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Veteran Advocates

Veteran Advocates. Wounded Warriors & Disability Benefits Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Representatives Military Service & Social Security Retirement Medicare. Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors. What types of benefits can I receive?.

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Veteran Advocates

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  1. Veteran Advocates Wounded Warriors & Disability Benefits Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Representatives Military Service & Social Security Retirement Medicare

  2. Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors

  3. What types of benefits can I receive? Social Security pays disability benefits through two programs: 1. The Social Security Disability Insurance program, which pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. 2. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which pays benefits based on financial need.

  4. What is Social Security’s definition of disability? By law, Social Security has a very strict definition. To be found disabled: • You must be unable to do substantial work because of your medical condition(s); and • Your medical condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least one year or be expected to result in death. While some programs give money to people with partial disability or short-term disability, Social Security does not.

  5. How does military pay affect eligibility for disability benefits? You cannot engage in substantial work activity for pay or profit, also known as substantial gainful activity. Active duty status and receipt of military pay does not, in itself, necessarily prevent payment of disability benefits. Receipt of military payments should never stop you from applying for disability benefits from Social Security.

  6. How does military pay affect eligibility for disability benefits? If you are receiving treatment at a military medical facility and working in a designated therapy program or on limited duty, we will evaluate your work activity to determine your eligibility for benefits. The actual work activity is the controlling factor and not the amount of pay you receive or your military duty status.

  7. You Need to Work to Earn Social Security Credits • Each $1,120 in earnings gives you one credit • You can earn a maximum of 4 credits per year • 6 credits in the last 3 years needed for eligibility if age 24 or under Example: To earn 4 credits in 2010, you must earn at least $4,480

  8. Waiting Period: Five Full Months EXAMPLE: • Disability begins January 15, 2009 • Eligibility begins in July 2009 • First check arrives in August 2009

  9. Retroactivity If your disability began several years ago, we may owe you up to one year of back benefits. You could be due up to 12 months of back benefits!

  10. How do I apply? • You may apply for disability benefits at any time while in military status or after discharge. • You may apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors, in person at the nearest Social Security office or by telephone. You may call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment.

  11. www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors

  12. Apply Online for Disability Benefits

  13. www.socialsecurity.gov

  14. www.socialsecurity.gov Preparation to answer questions Disability Application Disability Medical Report

  15. What do I need to apply? Claimants and their representatives must provide information and documentation about: • Age • Employment • Proof of citizenship • Social Security coverage • Information regarding all impairments and related treatment. Social Security will make every reasonable effort to help you get the necessary medical evidence.

  16. How does Social Security make the decision? • Your claim is sent to a state Disability Determination Services (DDS) office that makes disability decisions. • The state has medical and vocational experts who will contact your doctors and other places where you received treatment to get your medical records. • The state agency may ask you to have an examination or medical test. If the state does request an examination, make sure you keep the appointment.

  17. How long does it takefor a decision? The length of time it takes to receive a decision on your disability claim can vary, depending on several factors, but primarily on: • The nature of your disability; • How quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source; and • Whether it is necessary to send you for a medical examination in order to obtain evidence to support your claim.

  18. Can I do anything to speed the decision? Yes • Be prepared for your interview • Have information available regarding all the doctors you have seen and your work history • Keep Social Security notified of any address changes that you have while your claim is pending • Keep Social Security notified of any changes in doctors, hospitals or outpatient clinics where you are receiving treatment.

  19. Can I do anything to speed the decision? After the application for Social Security disability benefits is received, it is uniquely identified as a military service member claim, and it is expedited through all phases of processing, both in Social Security and the DDS. Disability claims filed online also are expedited.

  20. Can my family get benefits? Certain members of your family may qualify for benefits based on your work. They include: • Your spouse • Your spouse if he or she is caring for a child younger than age 16 or disabled • Your child age 18 and under • Your unmarried child, age 18 or older, if he or she has a disability that started before age 22

  21. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

  22. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplemental program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes): • It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income and • It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

  23. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Income • Resources • Living Arrangements • Arrest warrants • Refugee/Alien Status

  24. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Under SSI, income includes cash, checks and other things you get that can be used for food or shelter. Here are examples of income: • Cash • Wages • Net Earnings (Self Employment) • Social Security Benefits • Workers Compensation • Unemployment Benefits • Department of Veterans Affairs benefit • Railroad retirement and railroad unemployment benefits

  25. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Here are examples of income: • Annuities, Pension • Prizes, settlements and awards • Support and alimony payments • Inheritances in cash or property • Rental Income • Interest Earned , including interest on savings, checking and other accounts; • Strike pay and other benefits from unions • The value of food or shelter that someone gives you or the amount of money someone gives you to help you pay for food or shelter.

