This week is the 25th Anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For some people, the signing of the ADA
was a great moment of change. For younger people, born after the signing of the
ADA, this anniversary is a reminder of the rights they have always had, and
thoughts of what is still needed. What about those who are new to the
disability community? Where do they start? Guest blogger Deanna Power has some
great information for us!
Deanna Power is the Community Outreach Manager at Social Security
Disability Help in Boston, MA. After volunteering with Best Buddies throughout
college, she realized she wanted to work with people with disabilities. She now
assists people of all ages wade through the Social Security Administration’s
paperwork and apply for disability benefits. In addition to adding and
improving content on Social Security Disability Help, she contributes articles
to organizations dedicated to creating an inclusive world for people with
disabilities. She has been featured on TASH.org, The National Down Syndrome
Society, and Autism Speaks.
Filing For Social Security Disability Benefits in Texas
If you are disabled and need help paying for medical
treatment, housing, and your day-to-day living expenses, there is financial
assistance available. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers benefits
for people with disabilities who are unable to work.
What Disability Benefits are Available?
The Social Security Administration offers two forms of
disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both programs are for people with long-term
disabilities, but qualifying for each is different.
To qualify for SSDI, you must be an adult age 18 and over
with a rich work
history. Taxpayers fund SSDI, so you will need to pay into FICA taxes to
qualify for SSDI. In 2015, the current maximum SSDI benefit is $2,663 per
month.
SSI is for people of all ages. You do not need a work
history to qualify for SSI, but there are financial limitations. An individual
applying for SSI benefits cannot have more than $2,000 in assets, or $3,000 if
an applicant is married. Assets include cash, stocks, bonds, life insurance,
etc. The SSA does NOT count a primary home and one vehicle as assets when
evaluating SSI applicants.
How to Qualify for Disability Benefits
When evaluating every disability application, the SSA will
use a medical guide called the Blue Book.
The Blue Book outlines what symptoms must be present for an applicant to
qualify for any given condition.
If your disability is rare and isn’t listed in the Blue
Book, you can still qualify by meeting symptoms listed for other disabilities.
Finally, you can qualify via an RFC
analysis. An RFC analysis is a questionnaire that looks at how your
disability affects your ability to perform day-to-day activities.
Health Insurance and Social Security Benefits
After being approved for disability benefits, SSDI
recipients will receive Medicare in 24 months.
Medicaid applications are regulated by states, not the
government. In Texas, if you are approved for SSI benefits, you will
automatically be enrolled for Medicaid. The state will contact you with
additional information after you receive your SSI acceptance letter.
How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
SSDI applicants can complete the application form entirely online. SSI applicants
can begin the paperwork online, but must schedule an appointment with a local
SSA office. Texas has over 70 SSA field offices. Here are some of the biggest
ones:
Houston: 16200 Dillard Dr., Houston, TX 77040
San Antonio: 8020 Alamo Downs Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78238
Dallas: 1070 N Westmoreland, Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75211
Austin: 1029 Camino La Costa, Austin, TX 78752
El Paso: 600 Texas Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
To schedule an appointment with your local SSA office in
Texas, call the SSA toll-free at
1-800-772-1213.
I hope you all found this information helpful. Happy ADA
Anniversary!
We've listed below all of the social security office Las Vegas. The links below will give you information that includes the office address, telephone number, hours, and driving directions to the closest locations in Las Vegas, NV Nevada. For more information about the Social Security Administration, please visit their website at http://www.ssa.gov. The Las Vegas, Social Security Office assigns and manages the Social Security numbers that are granted to U.S. Citizens.
ReplyDeleteThis post is so helpful. Thank you for the hard work that went into putting down all this information. We are experiencing problems trying to get my wife benefits; she can't work and we can't afford for her not to work. The information here will definitely set us in the right direction for what we need to do. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI wish more authors of this type of content would take the time you did to research and write so well. I am very impressed with your vision and insight.
ReplyDeleteHurtAtWorkNYC.com