One thing is certain, though: in the national debate about the soundness of Social Security, confusion reigns.  It’s important to understand the arguments and get accurate information because although each program has separate funding, the general Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are all administered by the Social Security Administration. In fact, some of the confusion over retirement benefits may have come about due to a recent discouraging report about SSDI from the Congressional Budget Office (more in Part 2).

Dividing the debate into two camps, we have on one end of the spectrum the Sky-is-Falling group, who maintain Social Security is doomed without drastic intervention; the other side we might label as the Hogwash group, who maintain not only is the general Social Security fund in good shape but also that Sky Fallers are blowing things out of proportion in an attempt to scare people into accepting fewer benefits.

This is from poughkeepsiejournal.com (July 27), an example of the Falling Sky position:

“A recent congressional report paints a bleak picture, indeed. It says Social Security could run out of money in about 17 years, as the program now pays out more money in benefits than it collects in payroll taxes. It faces a staggering $5.3 trillion shortfall over the next 75 years, unless changes are made. No wonder a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll showed that public confidence in the system is waning.

“The solvency of Social Security affects everyone. The program, the main source of income for millions of retirees, is financed by a 6.2 percent payroll tax on wages below $106,800. The tax is paid by workers and matched by employers. Currently, 53 million Americans get Social Security benefits averaging $1,067 a month.”

The Hogwashers say that’s baloney, designed to get you riled up then despondent enough to accept less–eventually. For instance, here’s an edited version of the  Top Five Social Security Myths from MoveOn.org (read there for the full text, including footnotes and citations):

Myth: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.3 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a ‘T’). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.¹ After 2037, it’ll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits–and again, that’s without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers retirement decades ago.² Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than did 70 years ago.³ What’s more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly–since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.⁴ But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs.

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn’t full of IOUs, it’s full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts.

Myth: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.

Reality: Social Security doesn’t need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here’s a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.⁵ Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.⁶

Myth: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It’s not just wrong — it’s impossible! By law, Social Security funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can’t add one penny to the deficit.¹

Perhaps there is a mid-position, though. A July 30 “Your Money” column in The New York Times takes the stance that even though the long-terms threats will have to be dealt with, Social Security in the near-term is in good shape. The column takes a look at worst-case scenarios for a test-case couple and makes suggestions about increased savings. We’ll examine that and the very real problem facing SSDI in Part 2.

Supplemental Security Income or SSI is a social security disability benefit given to certain qualifying individuals including: the aged, blind and disabled who meet certain income and resource levels. Income and resource levels change each year and can be found on the Social Security Administration’s website.  Supplemental Security Income is given to these individuals for clothing, housing and food expenses.

The federal government funds Supplemental Security Income through general tax revenues not the Social Security Trust Fund.  The federal government treats Supplemental Security Income as a public welfare benefit similar to food stamps and does not consider Supplemental Security Income or SSI to be income for the purposes of child support payments. Therefore, the federal government does not allow Supplemental Security Income benefits to be garnished.

In contrast, Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI was money paid into the Social Security Trust Fund through employment taxes based on a percentage of the employee’s earnings. The goal of the Social Security Trust Fund is to allow for the replacement of income for certain employees who become disabled and are unable to work.

According to the federal government, the Social Security Disability Income or SSDI benefit is considered a substitute for lost wages and is eligible to be garnished for child support payments. One benefit of Social Security Disability Insurance, however, is children of qualifying disabled workers who receive Social Security Disability Insurance payments may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI benefits until a certain age (18 under most circumstances) and these SSDI payments may be subtracted from the child support amount owed.

If you have questions regarding your Social Security Disability benefit or the garnishment of you Social Security Disability benefits to pay for child support, it is important to contact a Social Security Disability Attorney who can answer all of your questions. Social Security Disability Attorneys can also answer questions about applying for Social Security Disability Benefits or help you recover any Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits you may have lost.

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.

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.

Substantial gainful activity for individuals who are blind is currently $1,640 (this amount does not apply to Supplemental Security Income benefits). For individuals who are not blind, the monthly substantial gainful activity amount for 2009, is $980 before taxes. If you are making more than the allocated SGA limits the Social Security Administration will automatically deny your benefits and consider you not disabled. For updated SGA annual amounts please review SSA’s pulication 05-10003.

Unfortunately, if you are still working after you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income for practical purposes, it may hurt your chances of approval. To receive Social Security Disability benefits the Administrative Law Judge (at the hearing level) or the case examiner at the Social Security Disability application level will be examining your case to determine if you could do any type of work full time. Full time is forty hours per week, which is eight hours, five days a week. The jobs the Administrative Law Judge can consider could be unskilled jobs which could be done sitting, with little or no training, and low stress. Examples of unskilled labor can include the following jobs:

• Taper, printed circuit layout
• Textile Inspector
• Call-out Operator
• Egg Processor
• Polisher,
• Order puller

The Social Security Administration could argue you could these jobs with little skill or interaction with a boss, or co-worker. If you are currently working part time at a low skilled job, making $800 per month, the Administrative Law Judge may decide that you could work a little bit more with a little more effort. If he makes this decision, he will conclude you are not disabled.

Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits are for individuals who are unable to work. If you are able to do any type of work over the SGA amount, even if it is a job you have not done before or one you may not be interested in doing, if it is something you could qualify for based on your age, educational background and work history, you will probably not be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Your Social Security Disability Attorneys job in your Social Security Disability Hearing is to convince the Administrative Law Judge you are unable to do any type of job full time. This can include even a low stress, simple, unskilled job.

Many individuals have tried several attempts to go back to work and have been unable to maintain employment due to their physical or mental disability. Multiple unsuccessful attempts to return to work can actually help your Social Security Disability Claim. If you have tried to work, but have been unsuccessful, your willingness to try could show the Administrative Law Judge that you are motivated but simply unable to work.

If you are considering filing a Social Security Disability Application or if you have filed and have been turned down, contact a Social Security Disability Attorney who can help increase your chances of receiving either Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance at all stages of the Social Security Disability application process.

Payments began with Social Security payees May 7. Around 54 million people will recieve payments under the program that will provide a one-time, $250 payment.

• Ensure all updated medical information is gathered in a timely fashion and sent to the Social Security Administration prior to all appeals.
• In certain limited cases a Social Security Disability hearings may be scheduled more quickly if the claimant can prove they are in dire need. The Social Security Disability Attorney can work with the claimant to submit the necessary paperwork: dire need letter, past due notices for rent, utility bills, eviction notices and medical prescriptions. There must be serious financial need to warrant an expedited Social Security Disability hearing.
• If you have had a Social Security Disability Hearing scheduled you may be able to expedite the decision by requesting an on-the-record-review (OTR). This OTR request will ask that the Social Security Disability claim be reviewed before the Administrative hearing is held. The main benefit of the on-the-record-review is that you may get approved more quickly with out waiting for the decision of the Administrative Law Judge at the Social Security Disability hearing. OTR Reviews are only approved if your physical or mental health condition has gotten substantially worse and your medical information is up to date and can substantiate your worsening health claim.
• The last way to speed up the Social Security Disability hearing is to have a United States Congressman or United States Senator launch a congressional inquiry. A Social Security Disability hearing may be expedited for a claimant if a staff member requests it either by calling or writing. This is difficult to do, but has had limited success.

In most instances a Social Security Disability Attorney will not be able to move your Social Security Disability claim through the Social Security Administrative process faster than you can with out Social Security Disability legal representation. What the Social Security Disability Attorney can do is increase your chances of winning Social Security Disability benefits at all levels of the Social Security Disability process.

Most ssdi.htm”title=”SS Disability Insurance” >Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income claims are denied at the initial application level and the reconsideration level. If your Social Security Disability claim is appealed to the Administrative Law Judge level and you are scheduled for a Social Security Disability hearing, representation by a Social Security Disability lawyer can greatly increase your chances of success.

A Social Security Disability Attorney has the experience to gather, read and evaluate your medical documentation and prepare the information for the Administrative Law Judge in the format he requires.  The Social Security Disability Attorney can evaluate your mental and physical health impairments and help the Administrative Law Judge evaluate how it compares to the Social Security Impairment Listing and determine the amount of your residual work capacity.

The most important thing a Social Security Disability Attorney offers is the expertise to navigate the Social Security Disability hearings, decipher and answer all the Administrative Law Judge questions and answer questions regarding your work capacity. If there are vocational or medical experts who are providing expert testimony for the Administrative Law Judge, your Social Security Disability Attorney can respond to the experts and provide additional information which the Administrative Law Judge can use to make his decision.

