Halfway Approved...

[Jayg]

I got a letter from SS. It said "We have found that you meet the medical requirements to be entitled to disability payments."

My VA rating is 80% actual, 100% with IU.

But, they go on to say,

"We have not yet made a decision about whether you meet the non-medical requirements, but we will make that decision soon."

And all this means???

That I medically qualify is good news (excepting being in this condition). But what are the "non-medical conditions" to be decided upon and any idea how long this usually/may take???

[Pete53]

I have not a clue what they are talking about. I suggest that you ask someone at the VA.

Pete

[navydoc2]

I would think that the medical part is the hardest to qualify for, so now it comes down too whether you have the work credits and that type of thing. When was the last time you worked and how far are they going back? Good luck

[Philip Rogers]

I agree w/navydoc2. It's now about quarters and disability onset date. At least you've heard something, which is unusual for SS. They're running a year on claims. jmo

pr

[carlie]

Jayg,

navy is right on target with his reply.

SSA must adjudicate if you had:

Credits required for Disability eligibility.

Question

How many credits are required to be eligible for disability?

Answer

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Also, the credits must have been earned within a certain time period. Generally, you need 20 credits earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year you become disabled.

Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. For example:

A worker who becomes disabled before age 24 needs to have earned six credits in the three-year period ending when disability starts.

A worker who becomes disabled between age 24 to age 31 needs to have credits for half the time between age 21 and the time disability starts. If disability starts at age 27, the worker would need credit for three years of work (12 credits)) out of the past six years between age 21 and age 27.

AND SSA has to figure out a start date for any payments:

When you should apply for Disability benefits.

Question

I understand that to get Social Security disability benefits, my disability must be expected to last at least a year. Does this mean that I must wait a year after becoming disabled before I can receive benefits?

Answer

No. You do not have to wait a year after becoming disabled to receive disability benefits. However, you should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process an application for disability benefits (three to five months).

If your application is approved, your first Social Security disability benefits will be paid for the sixth full month after the date your disability began.

For example, if the state agency decides your disability began on January 15, your first disability benefit will be paid for the month of July. However, Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due, so you will receive your July benefit in August.

For more information about Social Security disability benefits, refer to Disability Benefits(Publication No. 05-10029) at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

I would go study the SSA web site - they have a very good FAQ'S section.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf...p;p_page_foot=1

carlie

Edited February 17, 2010 by carlie
added the SSA link for Jayg

[Jayg]

Thanks for the replies. I'll check out the website but since I'm here, does the SS (unfortunate similarity of letters with "die Waffen Schutz Staffeln." :D ) have any equivalent of VA's "IRIS" messaging system???

Actually I'm surprised at the timeliness of this reply. I first filed for SS in about October or November (I forget which) just last year. I was filed for SSI but did not qualify fo that and was transferred to application for SSD about a month after the initial application.

I'm 54, worked for ss with holding since about 1972 with few breaks and last worked in 04. (see below)

My letter says "You said your disability began on 06/03/04." (The date I last worked.*) "According to our rules for disability, the evidence shows you did not meet our requirements until 07/14/09 (No idea where they pulled that date from.) "However, because of the severity of your condition at the time, it is reasonable to presume you were disabled earlier. Therefore, we determined you became disabled as of 01/14/09." (07/14/09 - 01/14/09... There's your "6 months.")

* I know there is a time limit there. I checked. I am (or filed anyway) still within the time allowed, if only just.

They only cited Overton Brooks VAMC as "information used to decide this claim." Noted was "Report received 01/26/10." This was about 6 weeks after I received my VA rating for IU.

Am I likely going to want to argue for an earlier eed?

Jayg,

navy is right on target with his reply.

SSA must adjudicate if you had:

Credits required for Disability eligibility.

Question

How many credits are required to be eligible for disability?

Answer

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Also, the credits must have been earned within a certain time period. Generally, you need 20 credits earned in the last 10 years, ending with the year you become disabled.

Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. For example:

A worker who becomes disabled before age 24 needs to have earned six credits in the three-year period ending when disability starts.

A worker who becomes disabled between age 24 to age 31 needs to have credits for half the time between age 21 and the time disability starts. If disability starts at age 27, the worker would need credit for three years of work (12 credits)) out of the past six years between age 21 and age 27.

AND SSA has to figure out a start date for any payments:

When you should apply for Disability benefits.

Question

I understand that to get Social Security disability benefits, my disability must be expected to last at least a year. Does this mean that I must wait a year after becoming disabled before I can receive benefits?

Answer

No. You do not have to wait a year after becoming disabled to receive disability benefits. However, you should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. It can take a long time to process an application for disability benefits (three to five months).

If your application is approved, your first Social Security disability benefits will be paid for the sixth full month after the date your disability began.

For example, if the state agency decides your disability began on January 15, your first disability benefit will be paid for the month of July. However, Social Security benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due, so you will receive your July benefit in August.

For more information about Social Security disability benefits, refer to Disability Benefits(Publication No. 05-10029) at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

I would go study the SSA web site - they have a very good FAQ'S section.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf...p;p_page_foot=1

carlie

Edited February 18, 2010 by Jayg