repost of SSDI link

[Guest guest]

,

A while back we talked about your applying for SSDI. Here is a page

from the SS website that lists the toll free number to apply. The

links at the bottom are also helpful. Remember, the person I first

spoke to told me I didn't have enough units to qualify. She was very

wrong. I'm happy I persisted because had I waited I would not have

qualified as my disability date had to be on or before 12/31/99. As

it turned out, they considered me disabled on 12/31/99. One day

later and I would not have received anything. Good luck to you.

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How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits When To Apply

You should apply as soon as you become disabled. If you apply for

Social Security, disability benefits will not begin until the

sixth full month of disability. The Social Security disability

waiting period begins with the first full month after the date we

decide your disability began.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI), we pay SSI disability benefits

for the first full month after the date you filed your claim, or, if

later, the date you become eligible for SSI.

How To ApplyYou can apply by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-

1213. Our representatives there can make an appointment for your

application to be taken over the telephone or at any convenient

Social Security office.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our toll-free " TTY "

number, 1-, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday through

Friday.

What You NeedThe claims process for disability benefits is generally

longer than for other types of Social Security benefits, from 60 to

90 days. It takes longer to obtain medical information and to assess

the nature of the disability in terms of your ability to work.

However, you can help shorten the process by bringing certain

documents with you when you apply and helping us to get any other

medical evidence you need to show you are disabled. These include:

your Social Security number;

your birth certificate or other evidence of your date of birth;

your military discharge papers, if you were in the military

service;

your spouse's birth certificate and Social Security number if he

or she is applying for benefits;

your children's birth certificates and Social Security numbers if

they are applying for benefits; and

your checking or savings account information, so your benefits can

be directly deposited;

names, addresses, and phone numbers of doctors, hospitals,

clinics, and institutions that treated you and dates of treatment;

names of all medications you are taking;

medical records from your doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics,

and caseworkers;

laboratory and test results;

a summary of where you worked in the past 15 years and the kind of

work you did;

a copy of your W-2 Form (Wage and Tax Statement), or if you are

self-employed, your federal tax return for the past year;

dates of prior marriages if your spouse is applying

The documents presented as evidence must be either originals or

copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept uncertified

or notarized photocopies as evidence since we cannot verify their

authenticity. Do not delay filing for benefits just because you do

not have all of the information you need. The Social Security office

will be glad to help you.

If you are applying for Supplemental Security Income benefits you

also need the following:

information about the home where you live, such as your mortgage

or your lease and landlord's name;

payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, car registration,

burial fund records, and other information about your income and the

things you own;

How We Determine DisabilityYou should be familiar with the process we

use to determine if you are disabled. It's a step-by-step process

involving five questions. They are:

Are you working? If you are and your earnings average more than

$700 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.

Is your condition severe? Your impairments must interfere with

basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered.

Is your condition found in the list of disabling impairments? We

maintain a list of impairments for each of the major body systems

that are so severe they automatically mean you are disabled. If your

condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is of equal

severity to an impairment on the list. If it is, your claim is

approved. If it is not, we go to the next step.

Can you do the work you did previously? If your condition is

severe, but not at the same or equal severity as an impairment on the

list, then we must determine if it interferes with your ability to do

the work you did in the last 15 years. If it does not, your claim

will be denied. If it does, your claim will be considered further.

Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot do the work you

did in the last 15 years, we then look to see if you can do any other

type of work. We consider your age, education, past work experience,

and transferable skills, and we review the job demands of occupations

as determined by the Department of Labor. If you cannot do any other

kind of work, your claim will be approved. If you can, your claim

will be denied.

Some publications online that will give you more information on

disability benefits:

Social Security Disability Benefits

Benefits For Children With Disabilities

What You Need To Know When You Get Disability Benefits

Working While Disabled...How We Can Help

Medicare

Receiving Your Benefits By Direct Deposit

Social Security: When You'll Get Your Benefit

Disability Planner

Thomson

Help raise money for PLS Research

Visit www.geocities.com/mdmfoo/pls.html

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