Why Getting Disability Benefits after Age 60 is Beneficial

The United States’ Social Security Administration (SSA) pays certain individuals disability benefits. These benefits are given to people who are unable to work due to a medical condition that is expected to linger for at least one year or may result in death. As a replacement for lost income, these benefits provide an important source of financial support to people who need it the most.

This year, SSA paid an average disability benefit of $1,200 each month. These payments make a huge difference in the lives of people who can no longer meet their basic needs.

What are Disability Benefits?

Throughout the years, the Disability Program of the SSA has played a significant role in helping and supporting individuals with disabilities. The disability program of the SSA is there to replace the lost income of disabled workers and their dependents.

If you think you qualify for disability benefits, you can go to the SSA office nearest you. If it is in the Social Security Office Peoria IL, then you can inquire and go through the application process.

Who Can Apply For Disability Benefits?

The Social Security Act defines disability very strictly. To apply for and eventually receive disability, an applicant must meet the definition of disability. Under the Social Security Act (ACT), a person is considered disabled when their medical condition/s prevent them from doing the type of work that they did in the past and also deters them from adjusting to other kinds of work.

Aside from the requirement stated above, you can also apply for disability benefits if you meet the following criteria:

·         You are 18 years old or older

·         You are currently not receiving benefits of any kind

·         You have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days (2 months)

Getting Disability Benefits after 60 years old

Generally, getting a disability claim for individuals who are 60 years old and older is much easier. It is even more beneficial if you avail of disability benefits before full retirement age, which is 66 years old. If you are unsure of this process, you can seek the help of reputable law offices with attorneys that have handled social security-related issues for many years.  You need to make sure that they know the process and are very familiar with how the system works.

If you are 60 to 65 years old, it is much better to get disability benefits rather than taking early retirement. If you are 62 years old and decide to take early retirement, your benefit amount will be reduced permanently. However, if you were given disability benefits by the age of 62, you will get the same amount when you reach full retirement age (66 years old). In other words, the retirement benefits that you will get will not be reduced. This means that it is more financially viable to get social security benefits at 62 years old until you reach full retirement age. Then, you can use your full retirement benefit from age 66 and the rest of your life.

SSA Considerations for Claimants 60 Years old or Older

Social Security Office Aurora or any other SSA office in the country consult grids for claimants who are 60 years old or older. These applicants for disability benefits take into account the fact that it may be more difficult for older workers to transition into new places of work and learn new skills.

These grids take into account the following elements:

-          Education

SSA divides education levels into the following:

 (1) 6^th-grade education or less, (2) 7^th to 11^th grades, (3) high school graduate, and (4) high school graduate with training that could be applied for skilled work.

-          Residual Functional Capacity

This is the most physical work that a claimant can perform regularly.

-          Transferable Skills

If you have what SSA considers as transferable skills, you won’t be declared disabled based on the grids.

-          Previous Work Experience

Social Security will look into previous work experience to determine whether the claimant did skilled work, semi-skilled work, on unskilled work.

Special Rules for Disability Over 50 years old

The rules governing disability benefits if you’re over 50 years old are complicated and may require legal help. It is important to understand these guidelines, though especially if you’re filing a claim for Social Security Disability.

If you are a claimant with a disabling condition who is over the age of 50, Social Security starts to take your age into account in determining whether you can still do the sort of work that you have performed in the past. In other words, it is easier to be regarded as “disabled” if you are 50 years old and above. If you’re younger than 50, you will not be determined disabled unless you really can’t perform any type of job available in the national economy.

Reasons for Not Qualifying for Social Security Disability Income

If you go to your local Kankakee Social Security office, apply for disability benefits and follow the process but still get denied, here are several possible reasons why you may not qualify:

-          You need more work credits.

To qualify for benefits, you need to earn 40 work credits minimum. This is equal to at least ten consecutive years of working in the U.S. If you lack work credits, you won’t qualify.

-          You are a legal immigrant but you don’t have enough credits.

We have established that as a U.S. worker, you need 40 work credits to be eligible for the disability program.  However, the U.S. government has an agreement with 26 countries including Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Chile, Brazil, and others. This totalization agreement lets workers combine their work credits from these countries.

-          If you are a retired worker living in a certain country.

The U.S. government will not remit payments if you are a retired worker living in countries such as North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and others.

-          If you didn’t pay taxes.

If you do not file your tax returns or pay Social Security taxes, you will not receive social security.

-          If you are an immigrant that’s over 65 years old.

You will not be approved for disability benefits if you are an immigrant who is 65 years old and above.

If you have other questions and concerns about applying for disability benefits when you’re over 60 years old, you can seek the help of a social security disability lawyer, like the experienced team at Hanson & Fisher Law Office.

HANSON & FISHER LAW OFFICES

1802 N Division St Suite 304, Morris, IL 

8159426700

https://www.hansonfisherlaw.com/