payments you may be eligible to receive.