Disability Benefits Resources

(CBS)  American workers pay part of each paycheck into Social Security disability insurance. And that federal money goes toward paying benefits to those who are injured - and can no longer work.

Each year, 2.5 million people apply to get some of that money back, in the form of disability benefits. But most applicants are denied.

A two-month investigation by CBS News found that this safety net might not be there when the most vulnerable of Americans need it most.

The following are resources about disability insurance compiled by our Investigative Unit.

The Basics

Check out the official Web site of the Social Security Administration.

For the Veterans Administration, click here.

Find out more about housing for people living with disabilities at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Department of Labor has information about working with a disability here.

More resources are available at the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Check out the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, which provides representation and advocacy on behalf of those seeking Social Security and Supplemental Security income.

Also, check out the Web site of the National Association of Disability Representatives here.

Seeking help from a community of people living with disabilities? Check out the Handicap and Awareness Support League.

For Information about Applying for Disability, visit the Social Security Administration disability Web site.

To get more general information about Social Security Disability, click here.

The SSA also has information about efforts to identify and implement compassionate allowances for children and adults. Learn more here.

Dig Deeper

Check out the Social Security Administration plan to reduce the hearings Backlog and Improve Public Service or its 2007 end-of-year fiscal report (.pdfs).

The Social Security Disability Coalition offers free information and support, with a focus on SSDI reform. Check it out here.

For information on the Fullerton - Edwards Social Security Disability Reform Act, click here.

Think it couldn't happen to you? Read a first-person account of injury (graphic content) here.

Information for specific injuries or illnesses

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes MS as a chronic illness or "impairment" that can cause disability severe enough to prevent an individual from working. Check out what the MS Society is doing to help individuals in trying to prevent difficulties in securing SSDI coverage.

Or, check out the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

For mental health resources, visit the Web site of the National Mental Health Association.

The Invisible Disabilities Advocate is another resource. Visit it here.

Getting the Benefits you Deserve

Allsup, Inc., is a for-profit company that helps individuals in applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The company's Web site includes several resource sheets, including:

Disability guidelines

Disability resources

Disability eligibility evaluation

To help individuals with disabilities apply for and receive the benefits they deserve, Allsup provides its "Top 10 Tips for Breaking through the Backlog."

1. Determine eligibility. To be eligible for benefits, claimants must have been disabled before reaching full retirement age (65-67) and meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disabled, which generally means being unable to work due to a medically determinable mental or physical impairment expected to result in death or last for at least 12 months. Individuals must be under age 65 and also have worked and paid into the program for five of the last 10 years.

2. File immediately. If an initial claim is denied, Allsup notes that the wait for an appeals hearing now takes an average of 524 days. There is no time to lose.

3. Obtain doctor's agreement. Claimants need written medical confirmation of their qualifying conditions when they apply. According to Allsup, not having a doctor's agreement when filing could delay the process a month or more.

4. Get help. Filing for disability benefits is a complicated process akin to preparing a difficult income tax return. Allsup emphasizes that the earlier applicants seek help, the more support they can get to help put them back on the right track.

5.Prepare an accurate medical record. A comprehensive factual record is required to convince the government to provide benefits.

6. Establish your work history. Compile records of dates and tenure of previous employment. As noted above, individuals must have worked for five of the previous 10 years to qualify for benefits.

7. Meet deadlines. If benefits are denied at any stage of the process, claimants have only 60 days to file an appeal. If the deadline is missed, the process starts over from the beginning.

8. Reduce spending. The long wait for benefits means that people lose their savings, their cars and sometimes even their homes. Cut out unnecessary spending as quickly as possible and prepare for the long haul. And don't use credit cards. Allsup reminds applicants that high-interest debt will add to long-term problems. There may be other, more affordable options for handling expenses.

9. Maintain health insurance. There will be a temptation to cut spending on insurance, but Allsup notes that even after individuals begin receiving disability benefits there is a two-year waiting period for Medicare eligibility.

10. Don't give up. The Social Security Administration denies more than 60 percent of all initial applications, but two-thirds of the people who appeal eventually will receive their benefits.

[PKlaven]

It's impossible to predict who will become disabled at what time. That's why having a long term disability insurance like the policies offered at http://www.protectyourincome.com as well as good benefits is an absolute must. When I broke my leg on the job I thought I was going to be in the poor house. Then I found my service provider, and it was like a breath of fresh air.

[PKlaven]

It's impossible to predict who will become disabled at what time. That's why having a <a href="http://www.protectyourincome.com/"> disability insurance quote</a> as well as good benefits is an absolute must. When I broke my leg on the job I thought I was going to be in the poor house. Then I found my service provider, and it was like a breath of fresh air.

[SSDisability]

Another excellent organization that assists the disabled in getting SS Disability benefits is Midwest Disability Advocates. For anybody needed assistance or more information on SS Disability, please visit their website at http://www.winyourdisabilityclaim.com

[ErinStevens64]

I will not bore you with my unending list of medical problems. Suffice it to say that my long time employer and my doctor both insisted that I stop working right NOW. By continuing I was severely shortening my life. I finally gave in, and filed for disability. My doctor told me that my case was extremely strong and it should be no problem. He is the chief in his field at a majoy hospital in Dallas so this is not your small town doctor. I did as instructed and filed. While I would have taken in stride being denied SSD due to them determining my condition was not severe enough to qualify, what really angers me to no end is the letter from them telling me that based on my medical records it would not remain severe enough for 12 months in a row to qualify. The real surprising part is they managed to make this determination without ever looking at my MEDICAL RECORDS! The had me come in to sign the forms so they could request them but never even requested copies and just denied me without looking. Then had the audacity to say my condition was not as limiting as I had indicated. When in fact I have a hard time expressing how limiting it is and tend to down play it! Our system is broken. Im not asking for welfare. I worked and paid in to social security. But as usual when you need it, it isnt there. But dont LIE to me and tell me you have made a medical determination based on my records when you never bothered to look at them!

