Social Security Disability Benefits - Retirement Benefits

The Social Security Disability schemes provide various kinds of assistance to the eligible. Once your case is considered a genuine one, benefits under various programs will start to make your life comfortable and unconcerned.

The biggest payout under the scheme is made as retirement benefits. The worker pays social security taxes throughout his period of work and his work history and earnings are also kept in watch by the administration. The amount granted as support depends upon his earning record and the age at which he is rendered incapable to work further. However, a Federal Court ruling clearly states that eligibility to such welfare schemes is not a contractual right, which gives the State governments to cut the aid at any point of time.

The amount to be allotted as retirement benefit is calculated on the basis of the applicant's Primary Insurance Amount or in short, the PIA. PIA is the average income earned during thirty five years of his most productive work years. For those who does not have thirty five years of service, zeroes are added to his actual earning years to bring up the required thirty five. Certain formulas and determiners are used to calculate the amount to be disbursed. The biggest advantage of the scheme is that the amount determined to be given takes care of the inflation and rise of costs.

For being eligible, the worker needs to have completed at least sixty two years of age. However, he has to attain the age of sixty eight to be eligible for full retirement benefits. The benefits will continue till the death of the beneficiary.

If a worker chooses to delay his retirement well past the normal accepted retirement age, he will get additional retirement credits that will increase his disability insurance amount. These retirement credits can be extended to their spouses too. Children and spouse benefits would not be affected by these credits.

Any current spouse or former spouses for more than ten years are eligible for the spouse's benefit. The benefits for the spouse is calculated to be fifty percent of the worker`s Primary Insurance Amount. If a beneficiary dies, his or her surviving spouse are eligible to receive survivor`s benefits. The amount allowed is equal to the full retirement benefit of the deceased worker if the spouse has attained the normal retirement age.

If you want to know more about Social Security Disability Benefits then feel free to visit http://www.disabilityappeal.com

Should You Get Early Retirement or Social Security Disability Benefits

If you are 50 years old and have poor physical health should you retire or file for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI)? If you are unable to continue to do your job because of your physical limitations you should file for SSDI benefits instead of filing for early retirement.

What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? SSDI benefits fall under title II of the Social Security Act. In order to qualify for SSDI you must have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. SSDI works similarly to a pension, where you pay into the plan throughout your working years.

The SSA establishes whether you have worked long enough by assigning work credits to your wages/FICA taxes you paid per year. For adults you need 40 work credits. Once you have 40 work credits you have "insured status." SSDI benefits are paid to those who have been found disabled as defined by the SSA and have "insured status."

What is the benefit of filing a SSDI claim instead of filing for early retirement?

If you start collecting Social Security retirement benefits early (before the age of 67, for people born in 1960 or later) your benefits are reduced for each month before you reach your full retirement age.
If you receive SSDI you receive full monthly benefits and annual cost of living increases. You are entitled to Medicare and prescription drug coverage.
When you reach retirement age your SSDI will be converted automatically into retirement benefits.
When the SSA calculates your retirement benefits the years you receive disability insurance is not included and your retirement benefits will be higher because your earnings are averaged over a shorter period of time. The earnings from SSDI are considered but the number of years you were disabled is not. It ends up looking like you earned more money per year, which equals a higher monthly retirement check.

How can a Disability lawyer help? If you are between the ages of 50 and 64 and you stopped working because physically you just could not do your job anymore, you may be entitled to SSDI. SSDI are benefits funded by the taxes you paid during your working years. SSDI is not welfare. A lawyer can evaluate your individual case and help you with the application process. The lawyer will represent you at your hearing in front of the administrative law judge. SSDI are benefits you are entitled to if you have a strong work history and are found disabled as defined by the SSA.

by Sandra Haas, Esq.

Disability Group was founded on the principles of dignity of respect. We are a national law firm focusing exclusively on helping people get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve. For more information about Social Security or to see if you qualify for benefits, visit http://www.socialsecuritylaw.com