Disability benefits from the Social Security Administration will not cover short term disabilities. To qualify for Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a person must have a condition that results in permanent or long-term issues that make it impossible for them to work.

In most cases it is left up to the employee to obtain coverage for a temporary disability. However, temporary disability benefits are available in five states, the territory of Puerto Rico and for railroad industry workers nationwide. Rhode Island, California, New York, New Jersey and Hawaii are the only states in the country to offer a temporary disability benefit.

The administration of the benefits varies by state, but most of the programs are run through the states unemployment offices. The railroad workers plan is managed by the federal government. The benefits provide coverage for persons with a minimum amount of work history who are temporarily unable to work as a result of an illness or injury that was not the result of a job-related cause that would qualify them for workers’ compensation.

Benefits are based on the claimant’s past earnings history. The longest a person can collect the temporary disability payments varies from 26 to 52 weeks.

Social Security Disability Insurance requires that you are disabled and you have worked a certain number of pay periods and paid employment taxes. When you work and pay taxes you are accumulating work credits. If you become disabled and have enough work credits accumulated you may be able to draw Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Benefits may also be available to widows, dependents and widowers.

Supplemental Security Income is the second program administered by the Social Security Administration. This program is for individuals who are aged (65 years or older), blind or individuals who have limited income and resources and are disabled and unable to work. The disability requirements that must be met for each program are the same. Limited income and resources are determined by the Social Security Administration and the amount can vary by year.

To apply for Social Security Disability benefits, both SSI and SSDI, you can contact the Social Security Administration in the following ways:

1. Call the Social Security Administration’s Office at 1-800-772-1213
2. Visit the Social Security Administration online at www.socialsecurity.gov and complete the Social Security Disability application.
3. Make an appointment to meet with a Social Security Disability representative at a local Social Security Administration Office. To locate the nearest Social Security Administration office in your area go to the www.socialsecurity.gov website and find the Social Security Administration office locator page. Enter your zip code and the nearest Social Security Administration Regional Office in your area will be listed for you.
4. After you have met with a SSA representative or filled out the Social Security Disability Application on line your completed Social Security Disability application will be sent to the appropriate Social Security Administration Office. It may take 30-90 days for your Social Security Disability application to be processed. If you are denied Social Security Disability benefits, they will send you a denial letter in the mail. You have 60 days from the date of the denial letter to file your Social Security Disability benefits. If you are approved for Social Security Disability benefits they will send you a letter outlining the Social Security Disability benefits you can expect to receive and the date you will receive them.

If you are applying for Social Security Disability Benefits or if you have questions regarding Social Security Disability benefits, you can contact a Social Security Disability lawyer who can answer all of your Social Security Disability questions. If you have been denied benefits a Social Security Disability Attorney can also help with each phase of the Social Security Disability appeals process and increase your chances for getting benefits.

• The Social Security Attorney will review all of your medical information and your initial Social Security Disability application to make sure it included all relevant information.
• The Social Security Attorney will complete the first step of the Social Security Disability appeal’s process. In most states this is the Reconsideration phase. The Reconsideration paperwork must be submitted to the Social Security Administration with in sixty days of the Social Security Disability denial letter. There are ten states which do not have the Reconsideration phase and the first step in the Social Security Disability appeals process will be a Judicial hearing with an Administrative Law Judge.
• The Social Security Disability Attorney will present your Social Security Disability Case before the Administrative Law Judge. This will include gathering all of your medical information and developing a persuasive case, meeting with you prior to the Judicial hearing and arguing your Social Security Disability case before the Administrative Law Judge.
• The Social Security Disability Attorney can help appeal your Social Security Disability case to the Advisory Council if the Administrative Judge does not approve your Social Security Disability claim.

If you have applied and been denied Social Security Disability benefits you can get help. Unfortunately, most Social Security Disability applications are denied at the initial phases of the Social Security Disability process. Do not get discouraged even if you have been denied at the initial level and the reconsideration level, with a competent Social Security Disability Attorney arguing your Social Security Disability case at the Judicial Hearing level you have a strong chance that your Social Security Disability benefits will be approved. Call today or fill out the FREE evaluation form to discuss your Social Security Disability case with a qualified Social Security Disability Attorney.