Category: Social Security Disability

In its annual report, the Social Security Board of Trustees discusses at length revenue shortfalls that could lead to a depletion of Social Security retirement benefits. The trustees also propose a solution: reducing benefits by 17 percent, or generating revenue. If the government takes no action, by 2035, Social Security will be able to pay […]

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that most people are not in favor of cuts in funding for Medicaid, the government-issued health insurance for low-income Americans. The April survey found that only 12 percent of respondents favored Medicaid cuts, and nearly half said spending should remain as is. The proposal to cut Medicaid funding […]

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) account for about one-fifth of the United States population. ID is a broad category that includes autism, Down syndrome and other disorders that severely limit one’s ability to interact with others, to learn, or to function independently. ID begins during childhood. Before the age of 18, children with disabilities may […]

As of May 2017, the average wait time for a disability hearing in the Chattanooga Social Security office was 17 months, and the average processing time for a claim was 553 days. New rules that govern the claims approval process could add to the already significant backlog of SSD cases. Until this year, the Social […]

At the end of May, the White House released the first version of its 2018 budget, and one of its proposals was to cut funding for Social Security Disability Insurance by $70 billion over the next 10 years. While the budget is likely to undergo several changes in the House and Senate, critics say this […]

If you’ve ever looked at your paycheck and wondered why so much of your income is consumed by taxes and other deductions, you’re not alone. But the money taken from your check funds important programs – programs that you may one day rely on to help you cover your expenses. Aside from federal, state, and […]

Without access to appropriate health care for chronic medical conditions and the inability to rehabilitate themselves from physically limiting injuries, combined with the loss of job prospects, more rural Americans are turning to Social Security Disability as a way to support their families. The number of adults on SSD nearly doubled between 1996 and 2015. […]

When a person applies for Social Security Disability, the Social Security Administration applies a multi-step process to determine whether the applicant is eligible for benefits. Following is a general overview of each step of the process. Step 1: Establishing Financial (Non-Medical) Eligibility The SSA’s local field offices, such as the offices in Chattanooga, Tullahoma, or […]

If you’re older than age 25, you may remember receiving a statement in the mail showing your lifetime contributions to Social Security and your projected benefit payments for retirement, disability, and survivors. Those statements traditionally have been mailed to people every five years, beginning just before their 25th birthday, and every year to people age […]

Applying for Social Security disability benefits can be confusing, especially if you don’t know which benefits are most appropriate for your situation. The Social Security Administration offers two types of disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The programs are similar, in that they both require proof of disability. But […]