Social Security pays disability benefits to people who can’t work due to a medical condition that doctors believe is expected to last at least one year or will result in death. If you have recently been diagnosed with a severe medical condition and think you may qualify to receive Social Security and disability benefits, keep reading.
What is Social Security?
Since June 2018, around 175 million people are known to be employed and pay Social Security taxes. There are also about 62 million people who receive monthly Social Security benefits. Social Security impacts almost every family at some point in their life. However, Social Security was never meant to be the single source of income for a person after they retire. Social Security only replaces a certain percentage of a person’s pre-retirement income. This percentage is based on their lifetime earnings. If you begin your benefits at full retirement age, the percentage ranges for as much as 75% for low income earners, 40% for medium earners and 27%for high income. If you begin your Social Security benefits after the full retirement age, your percentages will be higher.
How does it work?
The Social Security system works in this fashion — when an individual is employed, they pay taxes into Social Security. The money is used to pay tax benefits to individuals who:
- Have already retired.
- Are disabled.
- Are surviving dependents of a worker who has died.
- Are dependents of beneficiaries.
Social Security & disability benefits
So, Social Security works as more than just a retirement program. Most people that are receiving Social Security are in fact retired, but there are also individuals who are disabled that receive Social Security. Here’s how it works.
Any individual who can’t work due to a physical or mental condition may be eligible for Social Security benefits. An individual can apply for disability benefits if they:
- Are 18 years of age or older.
- Are not receiving Social Security benefits on their own Social Security record.
- Are not able to work due to a physical or medical condition that is expected to last 12 months or longer, or result in death.
- Have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. In the event that your application was denied, you can complete an appeal application to request a review on how the decision was determined.
Mestayer Law Firm provides civil litigation for clients throughout the Gulf Coast area including Pascagoula, Biloxi, and Gulfport. If you are making future plans for your estate, then contact us today and let us help take care of every detail of your finances. Call us today at 228-762-1193 or visit www.pascagoulalaw.com. We are your legal experts! You can also visit our office located at 2128 Ingalls Ave. in Pascagoula, Mississippi. We look forward to talking with you!
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This article does not create an attorney-client relationship. I am licensed to practice law in Mississippi and have based the information presented on US laws. This article is legal information and is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be seen as legal advice. You should consult with an attorney before you rely on this information. Any information provided in this blog is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but that there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes.