Common Concerns

 

 

 

 

SS

 

Social Security Home Page


This is were to start when looking for information from the Social Security Administration (SSA).  This page has many great LINKS to sections dealing with virtually every concern you could have.   Some examples:
Qualify and apply for SS benefits
Disability and SSI
Reporting a death

 

Suggestions from our members:

 

1. I am on disability. I started my procedure online and followed up at the local SS office. My advice is to keep a copy of all correspondence to and from Social Security as it takes time and memory fails. Having that record helps when they can't find what you sent and you can give them a copy. Talk with your Doctor/therapists and go for it. My problems have grown since getting disability so start now if the need is there. It is a lengthy process.
David

 

2. My personal dealings with this government agency: With my recent Lary (June '08) and being 64 years young I was in a position to an take earlier retirement than I had planned. I was a property manager who leased warehouse space to large and small companies. This required lots of phone work and speaking with customers and the public in general. I also taught at the University of Hawaii so my podium time would be difficult. After my surgery this was no longer a viable option.


So I went on line with the SSA and within a week I had an appointment to produce my original documents. When you go to their website they will tell you all you need to know. You can save tons of time by doing this all on line. Hint: If you have any military time at all be sure to bring your DD-214 since you will get a few bucks more. You can mail in your documents if you want, but the SSA office is not too far for me. I had my first SSA check within 10 days...and after I completed my disability application, again on-line, I was approved and had my first check in 3 weeks. and they even paid me for the 4 months not covered by my prior employment.


Have all your contact names and addresses, phone numbers, at hand as you do the on line appl's. The website will assign you a number so you can enter some info...take a break.. and then go back to it when you're ready. All in all it seems to be a secure site and fairly friendly to use.

Please try this before you spend money on an attorney...whom you'll likely not need.

Frank...in NJ

 

MEDICARE PRIMARY with MEDICAID SECONDARY

If you have Medicaid as a Primary insurance but become eligible for Medicare, you will likely be eligible for both, if you are still at an income level to qualify for Medicaid.  The rules vary considerably from state to state, but usually when Medicare becomes your Primary insurance, Medicaid becomes your secondary and picks up the 20% balance. There are no doubt variations from state to state about the way the $100 deductible is handled.

Medicare Part B takes care of doctor's visits and also equipment and supplies. It will pay for 80% of the cost of artificial larynges, TEP prostheses, stoma filters and some of the other equipment and supplies that you might need. For the purchase of equipment and supplies from a national vendor, you might have to pay some or all up front. Each state has its own rules and it is a paper nightmare for most of the vendors to handle the paperwork and rules for 50 different states without hiring more people and raising prices. But in many states, if you have had to prepay, Medicare will pass the claim on to Medicaid automatically and you will be reimbursed by both. Some of the vendors will sell to a local medical equipment dealer of your choice who is able to handle Medicaid in your state if you have a problem with having to prepay. For the rules in your own state, get in touch with your Medicaid representative. Check with a laryngectomy club in your state. As everyone in WW knows, people who have been through it can often give practical advice that the official representatives don't think of.

People who are not on Medicaid or other special assistance programs that will supplement Medicare will probably want to have their own secondary health insurance policies through other sources.

Dorothy Lennox
Luminaud, Inc.

 

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY


BENEFITS PLANNING

The Benefit Planning page can help answer questions on what to do and what benefits apply to you.


QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU START
How much time will it take to answer all the questions?
What types of questions will to ask?
Do I have to answer all of the questions?
What if I already get benefits from the Social Security Administration?
Who will see the answers I give?
What if I don't understand a question?
What if I am helping someone else?
What happens when I finish answering the questions?

The Benefits Planning can be found at:

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/index.html


If you have Medicare and want to find out if you might be eligible for extra help with your prescription drug costs, go to:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/

 


 

The Siimple Dollar

 

We recently looked into the Social Security Disabilities Benefits and found that most people who have become or already living with disabilities are not fully aware of the benefits and resources that are available to them. So, our team spent weeks reviewing the US Social Security Administration's documentation to develop our 2016 Disability Benefit Guide. This guide breaks down qualifications and the application process, as well as a calculator that can help estimate monthly and annual benefits.

You can see the entire guide along with some of its features here:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/disability-benefits-guide/

 

For suggestions, contributions, corrections or questions about this section, please contact:

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