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


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


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

 
Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income disability (SSI) are not guaranteed to last forever. Logically, Social Security has to evaluate the status of a disability beneficiary periodically to determine if their medical and/or mental condition has improved.

So how does Social Security accomplish these periodic disability reviews? When an individual is approved for disability benefits in either disability program (SSI or SSD), their disability claim has a disability diary date set up at the same time. Most diary dates are either three years, or seven years, depending on an individual’s age and their likelihood of medical improvement.

If Social Security feels an individual has a chance of medical improvement, or if the individual is younger, their disability claims will most likely have diary dates of three years. And if the individual has an impairment that has very little chance of improvement, their case may receive what is known as a "permanent diary date" of seven years.

In the past, Social Security used to give three year diary dates to younger individuals no matter what the likelihood of medical improvement simply because they were young. Fortunately, Social Security has, in recent years, established more permanent diary dates for younger individuals who suffer from conditions that are not likely to ever medically improve. Perhaps they figured out that it just was not cost effective to evaluate individuals every three years when they had no chance of medical improvement.

Continuing disability reviews are most often triggered by medical diary dates; however disability claims can be reviewed for reasons other than a medical diary date. Social Security reviews all work activity to determine if an individual has performed work activity that can be counted as trial work months, extended period of eligibility months, or even termination months.

The ability to perform substantial work activity is an integral part of all disability eligibility determinations including continuing disability reviews (CDRs).

Each year, Social Security sets a monthly earnings amount that they consider to be SGA (substantial gainful activity), and if a person performs SGA work they may have their disability suspended or eventually even terminated.

Social Security offers many ways to try to work while being disabled, so if a person is thinking of returning to work they should speak to a claims representative so that they understand how work activity could affect their disability benefit eligibility.

I would like to mention if an individual receives SSI disability, their claims would also be periodically reviewed for living arrangements, income, and resources. Since SSI is a need-based disability program, an individual can actually be considered medically disabled, but, yet, still be denied disability benefits for any months that they do not meet the program's income and resource limits.














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Individual Questions and Answers


  • Is there a time limit for how long you can collect Social Security Disability or SSI benefits?

  • Can a disability attorney speed up my disability hearing? By What Methods?

  • If you get Social Security disability benefits do you get Medicare or Medicaid?

  • Can the Social Security Office give you Bad Advice on a Disability Claim?

  • Social Security Disability And SSI Qualifications - What is the examiner looking for?

  • What is an extended period of eligibility for social security disability or SSI ?

  • Applying for disability benefits in Massachusetts

  • Basic Facts about the Administrative Law Judge Social Security Disability Hearing

  • How Long Does It Take To Get SSDI If You Have To Appeal?

  • Where are Social Security Disability and SSI hearings held?

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

  • How does Social Security Disability Representation work?

  • Is there a Maximum I can Work and Make if I am on SSD or SSI Disability Benefits?

  • Social Security Disability SSI - Retroactive Benefits Vs Back Pay Benefits

  • Who Do You Call Or Contact For Your Social Security Disability Status or SSI Update?

  • What does Social Security Disability Need to Know about your Work History and Jobs?

  • How to Apply for Disability, What medical conditions can you apply for disability for ?

  • What Are The Reasons For Social Security Disability Cases Being Denied?

  • Getting Your Social Security Disability or SSI Claim Status

  • What Happens If You Miss Your Social Security Disability Application Appointment?

  • What to do (forms to complete) if you receive a Denial on a Social Security Disability or SSI Case?

  • How Far Back Does Social Security Look At Your Medical Records?

  • What Does It Mean If you Are Denied For Disability Because Of Other Work?

  • Does your chance of winning disability benefits at a hearing depend on the judge you get?

  • How long does it take to get a decision on Social Security disability or SSI ?

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

  • Social Security Disability Approval

  • How long does the administrative law judge take to make a decision on an SSD or SSI disability case?

  • How Long Does Your Attorney Have To File Your Social Security Disability Appeal?

  • The Cost and Expenses of a Disability Attorney or a Disability Representative

  • How long does it take to get an SSI decision ?

  • What are the rules for applying for disability?

  • Submitting a Social Security Disability Appeal is usually Good Advice

  • When You Apply For Disability Do You Need To write Down Everything That Is Wrong With You?

  • What Happens if a Social Security Disability or SSI Claim gets Denied on a Reconsideration Appeal?

  • Can you win your Disability Case by Yourself?

  • Social Security Disability SSI and Activities of Daily Living

  • Social Security Disability Fee and What a Lawyer is Paid

  • How the Decision on a Disability Application or Appeal Under SSDI or SSI is Made

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

  • What Will a Disability Lawyer Do to Win a Social Security Case?

  • Filing for SSI Disability

  • If You are Denied for Disability, What Should You do First?

  • Social Security Disability Requirements

  • What if I go to a Social Security hearing without an Attorney or a Disability Representative?

  • Filing for Social Security disability- what to bring when you apply

  • Is A Three Year Old With Disabilities Eligible For SSD Or Only SSI?

  • Degenerative Disc Disease, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

  • Social Security Administration Mental Consultative Exam (CE)

  • Social Security Disability And Trial Work Months

  • Why do I need an attorney for Social Security disability?

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

  • How do you get an SSI disability application started?

  • Can You Lose Your Social Security Disability Benefits after You get Them?

  • Disability Attorney - Does Social Security pay the fee?

  • There are different Methods of Eligibility for Social Security Disability Children Benefits

  • How often does someone get disability approved in just a few months ?

  • How long does it take to be approved for SSI disability ?

  • Qualifying for Disability - What is Social Security Looking for?

  • Can You Get Approved For SSI or SSD Benefits IF You Have A Mental Condition But Do Not Take Medication?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Washington

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

  • Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?
























    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