Ohio Social Security Insurance Legal Blog

How do you contact your members of Congress?

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in social security disability insurance (ssd) on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

If there is a delay in your claim for Social Security Disability benefits and you are starting to get frustrated, you are within your rights to turn to the members of Congress who represent your district or Ohio as a whole. Though your congressional members do not have the power or authority to instantly resolve any and all Social Security claims issues, they can sometimes be helpful in expediting a stalled claims process.

It never does any harm to ask your legislators for help, and it may well do some good. However, you need to take the first step in reaching out to them. According to the National Priorities Project, there are several ways to accomplish this.

What factors affect your disabled widow's benefits?

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in disabled widow's and widower's benefits on Tuesday, July 2, 2019.

The amount you can receive in Social Security benefits as a disabled widow or widower in Ohio varies depending on a number of different factors. These include the date that you became disabled, your age and whether you care for children under the age of 16. If you choose to remarry, that can have an effect as well, although it depends partly on the other factors.

According to the Social Security Administration, the basic rule is that you can receive widow's/widower's benefits if you became disabled prior to your spouse's death or within seven years thereafter and you are 50 years old or older. Assuming that your spouse had reached full retirement age upon death, you could receive 71.5% of the benefit amount if you are age 50 to 59. Remarriage does not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits if it takes place after age 50.

Is your disability case under review?

On behalf of Manring & Farrell on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

The disability benefits you received from the Social Security Administration may have come just in time. You may recall the long, tedious process of applying for disability and the tense weeks of waiting to learn if the SSA accepted your application. Meanwhile, you were dealing with the pain or inconvenience of your medical condition and the struggle of being unable to work to support yourself.

Receiving benefits for a disability is something that most applicants do not obtain, even some who may deserve them. While you may have been fortunate in qualifying for disability funds, you should be aware that your benefits may not continue indefinitely. In many cases, the SSA will do periodic reviews of your condition to determine if you are still eligible for financial assistance.

Social Security options for disabled spouses

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in disabled widow's and widower's benefits on Sunday, June 16, 2019.

For many people in Ohio, Social Security is an essential form of income during their retirement years. In addition to potentially having your own Social Security benefits, you might be able to receive Social Security payments based on your spouse's contributions after they have died. If you are also disabled, you will want to understand how this might happen and how it might impact any disability benefits you currently receive.

As explained by the Social Security Administration, the amount or percentage of benefits you may receive based on your deceased spouse's earnings will vary in part based on your age. If you are at or over the age of retirement, you may apply for full benefits but if you are still 60, you might only be able to qualify for partial benefits. There are some situations, however, in which you may be able to receive benefits even if you are younger than 60.

What is supplemental security income?

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in supplemental security income (ssi) on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

As an Ohio resident who has been injured or disabled to the point of being unable to work, there are still financial options available that can allow you to support yourself. Today, Manring & Farrell will discuss one of them: supplemental security income.

Also known as SSI, supplemental security income works similarly to social security disability (SSD). The main difference is that you don't need to have been employed in order to qualify for the benefits. However, some requirements remain the same. For example, in order to qualify for both SSI and SSD, you must be unable to work and have a disability. In addition, for SSI qualification, you can't have assets that are worth more than a certain set amount.

Is your child eligible for disabled adult child benefits?

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in disabled adult child benefits on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

As a resident of Ohio tasked with the care of a disabled adult child, you know that expenses can stack up quickly. Today, Manring & Farrell will discuss the possibility of social security benefits, how disabled adult children can be eligible, and whether or not your child may be eligible.

The first thing to note is that there are certain restrictions that determine whether an adult child can draw from social security benefits. Of those, one includes the stipulation that the child must have become disabled before turning 22 years old. Payments do continue after that age, however. An adult child must also be over the age of 18. The second stipulation is that the individual must have never been married before.

Social Security Disability benefits for adult disabled children

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in disabled adult child benefits on Saturday, May 4, 2019.

Residents in Ohio who have children with disabilities know the importance of finding ways to help support their children. Depending on the nature of a disability, some people may be able to work and earn some amount of income while others may never be able to work in any capacity. This leads families to learn what forms of assistance may be available to them and their children.

As explained by the Social Security Administration, Social Security Disability is a program that pays benefits to a person who has become disabled but previously worked and paid into the SSDI program. Applicants must meet the definition of being disabled as laid out by the SSA in order to qualify for benefits. In addition, it may be possible for a worker's adult disabled child to receive SSDI benefit from their contributions.

Does your ailment qualify for SSD?

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in social security disability insurance (ssd) on Monday, April 29, 2019.

Residents in Ohio suffering from certain injuries or disabilities maybe eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Social Security Insurance (SSI). Manring & Farrell are here to discuss what some of the most common disabilities or injuries that result in SSD and SSI may be.

A lot of the conditions and ailments eligible for SSD are chronic conditions with no cure, or with very intensive recovery processes. Some examples include:

Cancers
Respiratory disorders
Heart failure
Fibromyalgia
Chronic pain disorders
Crohn's disease

Not successful with your SSDI claim? You are not alone

On behalf of Manring & Farrell on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

If you are unable to work due to a disabling medical condition, injury or illness, you know how important it is to secure financial support through a disability claim. Your inability to hold gainful employment can have a devastating effect on your financial stability, and securing help could be important for your Ohio family. It can be devastating to learn that your initial claim was not successful.

It is common for initial Social Security Disability Insurance claims to come back denied. While this is certainly frustrating, there are still options available to you. Instead of abandoning your pursuit of the benefits you need, you may want to explore your options for seeking a reconsideration of your application or an appeal. Many applicants find it beneficial to work with an experienced legal ally throughout this process.

When rheumatoid arthritis makes working difficult (or impossible)

On behalf of Manring & Farrell posted in social security disability insurance (ssd) on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

Rheumatoid arthritis can have many impacts on those who suffer from it. Some of these effects can touch on one’s ability to work in one’s chosen profession, such as: