Articles - Social Security Questions en-us http://www.thescizone.com/info N/A http://www.thescizone.com/info webmaster@thescizone.com 20 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/342/1/How-disability-is-determined/Page-1.html  Social Security uses a step-by-step process involving five questions: Are you working? If you are and your earnings average more than $700 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. Is your condition severe? webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Mon, 23 May 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/364/1/How-Do-I-Get-Started-On-A-PASS.html  Anyone can help you with a PASS, including your vocational rehabilitation worker, employer or the Social Security office. In general, the following rules apply:* the PASS must state a clear and realistic work goal;* your goal must be a job or business that will produce sufficient income to reduce your dependency on SSI payments;* the PASS must state the amount and sources of income or resources that will be set aside;* the PASS must state how you will spend the money;* you must be able to achieve the goal of the PASS within a specified period of time; and* the PASS must be approved by Social Security.For more information about setting up a PASS, ask for the leaflet, Working While Disabled-A Guide To Plans For Achieving Self-Suppor (Publication No. 05-11017). webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Sat, 23 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/367/1/What-Gender.html  Overall, 81.6% of all persons in the national database are male. Although this four-to-one male to female ratio has varied little throughout the 25 years of the Model Systems data collection, since 1990, the percentage of males has decreased to 80.5% (from 81.8% in the 1970's). webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Wed, 23 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/363/1/How-Can-SSI-Help-Me-With-My-Work-Expenses.html  The rules work the same as if you were receiving Social Security benefits. Work expenses that are related to your disability are deducted from your earnings when we figure if they are high enough to affect your benefits. These expenses may include work equipment, such as a special typewriter or desk, or modifications to your car or home to help you get to and from work. This means you can earn well over the SSI income limits and still continue to get payments. webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/362/1/How-Much-Can-I-Earn-Before-I-Lose-All-My-Benefits.html  If you have no other income besides earnings, you may earn up to $1,189 a month in 2003 before losing your entire federal SSI payment. But if you live in a state that adds money to your federal SSI payment, you may earn more. If you have other income, such as Social Security benefits, the amount you can earn before losing any payment may be lower. However, when you apply for SSI disability payments, we consider earnings of $800 or more an indication that you are able to do "substantial work" and you would not qualify for SSI on the basis of disability. webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/360/1/How-Long-Will-My-SSI-Benefits-Continue-After-I-Go-Back-To-Work.html  It depends on how much you earn. The amount of your SSI check is based on how much other income you have. When your other income goes up, your SSI check usually goes down. So when your earnings push your income over the SSI limits, your checks will stop for those months. (We discuss these limits in the answers to the next two questions.) But, your checks will start up again without a new application for any month your income drops below the SSI limits. If you're off both SSI and Medicaid for 12 months or more, and your disability ended because of earnings from work, you have 60 months to request a reinstatement of benefits without a new application. webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/358/1/How-Do-I-Find-Out-If-I-Can-Work-Again.html  Just notify any Social Security office that you want to start working on a trial basis. If a periodic review of your condition was scheduled, we will put it off until your trial work period is over. http://www.ssa.gov/ webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/357/1/What-About-Help-With-Rehabilitation-Training-Or-Education.html  If you are likely to benefit from rehabilitation, you are referred to a state rehabilitation agency or private organization for rehabilitation services. Social Security pays for the services if you are successfully rehabilitated. If you recover from your disability while in an approved rehabilitation or training program that is likely to result in your becoming self-supporting, benefits will continue until the program is over.For example, if you were in a nurse's aide training program and your condition improved so that you were no longer disabled, benefits ordinarily would stop. But if you have contacted Social Security and we are aware of your participation in the program and have approved it, then your benefits would continue until the program is over. For more information on Social Security and vocational rehabilitation, ask for the special leaflet, How Social Security Can Help with Vocational Rehabilitation (Publication No. 05-10050). webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/356/1/How-Long-Would-Medicare-Continue-Once-I-Start-Working.html  Your Medicare coverage will continue through the trial work period and may continue for at least 93 months after the trial work period if you are still disabled. During this period, your hospital insurance coverage is free. When your Medicare coverage runs out after this period and you are still disabled, you may purchase the same coverage for a monthly premium. webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/info/articles/355/1/What-Happens-If-I-Lose-My-Job.html  If you lose your job during a trial work period, your benefits are not affected. If you lose your job during the 36-month "extended period of eligibility", call us and your benefits will be reinstated as long as you are still disabled. You do not have to reapply for benefits or undergo any "waiting period" as you did when you first applied for disability benefits.If you become unable to work due to your disability within 60 months after you complete the extended period of eligibility, your benefits could be reinstated immediately without a new application or waiting period. webmaster@thescizone.com (Super Admin) Thu, 23 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0400