Sincerely,
Erin

[marcier1]

I applaud CBS for this important focus, and for compiling some good resources for viewers to address their own issues.

Missing from the story is a focus on the critical issue of employment for people with disabilities. Not only does the system need to do better to get people the benefits they need when they are unable to work, there needs to be far more focus on getting people the training and health care support they need to get back to work. Many people with disabilities want to work. They just need the supports and services that enable them to maintain their health and obtain the equipment, supplies and tools they need to stay healthy and get their work done.

While advocates and policy makers work on reducing the disincentives to employment for people with disabilities, people who have been successful in navigating the system and are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can get great assistance through the Ticket to Work program to explore their options for returning to work. Please direct your viewers to http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10060.html and www.yourtickettowork.com for more information. And, please add www.spinalcord.org to your resource list as well for those who need assistance with spinal cord injury and disease related assistance.

Sincerely,
Marcie Roth
CEO
National Spinal Cord Injury Association

[sara303]

I think only half of the story is being told. I work for an MD who does SSD exams and maybe 1 out of 50 claimants are legitimately disabled. Let%u2019s see--- there was the %u201Cblind%u201D woman who filled out her own paper work and drove herself to the clinic, the person who couldn%u2019t work due to being left handed, the person who had %u201Clost their dreams,%u201D people who claim chronic pain but are happy to tell you about how hunting season is going for them. Applicants who file false claims are responsible for crippling and depleting the system of necessary funds to support the program. This is what makes honest claims fall through the cracks. Instead of constantly pointing the finger at the government programs that are intended to help legitimate claims please place some responsibility and shame on those applicants who are looking to get a free check.

[dsmffar]

You are one of those people who don't see THE INVISIBLE DISABILITIES!!! SHAME ON YOU.I have chronic pain and let me tell you it is a blessing for us to have 4 or 5 hours to be able to HANDLE IT..sitting that long probably almost kills him along with other things that go along with it but decided it was worth it. My daughter just took me to WalMart. She dropped me off at the door so I'm one of those people who went in and instead of getting a cart to ride in I wanted to try to walk for the exercise. I made it for 30 minutes and then had to send my daughter for a cart. So see, you would never know I have RSD, Central Nervous system Diseases, Sciatica, neuropathy, memory loss, and that I take a total of 20 different kinds of meds every single day! SO NOW NURSE AND EVERYBODY ELSE READING THIS, DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER, THEY USUALLY AREN'T TRUE. Oh and by the way, my claim didn't fall thru the cracks. There are false claims, just be more careful in your judgement when you are being judge and jury and may I add, hypocrytical while I enjoy my check, YOUR HIGHNESS!

[el57lvnj]

If the government gives a tax rebate what happens to those of us receiving S.S.disability, are we left out in the cold? Also can anyone tell me why when you finally get on disability you have to wait 2 years to get on Medicare. I have not6 gone to the doctor in almost 2 years because I can''t pay him. I was run over by drunk driver had 26 broken bones the worst concussion the doctors at trauma center has ever seen on a live person, I need thearpy and I do need psychatric help. Unless I write down everything I can''t remember from one hour to the next. So if anyone can answer thses questions please do.

[mdock22]

DISABILITY99,
T/U for your support, After reading the comments posted here. i''m lucky, as i was able to retire,and before anyone starts bashing me, by the time my insurance is taken out I lose 75% the check. I have a 12 month DI policy that has helped me to adjust. it''s about to expire. I was able to pay off a number of bills, with the meger amount left &amp; my wifes pay will allow us to live with less stress then others. I hid my illness for years, including 3 wrecks (1 on a motorcylce)(those *** deer in the road). I had a attack a in front of UPPER management. He allowed me to contune to work so long as I didn''t have incidents on the job. I hid a number of them, but when i had a observed incident i/s of a secure area, with no outside access, that could not be hid. that was all it took. i was placed on leave &amp; instructed to get medical clearence from my dr. my dr refused, as he had been treating me for a years &amp; was aware of the illness, and i had cont''d working against his instructions, and those of other dr''s treating me. At that point the writting was on the wall, so i retired, a lawyer &amp; began the SSD process, I knew it would be a long battle. do i want this &quot;HELL NO&quot;. I enjoyed my job, and would give my right arm to return. Is it safe &quot;NO&quot;, not for me or anyone else, but if i lied about my condition and when (not if) I had a attack, I would lose it with in 15 minutes. So yes i''m lucky, because of planning.

[maidensolo]

those of you who are waiting for that day when you will be receiving enough to live on... dream on. The check I receive is just enough to humiliate me and remind me that even though I was once a hard working contributing member of society, that I am now a worthless burden and a drain on the system...

[purrbeat]

I AM BORROWING MONEY FROM MY ELDERLY MOTHER TO KEEP MY HOUSE. I HAVE WORKED SINCE I WAS 17. I HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. MOST OF THE TIME, I HAVE HELD A FULL TIME JOB, PLUS AT LEAST ONE PART TIME JOB, OR WAS ATTENDING COLLEGE. MY GOAL WAS TO WORK 40 YEARS AT THE HOSPITAL, WHERE I DID COMPLETE 20 OF THOSE YEARS. NOW THAT I AM UNABLE TO WORK, I FEEL LIKE EXCESS BAGGAGE, JUST WAITING TO DIE. I HOPE I DON''T END UP ANOTHER STATISTIC BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LIVE ON.