  26. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Examples of the resources are: • Cash • Checking and Saving Accounts • Christmas Club Accounts • Certificates of deposit • Stocks and US Saving Bonds • Vehicles • Life Insurance Policies • Property

  27. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Living arrangement is another factor used to determine how much SSI a person can receive. This means SSI benefits may vary depending on where you live. Here are some examples: • In your own place such as a home, apartment, or mobile home • In someone else’s household; or • In a group care or board and care facility; or • In an institution • If you are married but not living with your spouse, date of marriage and separation date must be reported. • The start and end date of all living arrangements are required if the stay is 30 days or longer at that location.

  28. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) You must tell us if you have an outstanding warrant for: • A crime that is felony under the laws of the state in which you live; or • A crime punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year in states that do not classify crimes as felonies. You cannot receive disability benefits for any months in which there is an outstanding arrest warrant for a crime that is a felony (or a crime that is punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year).

  29. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) To receive SSI, you must be: • A citizen or national of the United States; or • A non-citizen who meets the alien eligibility criteria under the 1996 legislation and its amendments. When is a non-citizen eligible for SSI: Beginning August 22, 1996, most non-citizens must meet two requirements to be eligible for SSI: • The non-citizen must be in a qualified alien category, and • Meet a condition that allows qualified aliens to get SSI benefits.

  30. When you get SSI, you can get Medicaiddicaid SSI Checks SI Checks

  31. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Step 1: Review the Adult Disability Starter Kit. • Step 2: Fill out the online Adult Disability Report. At the end of the report, we will ask you to sign a form that gives your doctor permission to send us information about your disability. • Step 3: Call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment for complete your application for SSI disability benefits.

  32. www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors

  33. Apply Online for Disability Benefits

  34. www.socialsecurity.gov

  35. www.socialsecurity.gov Preparation to answer questions Disability Medical Report

  36. Representatives

  37. Representatives • Our Representing Claimants website includes information on: Standards of conduct for claimant representatives • Charging fees for representation • The requirements for Registration for Appointed Representative Services and Direct Payment including direct payment www.socialsecurity.gov/representation/

  38. www.socialsecurity.gov/representation/

  39. Military Service & Social Security Retirement

  40. Military Retirement & Social Security You can get both Social Security benefits and militaryretirement. Generally, there is no offset of Social Security benefits because of your militaryretirement. You will get your full Social Security benefits based on your earnings.

  41. How your work qualifies you for Social Security To qualify for benefits: • You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain length of time. In 2010, you will receive four credits if you earn at least $4,480. • The amount needed to get credit for your work goes up each year. • The number of credits you need to qualify for Social Security benefits depends on your age and the type of benefit for which you are eligible. • No one needs more than 10 years of work.

  42. Your Age and Retirement • At age 62, you get less money permanently • At your full retirement age, you get your full benefit • You get even more money if you work past your full retirement age

  43. www.socialsecurity.gov

  44. Plan, Calculate, & Apply Find your full retirement age Estimate your benefit amount File your application online

  45. Extra Earnings Your Social Security benefit depends on your earnings, averaged over your working lifetime. Generally, the higher your earnings, the higher your Social Security benefit. Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes.

  46. Medicare

  47. Social Security & Medicare Taxes While you are in military service, you pay Social Security taxes just as civilian employees do. In 2010, the tax rate is 7.65 percent, up to a maximum of $106,800. If you earn more, you continue to pay the Medicare portion of the tax (1.45 percent) on the rest of your earnings.

  48. Medicare Coverage 65 & older -or- Receiving Social Security disability benefits at least 24 months -or- Permanent kidney failure -or- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  49. Medicare Coverage Part A (Hospital Insurance) • Helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay), some home health care and hospice care. • 2010 deductible $1,100 Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) • Helps pay for doctors’ services and many other medical services and supplies that are not covered by hospital insurance. • 2010 Monthly Premium $110.50*

  50. Medicare Coverage Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) • People with Medicare Parts A and B can choose to receive all of their health care services through one of these provider organizations under Part C (some offer Part D). These are HMOs, PPOs, Private Fee for Service Plans, etc. Medicare services are covered through the plan, not paid for under Original Medicare. Part D (Prescription Drug Plans) • Helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment.

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