Can I Qualify for Disability with a Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are becoming a more common diagnosis for claimants needing Social Security disability benefits, with advances in testing and imaging as well as more publicity from injured veterans and athletes. These disabilities are not always easy to prove. However, there is a relatively new regulation that specifically evaluates these profound injuries whereas earlier they were only considered under neurological or mental illness criteria. Many of the symptoms of TBI are subtle. Also, because most of the patients are not good historians due to their brain injuries and often lack self-insight, proof of total disability is challenging. The involvement of family members and friends is helpful for reporting symptoms to the treating physicians.

Until October 2016, the Social Security Administration evaluated traumatic brain injuries under disability listings for other types of medical conditions. The new regulation covers brain damage caused by skull fracture, a closed head injury, or penetration by an object into the brain tissue. The regulation is found in the Adult Listings here: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm#11_18.

Please contact us if you or someone you know is looking for help with a disability claim.

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®

Added Security for my Social Security Account Users

On June 10, 2017, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is adding enhanced security to protect your privacy as my Social Security users. This is in addition to the first layer of security, a username and password. Adding security measures to safeguard your information — but making them easy to use — is a vital part of keeping your personal information safe and secure.

When you sign in to your personal my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount with your username and password, the website will ask you to add your email address or a text-enabled cell phone number.

Then, each time you sign in to your account, you will complete two steps:

• Step 1: Enter your username and password.
• Step 2: Enter the security code SSA sends by text message or email, depending on your choice (cell phone provider text message and data rates may apply).

In addition to these security enhancements, SSA will also upgrade the look and feel of my Social Security to create an enhanced customer experience. The my Social Security portal will automatically adjust to the size of the screen and kind of device your client is using – such as a tablet, smart phone, or computer. No matter what type of device you choose, you will have full, easy-to-use access to your personal my Social Security account.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a medical condition, please contact us for a free case evaluation.

Source: https://www.ssa.gov/news/newsletter/

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®

Can I Receive VA Benefits and Social Security Disability at the Same Time?

If you are planning on or already receiving disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you may also be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSDI is administered by the SSA to provide monthly benefits for disabled workers. To receive SSDI, you must have worked enough and paid taxes into the SSA to earn sufficient credits for coverage. In general, that means you must have worked the equivalent of five years of the last 10 years prior to the start of your disability, but that can vary depending on age. While VA disability is only available to military veterans who suffer from a service-related disability, SSDI is available to any worker who suffers from any disability that meets the requirements under the SSA’s guidelines. So, if you have a service-related disability and other medical conditions, you can combine those together to gain approval for SSDI. Unlike VA disability, to get SSDI you must be fully disabled. There are no partial disability benefits under the SSA’s guidelines.

The Differences: To receive SSDI you can combine chronic health conditions, injuries, and military-related conditions to prove your disability to receive benefits. The VA will give a disability rating for each condition or injury, such as 10 percent. For SSDI, you must show that you are completely disabled and unable to work to earn a substantial gainful income. For SSDI benefits, you must be unable to work for at least a year or have a condition that is expected to result in your death. With VA disability, you can receive benefits based on the severity or the disability rating that you receive.

While you can apply for VA disability because of a service-related disability at any time, you need to apply for SSDI as quickly as possible. Because it is based on credits earned from working, waiting too long to apply can result in your loss of benefits. You can, however, apply for VA disability and SSDI at the same time. These claims are processed using a different approach through different government agencies, so be aware that different information will need to be supplied for each claim.

Expedited Claims: If you are a veteran who has been approved for VA disability with a 100 percent P&T disability rating, or if you were wounded in the line of duty after October 2001, you can have your SSDI claim expedited in effort to get faster approval for monthly SSDI benefits. The additional monthly benefits from SSDI can significantly impact your financial situation and help you with your regular living costs. By supplementing your VA disability with SSDI, you can have a major impact on your family’s finances.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to physical or mental impairments, please complete a free online evaluation or contact us at 866-382-7872.

Source: http://www.wadenapj.com/opinion/commentary/4219090-eligibility-va-disability-and-ssdi

From Thomas A. Klint of Premier Disability Services, LLC®