Social Security Disability

Many people think that once they’ve been approved for disability benefits, either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, that’s the end of the story. But the Social Security Administration (SSA) conducts periodic reviews of cases to make sure that the people receiving benefits are still…

Although it is more difficult to qualify for disability benefits based on a learning disability, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does provide criteria to do so. Learning disabilities are disorders characterized by differences in how the brain receives information, processes that information, and communicates. In general, whether claimants are awarded…

Congress passed the Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 2014, which allows disabled individuals who meet certain criteria to establish savings accounts. Doing so prior to the ABLE Act’s passage would have disqualified them from necessary government benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. The ABLE Act…

In previous articles, we have discussed the taxes that are taken out of your wages to fund Social Security and Medicare benefits. You pay a portion of these taxes, and your employer matches that amount. What happens if you are self-employed? The same principle applies, except that you are responsible…

In 2020, recipients of Social Security retirement benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits received a modest cost-of-living (COLA) increase of 1.6%. That increases the average worker’s 2020 monthly benefit by $24 per month and makes the maximum benefit amount $3,011 per month. Additionally, the Social Security tax rate for employees…

Although technology has improved our lives in many ways, it has also made us more vulnerable to identity theft. By the end of fiscal year 2019, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had received over 450,000 complaints regarding scammers who pretended to be SSA to obtain personal information and steal benefits….

The day on which you will receive your Social Security benefits depends on your date of birth. Both Social Security Retirement and Disability payments are given as a lump-sum every month. Payments are always paid one month behind; therefore, if, for example, you are entitled to benefits starting May 2020,…

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) weren’t really a part of the social consciousness until inflation raged in the 1970s. Everyone has a basic understanding of what inflation is and how it can make the simplest things in life cost more money. But the reality is that if the cost of…

There’s a lot to consider when you’re nearing retirement, and Social Security retirement benefits will probably be front of mind. Here, we discuss some of the most commonly-asked questions about the federal retirement program. When Can I Retire? Depending on the year you were born, you will be eligible for…

Beginning in 1983, monthly Social Security payments have been taxed above specific income thresholds. The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program is what limits the amount of earnings that are subject to taxation in any given year. The amount of income that is subject to taxation changes yearly. In…