About every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke. One out of every 19 deaths in the country are attributed to stroke with one person in the U.S. succumbing to stroke every 3 minutes and 45 seconds. That adds up to about 795,000 people suffering a stroke each year. Sometimes strokes can have debilitating effects. If you suffered a stroke and it has left you unable to work, you might be eligible for disability benefits administered through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Every year, everyone receives a statement that provides an estimation of how much you would receive for monthly disability benefits as well as how much you would receive for retirement benefits and how much your family would receive as survivors’ benefits.
What Happens When You Are Approved With A Stroke?
If your disability claim for a stroke is approved by the SSA, your disability benefits are payable beginning the sixth month following the date you were disabled per the SSA guidelines. A stroke can be devastating. It can lead to paralysis on one side of the body, causing loss of use of an arm or leg, the inability to walk unassisted, result in speech or vision problems, or cause a variety of issues that affect daily functioning as well as the ability to work. You must provide medical evidence that confirms your diagnosis and that shows the severity of your symptoms as well as your limitations and restrictions.
Back Pay and Stroke
When you apply for disability benefits because of a stroke, the process can be challenging. You will need to provide extensive supporting documentation that clearly details the severity of your condition along with any limitations or restrictions. The SSA will award backpay after you are approved for disability benefits. Backpay is awarded for the time between the date you file for disability benefits and the date that your claim is approved. Usually, your first backpay installment is within 60 days of the date that your disability claim is approved by the SSA.
Retroactive Payments and a Stroke
Sometimes the SSA awards retroactive payments. These payments can date back as far as 12 months before the Social Security Disability application for a herniated disc was filed. This only applies if you can show the SSA you were disabled during the specified timeframe before your application was filed. Applicants who wish to receive retroactive disability benefit for a herniated disc must prove that they met the criteria to be legally disabled for at least 5 months before their disability application was filed.
How To Calculate How Much You Could Receive With A Stroke
Your disability benefit amount is determined by the SSA when they review how much you have paid into Social Security taxes. Your earnings history is used to determine your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). After your AIME is determined, the SSA will determine your primary insurance amount (PIA) to calculate your monthly benefits. The PIA will be adjusted based on your current age, so the SSA can determine the monthly disability benefits for your stroke.
Applying For Disability Benefits
If a stroke has left you disabled, you should apply for Social Security Disability benefits. Start your application by visiting www.ssa.gov or calling 1-800-772-1213. Documentation – specifically medical records - is essential for a successful disability claim.
