Social Security Benefits: What Are the Limits on Disability Benefits?
Do you qualify for social security benefits? Picking through the convoluted regulations can be deeply frustrating, and when you are done, you may have no better idea than before whether you qualify for benefits. These frequently asked questions will clarify which disability benefits you are eligible for, and how far your benefits will stretch.
Does SSA offer partial disability benefits?
No, Social Security does not offer disability benefits to people with partial or short term disabilities. Social security benefits are available only to applicants who are completely disabled and whose disability is considered likely to last at least a year. (Note that people who qualify for disability benefits may collect benefits while working as long as their maximum possible income is lower than a SSA determined income cap.)
Although I am still working, I cannot work the same hours or skill level that I used to, and my income has dropped as a result. Is it still possible for me to file for social security benefits?
Yes, you can file for disability benefits if you are making less than a certain amount per month, averaged over a full year. Social Security changes the maximum income level yearly. You can find the current limit in the official SSA web site or in official SSA booklets.
However, be aware that your earnings in your current job are not the only earnings the state agency will take into account. If you are capable of earning a higher income by changing to another job, you will not be approved for disability benefits. The state agency will take into account your medical condition, education, skills, work experience, and age when determining whether you could move to another job, so you will not be required to do work that you are not well enough to do or that you have not been trained to do.
According to my doctors, there are no effective treatments for my condition, so why do I have to continue to make office visits?
When you first file for social security benefits, the state agency that manages your case will need a complete evaluation of your health, a process that may require repeated doctors’ visits. The doctors you usually go to may not be able to provide enough information; for example, you may need tests or equipment that your doctor does not have. In that case, the state agency may arrange for you to be examined by another doctor.
Once you are determined to be disabled, you will need regular examinations to determine the progress of your medical condition. Because not all disabling medical conditions are permanent, your health may improve enough for you to work even without active medical care.
December 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Instead of providing a long medical history, when you speak to a county clinic, simply state that you a person without medical insurance who needs to see a primary physician. Nothing more. Once you see the actual doctor, then you can tell him/her about all your medical conditions. Often times, they will send you to specialists for your conditions and pay for it.
Your other medical care option, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, is paid for by the state and works to train people for a vocation or career.