SSDRC




What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?

How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI?

If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits?

How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition?

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits

Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing

If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?

How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid?

Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process

How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability?

What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia

Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease

Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?

Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability

What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability Status

Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on

Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts


Can You Get Disability Benefits If You Were Self-Employed and had Self-employment Earnings?


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

 
You can get disability benefits if you are self employed or you are employed by an employer. While most people have their Social Security taxes withheld from their paychecks by their employers, self-employed people pay their Social Security taxes quarterly through estimated taxes, or annually through their income tax return. It does not matter how you pay your Social Security taxes as far as the social security administration is concerned (though the IRS can impose penalties if you do not pay taxes quarterly) it just matters that you pay them.

Many self employed people have a hard time getting Social Security benefits because they declare no profit in their businesses; thus, they pay no Social Security taxes. If you do not pay any taxes, you cannot get Social Security disability benefits. It is advisable to declare some profit and pay taxes rather than offset all of your self-employment earnings with expenses.

Unfortunately, those who actually make no profit find themselves in the same predicament with Social Security.

Self employed individuals can earn one work credit per quarter provided their net self employment is equal to, or more than, the amount set by Social Security for a quarter of coverage. Usually, the amounted needed to earn a quarter of coverage changes each year. You can earn a maximum of four quarters of coverage per year. If you earn enough work credits or quarters of coverage you can get Social Security disability. Remember, earning your quarterly work credits only insures you for Social Security disability. The amount of your disability benefits depends upon how much money you declare as profit.

As a self-employed person, your net self-employment earnings are reported to you Social Security earnings record rather than your gross earnings. Higher net self-employment earnings generally result in higher monthly Social Security disability benefits.

What if you have not earned enough quarters of coverage or work credits through your self-employment to be covered or insured by Social Security disability? If you are not insured for Social Security disability, you may still qualify for SSI, or Supplemental Security Income disability. The SSI disability program is a need based disability program that is not dependant upon your earnings record. It does, however, require you to meet income and resource limits like other need-based social programs.














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Topics and Questions


  • Can I Get SSDI Disability If I have Not Worked Before?

  • Social Security Disability Appeal Deadlines Are Always 60 Days

  • Will Coronary Artery Heart Disease qualify you for disability?

  • Why is the Social Security Administration definition of disability so strict?

  • How should I prepare for a disability hearing with Social Security ?

  • Applying for disability benefits in Florida

  • Why does Representation increase the win ratio at a Social Security Disability or SSI Hearing?

  • Can I Do My Social Security Appeal Without Using A Lawyer?

  • Social Security Disability Denial, Does It Matter If I Get Denied On Reconsideration?

  • Social Security Disability and SSI Disability Benefits

  • Will Social Security Deny You Disability Without Looking At Your Medical Records?

  • When Social Security Disability Sends You To A Doctor, What Kind Is It?

  • Is It Harder To Get Approved For SSI Disability Versus SSD?

  • Social Security Disability and SSI Eligibility

  • How Do You Win An SSI or Social Security Disability Hearing?

  • If I get disability, will they look at my case later?

  • How Does Social Security Decide How Much I Get For Disability?

  • How Long Does A Social Security Disability Appeal Take?

  • How long does it take receive disability benefits after you are approved?

  • How Can I Get Social Security Disability If I Have Not Worked For A Long Time?

  • How does a Medical Source Statement (RFC Form) help win a Social Security Disability or SSI Claim?

  • How Important is the Treating Physician to a Social Security Disability or SSI case?

  • Why does Representation increase the win ratio at a Social Security Disability or SSI Hearing?

  • Why Will A Social Security Disability Application Get Denied? (SSDI Denial)

  • Social Security Disability and Going In Front Of A Judge - What Happens?

  • How long does it take for an examiner to review a disability case?

  • Should you get a Non-Attorney Disability Representative for a Social Security or SSI case?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in North Carolina

  • What if you Move out of State after you apply for Social Security Disability or SSI?

  • How Likely are You to Win Your Disability Case?

  • Why Is It So Hard For People To Get Social Security Disability?

  • How will Social Security Determine if you get Disability Benefits?

  • What Is the Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process Social Security Uses In Every Disability Case?

  • Social Security Disability SSI and Doctors - Yours and Theirs

  • Are There Social Security Disability Guidelines For How Disabled You Have to Be?

  • Social Security Disability, SSI, and Whether or Not a Person can Still Work

  • If You File For Social Security Disability How Far Back Will They Look At Your Medical Records?

  • What does it mean if Social Security sends you to a Psychiatrist?

  • Should I List My Past Depression Medications on My Social Security Disability Application?

  • Applying for Disability - what are the rules?
























    SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

    The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

    Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

    Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

    Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

    Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials