What Conditions Automatically Qualify For Ssi
respiratory illnesses , such as COPD or asthma . neurological disorders, such as MS, cerebral palsy, Parkinsons disease, or epilepsy. mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, autism, or intellectual disorder. immune system disorders , such as HIV/AIDS, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Going Back To Work Can Affect Social Security Benefits
If you are able to find another job and start working again after filing early for Social Security benefits, your earnings have the potential to reduce your Social Security retirement benefits until you reach full retirement age. If you earn over a certain amount each year, your retirement benefits will be reduced according to a formula found on the Social Security website. Check the website to find out exactly how much you can earn without this happening and how much your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than this amount each year. Once you have reached full retirement age, there is no earnings limit that will lead to a reduction in your benefits.
Applying For Disability While Receiving Unemployment
One of the most commonly asked questions among those who are out of work and disabled is whether or not they can receive both unemployment benefits and Social Security disability benefits. While there is not a specific regulation with the Social Security Administration regarding receiving unemployment benefits while applying for Social Security disability benefits, its generally not a good idea.
Social Security disability benefits are overseen by the SSA, a department of the federal government. Unemployment benefits, while they are mandated by federal law, are overseen by state governments. The laws regarding unemployment benefits and who can receive them vary from state to state.
Most states require a person to be available for full time work and capable of performing full time work in order to qualify for unemployment benefits. Typically, before you can be approved for unemployment benefits, you will need to attest that you are capable of working full time.
The problem becomes readily apparent to most. Obviously, you cant be ready, willing, and able to accept full time work and completely unable to perform any work for which you are qualified due to a disability at the same time. Making conflicting claims like this is unlikely to gain you disability benefits. If anything, you might lose your unemployment benefits and face legal trouble and the possibility of having to reimburse the government what it has paid you.
Also Check: Collecting Disability In Nj
Also Check: How To Earn Money Under The Table
What Are The Benefits Of Working While Disabled
Work incentives include: Cash benefits continue, for a time, while you work Medicare or Medicaid benefits continue while you work Help with education, training, and rehabilitation to start a new line of work Social Security and SSI have different rules. We describe the rules under each program in this booklet.
Unemployment And Disability: Consider The Risk Of Double Dipping
The decision to file for disability is yours, but you need to consider the potential pitfalls of taking unemployment benefits while you wait for a disability decision. In some states, you might have to repay unemployment benefits you weren’t eligible for, if Social Security later finds you were disabled during a period you collected those unemployment benefits.
Another thing to remember is that only those who are actively seeking work are entitled to unemployment benefits. If your state unemployment agency finds you aren’t genuinely trying to find work but are instead just trying to draw a check while you wait for disability benefits, you have a problem. The agency will stop your unemployment payments and force you to pay back any money you received.
In some rare cases, people can even be charged with fraud. For example, if you’re between the ages of 18 and 49, you’re considered a “younger individual” in Social Security’s eyes, and you must be unable to perform any type of work whatsoever in order to be found disabled. But if you’re collecting unemployment benefits, you’re stating that you do believe there’s work out there you can do. This conflict can be seen as fraud and can, for one, damage your credibility in your disability claim.
Read Also: How Do You Qualify For Unemployment In Tennessee
Are Government Workers Eligible For Disability Benefits
Some government workers, including school employees, may be eligible for Disability Insurance benefits. To find out, review your collective bargaining contract. If you have wages from another employer in your base period, you may be eligible even though your current employer doesnât participate in State Disability Insurance. If you arenât sure if youâre eligible, file a claim anyway.
The Interplay Of Social Security Disability And Unemployment Benefits
Some people seeking disability benefits mistakenly believe they can receive unemployment benefits concurrently.
Though Michigans economy and that of the entire country has made a strong recovery in the years following the Great Recession that began in 2008, unemployment continues to be a reality for many people. Countless others have finally been able to find work after long months of sending out dozens of resumes and going on fruitless interviews, sometimes being forced to settle for a lower-paying or more physically demanding position just to put food on the table.
The search for a new position can be infinitely more complicated if you suffer from a debilitating medical condition, and even if you may truly want to work, your body just might not be willing to cooperate with you. Should your illness or injury be disabling, there is a chance you might qualify for benefits through either the Disability Insurance Benefits or Supplemental Security Income programs, but applying can be difficult, and your medical condition must keep you out of work for at least a year.
Read Also: Filing Unemployment In Tennessee
How Much Does Disability Pay Each Month
The payment disability claimants receive depends on which Social Security program they qualify for. The Federal Social Security Disability Insurance Program pays benefits based on your average lifetime earnings. The Federal Supplemental Security Income program pays benefits based on the SSI Federal benefit rate less any countable income you may have.
The AIME determines your monthly benefit amount. Generally speaking, the more you have in qualified earnings, the more your benefit will be. The max monthly payment for SSDI in 2021 is $3,148.
Maximum Federal Supplemental Security Income payment amounts increase with the cost-of-living increases that apply to Social Security benefits. The latest such increase, 1.3 percent, became effective January 2021. For 2021, the maximum benefit is $794 monthly for individuals, and $1,191 for eligible couples.
Read Also: Utc Disability Resource Center
More Information On How To Request A Review Of The Decision
There are 3 ways you can make your request for reconsideration:
- your name
- your Social Insurance Number or Client Identification Number
- a detailed explanation of why you do not agree with the decision
- any new information that could affect the decision
- your signature and the date
If you complete your request on paper
Sign and date your written request and submit it:
Reconsiderations can take several months to complete, depending on the case. Service Canada will review your application and any new information you submit in support of your request and send you a decision by mail.
Don’t Miss: Va Disability 100 Unemployability
How To Apply For Both Programs
If you are eligible to receive both unemployment compensation and Social Security, then you will need to apply separately for each benefit in the same manner as you would if you were only applying for one of them.
Unemployment insurance is administered at the state level and each state has different rules and processes. The Department of Labor provides contact information and websites for all state unemployment insurance agencies. You should refer to your states website for the most up-to-date information about how to apply for unemployment benefits.
Social Security, on the other hand, is a federally funded program operated by the U.S. Social Security Administration. The fastest way to complete your application for Social Security benefits is to do so online.
Keep in mind that you donât have to wait to begin receiving one benefit before filing for the other. You can file for both benefits at the same time. Also, remember that because each benefit is provided by a different agency, the time frame for receiving payments after you file will vary.
Legal Consequences Of Disability And Unemployment Fraud
Above all, be honest. You dont want to play games with state or federal law, and you certainly dont want to misrepresent or conceal any fact that might be relevant in determining your eligibility for disability and unemployment.
In a worst-case scenario you could be charged with a felony, imprisoned for five years and fined $250,000. Civil penalties are even more likely fines and reimbursement for improper disability and unemployment benefits already paid to you, for example.
Read Also: Filing For Unemployment Louisiana
When Can You Receive Both Unemployment & Long
It is unlikely that you will qualify for unemployment and disability benefits at the same time. However, there are always exceptions to the general rule.
For example, you might qualify for unemployment benefits if you are partially disabled while receiving partial long-term disability payments. Even so, it is best to talk with our long-term disability lawyer before you apply for either unemployment or long-term disability benefits.
It is more likely that you might qualify for unemployment benefits followed by long-term disability benefits or vice versa. However, the application process can be tricky. If you file a second application for benefits immediately after the termination of the other benefit, your statements from your first application could impact your second application. Again, it is best to speak with our long-term disability attorney if you believe you could qualify for both unemployment and long-term disability benefits.
Another issue that you could encounter is the termination of your long-term disability insurance coverage. If you lose your job, your employer may terminate your LTD policy. However, some LTD policies remain in effect for a short period after employment terminates.
Are You Eligible For Ei Sickness Benefits
You may be entitled to receive EI sickness benefits if:
- you are employed in insurable employment
- you meet the specific criteria for receiving EI sickness benefits
- your normal weekly earnings have been reduced by more than 40% and
- you have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period or, if you are a self-employed fisher, you have sufficient insurable earnings from self-employment in fishing during the qualifying period.
Recommended Reading: Tennessee Apply For Unemployment
Contact James M Hoffmann
At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, our attorneys will work with you, regardless of where you are in the process. Attorney James M. Hoffmann has spent a majority of his more than 20 year legal career dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers.
The Missouri Workers Compensation system is not your friend. We can help you take the steps necessary to protect your rights and recover payment for lost wages, medical care for your injuries, or a settlement for permanent partial disability or permanent total disability should you not be able to return to work.
Contact us today at 361-4300 or you can also complete our Online Case Evaluation Form. All communications are returned promptly.
Go Online To Create Your Own My Service Canada Account
My Service Canada Account is a fast and convenient way to securely:
- confirm any decision made about your Employment Insurance application
- see details on your payments and deductions
- view and update your personal information
- view your EI tax information slips
- view all Records of Employment your employers submitted electronically in the last two years
- view and print your Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions and benefit estimate and
- register to access EI special benefits for self-employed people.
Don’t Miss: Njuifile Net Website
Are School Employees Eligible For Disability Insurance Benefits During School Breaks
School employees are not eligible for Disability Insurance benefits if:
- Full wages were or will be paid to the employee during the contract period when services were performed.
- A period of disability overlaps with a school break and the employee is not scheduled to work, does not have a history of working during the break, or does not have an additional employer.
- The disability period extends through the school break period.
However, if the employee is not receiving wages but would have been working for extra income if not disabled , then the employee may be eligible for benefits to replace the additional income.
Can I Apply For Unemployment & Long Term Disability
COVID-19 has impacted all areas of our lives, including our employment opportunities. Millions of people are out of work because of coronavirus-related issues. Some individuals developed the virus and could not work for an extended period. Other individuals have lost their jobs because of the pandemic. The unemployment rate in the United States increased from 3.8 percent in February of 2020 to 13 percent in May of 2020. Over 14 million people were out of work.
Many people filed for unemployment. However, some individuals who became ill might have applied for disability benefits. Unfortunately, applying for unemployment benefits and long-term disability benefits at the same time could result in both applications being denied.
Recommended Reading: Can Llc Owner Collect Unemployment
Can I Apply For Social Security Disability While I Am Still Getting Sick Leave Or Long Term Disability From My Employer
You can apply for Social Security disability while you are receiving sick pay or short-term disability benefits from your employer and while you are using vacation pay or annual leave to cover sick days. You can also apply if you are receiving or expect to receive long-term disability from your employers plan. If you think that your disability will last longer than twelve months or that it is expected to result in your death, you should apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible without waiting for your other benefits to expire.
File as soon as you think you qualify for Social Security Disability, regardless of other benefits you receive. By applying for disability early, it will be easier for you to remember details of when you were first injured or became ill, as well as all the doctors you have seen, and other important information needed for your Social Security claim.
What Are Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits
The Employment Insurance program offers temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers. This assistance includes providing sickness benefits to people unable to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine.
If you cannot work because of sickness, injury or quarantine, but you would otherwise be available to work, you could be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 15 weeks of EI sickness benefits.
Don’t Miss: Unemployment Eligibility Tn
How Often Will You Receive Payments
This is another area that can vary. Fortunately, your payment questions should be answered clearly within your plan documents.
Be aware that if your employer works with an insurer to offer short-term disability benefits, then payments will usually be administered through the insurance company. That means they might arrive on a schedule different from the payroll timing youre used to .
Meaghan Tiernan, a senior copywriter for a marketing agency in San Francisco, used her short-term disability for maternity leave. She was given a debit card that her short-term disability payments were added to.
I think it was one lump sum every two weeks on an regular basis, she explains. They even include weekends, so it was typically every 14 days that I was paid. Then youd have to transfer the funds from that debit card to your bank account if that was your preference.
Read Also: How To Increase Va Disability From 70 To 100
Unemployment Benefits Vs Disability Benefits
When you apply for unemployment benefits, you are acknowledging that you are able and ready to work if a job becomes available. The unemployment office requires individuals who receive unemployment benefits to actively seek employment. Refusing reasonable offers for jobs or failing to actively search for work is a reason to terminate your unemployment benefits.
On the other hand, when you apply for long-term disability benefits, you claim the exact opposite. Whether you are applying for Social Security disability income or applying for long-term disability benefits through a private insurance carrier, you are stating in your application that you are unable to work because of a qualifying disability.
The definition of disabled may differ slightly between government and private disability insurance. However, the common factor is that you are claiming you cannot work.
Recommended Reading: How To Apply For Unemployability Va
Contact Our Long Term Disability Lawyer In Kansas City
The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus assists clients as they seek long-term disability and short-term disability benefits and after such benefits have been denied. If you have questions about disability benefits or would like to appeal a denial of long-term disability benefits, please contact our law firm in Kansas City, Missouri.
We have a free book you can download right now to guide you through the process. Additionally, we offer free reviews of denial letters from a disability insurance company and can offer a strategy on how to fight back. Whatever you choose to do, don’t wait – call today at 816-203-0143.
|
Related Links: |
Please Answer A Few Questions To Help Us Determine Your Eligibility
Filing for Social Security disability benefits while you’re still receiving unemployment compensation can be a tricky situation. The problem with filing for disability while on unemployment is that you’re claiming two different circumstances: 1) you’re ready and able to work but simply can’t find employment that suits you, and 2) you’re unable to work due to a medical condition.
You May Like: Applying For Unemployment Pennsylvania
