HUNTSVILLE DISABILITY GUIDE

Fewer than 3 out of 10 initial applications for Social Security disability are approved.  Many truly disabled and deserving individuals are denied for any number of reasons.  The only solution is a timely appeal. In Alabama (and 9 other states), you may file a request for a hearing immediately upon being denied.  You only have 60 days, however, in which to request a hearing in writing.  A hearing refers to a personal appearance before a federal administrative law judge.  This judge is not bound by any previous Social Security decision and can evaluate all the evidence, including new evidence that you submit, and make a new decision. National award rates by administrative law judges were down during the final quarter of 2011--to 49 percent.  In Alabama and Tennessee, the award rates average closer to 60 percent.  Award (approval) rates vary from hearing office to hearing office and from judge to judge. In one of the hearing office where I represent ...

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for persons who receive Social Security disability OR who have attained their full retirement age (65 or 66 for many of us). If you are under your full retirement age and are awarded Social Security disability benefits, you will qualify for Medicare coverage 24 months after the date of your disability payment entitlement.  Keep in mind there is a 5 month "waiting period" before disability payments can begin.  For example: Mary is found to be disabled on March 1, 2012.  (Called the "established onset date") Her first entitled payment will be for August, 2012. She will become eligible for Medicare in August, 2014 (24 months after the first payment) There is a charge for Medicare coverage and it will be deducted from your Social Security check.  However, it is far less expensive than an equivalent private insurance plan. Medicare does not cover all health care costs, so a look at a supplemental policy may be advi...

The charts above represent the types of disabilities that Social Security awards the most benefits for.  The largest category is muscuoskeletal impairments at 33.8%.  Mental impairments are the second largest category at 19.3%.  The types of mental impairments  are broken down in the second chart.  Of all mental impairments award benefits by Social Security, mood disorders make up the largest cause at 10.2%. Keep in mind that these numbers represent only Social Security's experience with claims in 2011.  They do not predict the chances of winning a claim based on any particular impairment.  For instance, the fact that 33.8% of all awards were for musuloskeletal problems, that does not imply that your chance of winning a claim based on musuloskeletal problems is only 33.8%.  It probably does imply that Social Security saw more claims for musuloskeletal impairments than for any other type condition. I continue to advise clients that it is ne...