In Columbus and throughout Ohio, people who have a condition, illness or injury that they believe warrants an approval for Social Security Disability benefits will have many concerns as they go through the process. It can be a worrisome time if, for any reason, the claim was denied. For those who thought they had a clear case to be approved, it is important to analyze the entire situation and determine why there might have been a denial. In some cases, the claimant might have been negatively impacted by unfair treatment on the part of the administrative law judge (ALJ) in the case. From the ou ..read more

Young workers in Columbus who suffer a disabling injury or illness may be extremely worried about how they will provide for their families, especially if they are raising children. These workers may apply for Social Security Disability benefits to make ends meet. It can be frustrating, then, when a person’s initial application for benefits is denied. Fortunately, there is a four-step appeals process an applicant can follow to increase the chances they will be awarded benefits. Step 1: Reconsideration In the reconsideration process, a disability examiner who was not involved in the first decisi ..read more

Many people in Ohio have mental health problems that prohibit them from being able perform certain physical or cognitive tasks. This can have a profound effect on their lives, and can make it difficult for them to work for a living. If people are in this position, they may find it difficult to earn a living, pay their bills and meet their monthly obligations. They may be able to receive Social Security Disability (SSDI) though. These are benefits for people who are unable to work due to a disability. The benefits provide them cash payments each month and can also provide Medicaid and other ben ..read more

Every disability comes with its own unique challenges. But regardless of what the disability is, if it prevents someone from working, then Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can become an important part of their lives. But what if you want to try working again? How do you go about it and what will happen to your benefits if you do? The Trial Work Period The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a number of programs designed as work incentives. One such program, the Trial Work Period, is tailor-made for those who want to attempt to return to work but aren’t sure if they’ll be able t ..read more

Many Americans probably have the misguided belief that the Social Security Disability program is some kind of “hand-out” from the government. That is far from the truth. Yes, the government runs the program, but it is designed to help workers who, through illness or injury, are no longer able to perform their most recent employment responsibilities or work at a different meaningful and gainful job. People who have never worked are not eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. But, there are other eligibility standards that must be met as well, beyond meeting the work-related criteria ..read more

The Compassionate Allowances program allows a person to collect Social Security disability payments if they have certain conditions. The Social Security Administration expedites the processing of certain claims, usually the ones with the most severe conditions. These include cancers and terminal illnesses. Those who may be facing a severe illness may want to learn about the CAL program. Conditions to qualify for Compassionate Allowance Program People who have certain conditions that are listed in the SSA “blue book” can qualify for Social Security disability. The blue book lists impairments th ..read more

There are many different factors affecting people’s lives in Ohio. Some of them are external factors and some are personal factors. One factor that can have a major effect on people’s lives is their health. When people are in good health, they have few limitations and usually do not need much assistance to perform daily tasks. When people are injured or sick though, it can make even normal daily tasks difficult. Some injuries and illnesses are more serious than others. If the injury or illness is mild, they may be able to recover relatively quickly and return to normal life. Other times the in ..read more

Many federal government benefit programs rely on a means test for eligibility. For instance, those who have more than a specified amount in income or other assets may not qualify for Medicaid. The Supplemental Security Income program has very tight requirements for eligibility that take into account all income and assets that an individual has or has access to. By contrast, the Social Security Disability Insurance program has no real means test. The program is paid for through payroll taxes, and anyone who has worked long enough to pay into the system should be eligible to receive the benefits ..read more

Many federal government benefit programs rely on a means test for eligibility. For instance, those who have more than a specified amount in income or other assets may not qualify for Medicaid. The Supplemental Security Income program has very tight requirements for eligibility that take into account all income and assets that an individual has or has access to. By contrast, the Social Security Disability Insurance program has no real means test. The program is paid for through payroll taxes, and anyone who has worked long enough to pay into the system should be eligible to receive the benefits ..read more

When you have a disability and apply for Social Security Disability Insurance, you’ll likely have a lot of questions about the process and benefits. You may also wonder whether the benefits are restricted to you or if your family members can also share in the benefits. The answer is, yes they can, under some circumstances. Spouses Regardless of their age, your spouse can receive SSDI benefits in conjunction with you if they are a caretaker for your children. If the child is under the age of 16, or if the child suffered their own disability before the age of 22, your spouse will qualify. Additi ..read more