Social Security Benefits, Disability, and You
President Roosevelt signed Social Security into law on August 14, 1935, creating the single most effective anti-poverty program in American history. When monthly payments began in January 1940, many millions of elderly citizens were no suddenly longer destitute.
These days, most people begin to draw Social Security benefits between the ages of 62 and 70. Those who draw retirement benefits before they reach full retirement age—which from 65 years old to 67 years old in 2027—take a reduction in benefits as well. In principle, Social Security pays out to older citizens as a pension what they paid in earmarked payroll taxes over years of work.
Social Security benefits in Chattanooga
As part of its goal of reducing poverty among the elderly and others who, through no fault of their own, are unable to join or rejoin the workforce, Social Security also makes provisions to provide some income for people with disabilities that prevent them from working.
Individuals who feel that they qualify for Social Security disability benefits must apply to the federal Social Security Administration (SSA), which will review your case to determine whether you worked enough years to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. If you withstand that review, they will forward your file to the state-based Disability Determination Services Office, which uses medical evidence from your doctors and other medical providers to determine whether you are disabled. The key to understanding if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits you first need to know the Social Security laws in Chattanooga.
Unfortunately, the SSA rejects many first-time disability applicants. You can avoid this fate by working with The Law Office of W. Thomas Bible, Jr. Our practiced Social Security disability lawyers in Chattanooga can help you get the Social Security income and other benefits for which you qualify.
Do I qualify as disabled?
People seeking Social Security benefits for their disability must meet three basic criteria:
- You cannot do the work that you did before the injury or illness.
- The SSA decides that you cannot adjust to different work because of your medical condition.
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last 12 months or longer.
The government assumes that for shorter periods of disability, families and individuals have means of getting by, like short-term disability insurance and savings accounts.
Maximizing your Social Security income in Chattanooga
Chattanooga Social Security disability benefits vary from person to person based on average lifetime earnings, pre-disability, but with the high cost of health care and medications, those benefits almost never feel like enough. Fortunately, once you have received 24 months of Social Security disability benefits, you also qualify for Medicare, which should defray some of your medical expenses. You may also qualify for other state and federal programs, such as Supplemental Security Income or food stamps.
Contact the firm today for a free consultation
We proudly remain a local firm. Our doors are open to all clients, and we pledge to offer the kind of personal attention, experienced counsel, and affordable rates that our customers deserve. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your Chattanooga bankruptcy filing in Tennessee or Social Security disability legal matter, contact The Law Office of W. Thomas Bible today.
