Filing a claim for Social Security benefits is difficult enough without having to deal with the misconceptions that surround the federal program. Authorized under the Social Security Act of 1935, benefits come in many forms, including retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Under the Social Security Act of 1935, the federal government collects Social Security taxes to fund the federal program.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common myths associated with Social Security benefits.
SSDI is Free Money
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not approve claims for benefits as a type of free handout. Recipients of Social Security benefits qualify for financial assistance because they contribute to a payroll tax required by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). FICA payroll taxes fund every program managed by the SSA. For self-employed professionals, Social Security receives funding through a payroll tax mandated by the Self-Employed Contributions Act (SECA).
Once You’re Denied, You Can’t Get Benefits
The SSA denies a majority of claims for disability benefits, which leads most denied applicants to wonder if they are no longer eligible for financial assistance. Although your claim might come back denied by the SSA, you have the opportunity to appeal your case. The first step of the process is called appeal for reconsideration, which follows the same process you followed when you filed your original claim. You should submit more persuasive evidence the second time around, but the process remains the same. The SSA gives you 60 days from the date of your denial letter to file an appeal for reconsideration.
If the SSA denies your appeal for reconsideration, you can take the next step in the appeals process by requesting a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
Avoid Other Misconceptions
Other Social Security benefits misconceptions can derail your claim for financial assistance. One prominent myth is you must be close to retirement age to receive disability benefits. The disability benefits program managed by the SSA is not a retirement program. Instead, SSDI represents a program that provides financial assistance for qualified workers that live with a disability, and the disability prevents them from working.
Another common myth concerns the SSA rule that an applicant must have been out of work for 12 consecutive months to receive Social Security disability benefits. Many applicants falsely believe they have to wait one year before filing a disability claim. You should file a disability claim as soon as possible for many reasons, one of which is the SSA frequently encounters delays in its claim processing system.
You do not have to wait one year before filing a disability claim. SSA rules simply require you to have missed work for 12 consecutive months.
Get Legal Support to Receive Social Security Benefits
A Social Security attorney can help you in many ways. First, your legal counsel ensures you file a convincing claim on time. Second, you receive legal support during the appeals process if your initial claim comes back denied. Finally, a Social Security lawyer dispels the many myths that create Social Security benefits misconceptions.
Fill out the free case evaluation form to get the legal support you deserve.
