Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
People here seem to be very confused about SSDI benefits. The damned regulations are so long and complicated that only lawyers can understand them, and not lawyers like me who suffer from severe brain fog.
All I know is there is no set benefit for everyone. You get a statement every year and it shows you what you would get if you became disabled at that time.
These people that say the limit is 900/month or 1000, month are confused with SSI which is used to support your family, or young people who can't work who haven't worked enough to qualify for SSDI.
Two different things!
And the other numbers you've heard about, like $640/month or 850/month, these are NOT benefit limits . These are the amounts that Social Security considers "substantial gain" in any given year. Depending on what it is this year, they will DENY you benefits if you earn more per month. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the amount you will receive if you are APPROVED for benefits.
YES you must have an attorney! I am an attorney, and I don't have a clue about how to win in a SSDI hearing, which is where most people win. I'm an attorney and my brain can't handle it! And it if could, the judge would find me not disabled! If I represented myself, I'd have a fool for a client.
I have a lawyer who has specialized in disability cases for 20 years. A non-lawyer going into an appeal alone? Don't even THINK about it. The maximum a lawyer can get is $6,000. By yourself, you won't get a dime.
Diagnoses don't matter. LIMITATIONS matter. So lab work and doctor listing your illnesses all means nothing. Doctor must be specific: can't walk 200 feet without resting, etc, etc,. Can't keep going 5 days in a row without having to rest in bed for a month. Etc. Etc. Exhaustion hits and patient becomes brain dead and shows retarded IQ. Etc.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT ABOVE, which is all true, I say again that I know nothing about SSDI hearings. I'm about to find out. NEXT WEEK. I'll pass along anything I learn.
I think my lawyer is good, but I'll find that out too, won't I???????
I don't claim to know how to win, because I haven't won yet. And I'm terrified.
But the facts I said above are true.
This is scary enough without believing myths.
All I know is there is no set benefit for everyone. You get a statement every year and it shows you what you would get if you became disabled at that time.
These people that say the limit is 900/month or 1000, month are confused with SSI which is used to support your family, or young people who can't work who haven't worked enough to qualify for SSDI.
Two different things!
And the other numbers you've heard about, like $640/month or 850/month, these are NOT benefit limits . These are the amounts that Social Security considers "substantial gain" in any given year. Depending on what it is this year, they will DENY you benefits if you earn more per month. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the amount you will receive if you are APPROVED for benefits.
YES you must have an attorney! I am an attorney, and I don't have a clue about how to win in a SSDI hearing, which is where most people win. I'm an attorney and my brain can't handle it! And it if could, the judge would find me not disabled! If I represented myself, I'd have a fool for a client.
I have a lawyer who has specialized in disability cases for 20 years. A non-lawyer going into an appeal alone? Don't even THINK about it. The maximum a lawyer can get is $6,000. By yourself, you won't get a dime.
Diagnoses don't matter. LIMITATIONS matter. So lab work and doctor listing your illnesses all means nothing. Doctor must be specific: can't walk 200 feet without resting, etc, etc,. Can't keep going 5 days in a row without having to rest in bed for a month. Etc. Etc. Exhaustion hits and patient becomes brain dead and shows retarded IQ. Etc.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT ABOVE, which is all true, I say again that I know nothing about SSDI hearings. I'm about to find out. NEXT WEEK. I'll pass along anything I learn.
I think my lawyer is good, but I'll find that out too, won't I???????
I don't claim to know how to win, because I haven't won yet. And I'm terrified.
But the facts I said above are true.
This is scary enough without believing myths.
Social Security is not based on need, it is based on how much you earned when you worked. The exception is SSI, Social Security Supplemental Income. But you have to be really destitute to qualify for that.
Social Security old age benefit and Social Security disability are set up so that the less disabled who earned more money get more...while the more disabled who did not earn much because of their limitations get much less.
Also, if you were self employed when you worked and put your profits back into your business, you will get very little from Social Security when you retire or become disabled.
So the fortunate few with high-paying jobs and a fat retirement package get the most from Social Security...while the disabled and the hard working small business people who are the backbone of the economy get the least.