It’s no secret that our health starts to decline as we get older. However, some people end up dealing with the worst of it and develop a serious medical condition. As a result, they may need to rely on the assistance of social security disability insurance. Read on to learn five things to prepare when applying for social security disability.
Make Sure You Meet the Qualifications
The Social Security Administration is extremely strict when it comes to determining whether or not a disability qualifies for benefits. It will save you time in applying when you know and understand these guidelines.
In order to be qualified for the benefits, a person must have an impairment that lasts for at least a year, whether it has already been a year or is expected to last a whole year. The applicant must also be fully disabled rather than partially, and it must be impossible to work your past job or any other job. Also, if your FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes haven’t been paid, you will not qualify. This usually means that you’ve worked and paid taxes for the last five of ten years.
File as Soon as You Can
While it’s fine to take some time and think about filing, you shouldn’t wait for too long. If you don’t have a steady income, whatever you have saved in retirement and savings will disappear quickly. In fact, the application itself is going to take a few months, which is three months at the least. The most you’ll have to wait is about six months. And that’s if you’re able to get approved at the first level.
Keep Your Current Health Insurance Stable
A tight budget can make it almost impossible to for basic needs. In fact, with such limited funds, the idea of cutting a few things off sounds appealing. However, your health insurance shouldn’t be one of them. Your health insurance plays a vital role in the application process.
Without the proper evidence, you won’t be able to back up your claims. Social security disability attorney services are especially useful for understanding the logistics prior to filing.
Budget Accordingly
As you wait for your application to process and receive the benefits, you must have a budget. Unfortunately, with how long the wait to receive these benefits is, a lot of people end up in financial ruin. Try to save as much as you can and limit your spending.
Start Early
The sooner you’re able to file, the sooner you’ll able to get your benefits. If you’re having difficulty acquiring the necessary information, reach out for help. It’s important to have everything you need prior to filing for disability insurance.
Author information: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
