Presumptive Disability
A Benefit Which Allows Immediate Monthly Payments to You Under Your SSI Claim, Even
Before Your Case is Decided
Read this Post on My Disability180 Blog
Many of
you have been to my newly designed website at social-security-disability-esp.com where I have asked readers
to contribute the number one question that they would most like to see answered in my upcoming disability
ebook.
Here's the question I got last night from a reader in Montana. He called to ask:
If I am granted Presumptive Disability, does that
mean that I will eventually get SSI?
The answer to that question and many more are included in NoLo's Guide to Social
Security Disability: Getting and Keeping Your Disability. This is an excellent resource book that I would recommend
to anyone who is trying to gain Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits.
But, the short answer to the question is that being granted Presumptive Disability
means that there is a strong likelihood that your claim will be allowed, approved by the claims examiner. And
though this is a decision that the Field Office can make on your initial application claim prior to sending your
claim on to the Disability Determination Services office, it has been my experience that the Social Security Field
Office personnel never make this decision. And that is a shame, because many people who are eligible for these
benefits could have them much sooner, when they are most needed.
When I was a disability claims examiner, I used to have one of the highest stats for
granting Presumptive Disability (PD) to claimants. This benefit is only available to those persons who are eligible
to apply for Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI), a disability needs based program. This is a program for low
income persons with disabilities who have few, if any material resources at their disposal.
Granting Presumptive Disability means an applicant can receive a monthly
check immediately for up to six months while the claims examiner is gathering evidence to make a final
decision on his claim. It also means the individual will be eligible for Medicaid or medical assistance insurance
while the claim is being adjudicated.
If the final decision on your claim is positive, then you continue to receive your
benefits. If, however, after the investigation is complete and it is determined that you are not disabled under
Social Security Disability or SSI standards, then your benefits will cease once the determination is made.
Fortunately, you should not have to repay any benefits paid under the PD guidelines even if your claim is
eventually denied.
If it takes the examiner more than six months to decide your claim, then benefits
under the PD program will cease after you have received six months of benefits, and you will need to wait to
receive your notification of case decision in the normal matter, ie without paid benefits or medical benefits.
Now that's the short answer to the question. The complete answer to this and other
questions that I receive from my disabilty-esp readers
will be included in my upcoming disability ebook, so please get signed up to my newsletter to be notified
when it becomes live.
Until next time...I say:
Get well or get your benefits...
Lo
|