Why Am I Paying For Social Security Insurance?
 

So, I was just rejected for social security insurance. I injured my spine over a year ago. It was horrible, a spinal disc broke off and lodged against my spinal nerve while another herniated disc pinched the nerve. I was barely able to move, spent most of my day on the floor, filled with pain killers, and relentless 24/7 pain that I've never experienced in my life. This went on for 7 months until I received spine surgery. Then, I spent 5 months recovering.

I received spinal injections, physical therapy, pain killers ranging from morphine to perceset, relentless treatment after treatment, surgery, etc, etc.

All I want is to collect for the year I missed work because of the injury, no monthly checks or any of that bullshit. I paid in since my first job at 15 years old. They denied without requesting to have me see a doctor, or to verify any information with my doctors, including the neurosurgeon who performed my surgery and agrees that I was without a doubt "disabled" for that year long period.

There is absolutely no reason I should pay for this INSURANCE when it doesn't cover what it's supposed to anyway.

/rant

you have to be permanently disabled I think to collect the $$??

You have to be disabled for at least a 1 year period. Even then, they deduct 5 months and you're only paid for 7. Which I'm fine with, that's the way it is, so be it.

I don't know anybody that just got disability without going through some kind of hassle first.

why would you not get it when you were first injured?

Shouldn't have checked the boxes next to caucasian and male.

.

I didn't apply until it was confirmed by the neurosurgeon that I would definitely be disabled and unable to function normally or work for at least 1 year. Which wasn't until 5 months after the injury. I had to get spinal injections, MRIs, spinal taps, xrays, and every other diagnostic under the sun until they were sure what the problem is and where they wanted to operate (at what point on the spine). Even then, the operation wasn't guaranteed to be a success, it was more of a let's open you up and hope we find what we think may be the problem.

It was at the point they decided spine surgery was an option that the neurosurgeon gave me the go ahead for disability and a form to turn in with my medical records that states his recommendation and his contact information.

I wasn't rejected until today, however many months it's been later.

Haha...fucking whitey holding whitey down.

Are you a Veteran?

The first rejection is fairly automatic, appeal the rejection. then they will consider your case.

Nope, but from what I understand they don't have an easy time getting their disability either, and there is none more deserving in my opinion.

I've been searching and reading some disability forums. It seems you're spot on, or that's at least the popular opinion. Everyone seems to recommend hiring a lawyer, and that I should of done so when filing in the first place. Live and learn.

Go to the Gov's website for disability. THEY even tell you you're going to need a lawyer.
Because they will reject your first claim... You HAVE to appeal. Its their way of keeping the "fraudulent" claims from getting paid. Like that really works....

They rejected you because your type of claim should be filed with
Worker's Compensation and not Social Security.


...

I couldn't collect worker's compensation because the injury happened off of company property on my own time, which falls under the SSDI. The same with the disability insurance my company offers. I couldn't use that because I wasn't injured while on the clock at the job.

Well, in that case you needed to file your claim at the SOL department.

S.O.L = Shit Outta Luck.

Seriously, this claim goes to your health insurance company where hopefully you would
have "loss of income coverage".

Did you bitch about "Obama Care"?
If so then you got what you asked for.

shitty situation.

The claim is appropriately filed with the correct organization, SSA.

First, Obama Care has nothing to do with this particular matter. Second, to tell anyone, not just me, who paid into the system their whole lives, and is paying into that system again, and became injured and wanted to use the insurance they paid for, and are denied, that they got what they asked for, is ignorant and stupid. I don't care what corrupt politician you support, no one who is injured and paid for insurance gets what they asked for when denied that insurance.

just a bullshit system where the money that should be allocated to one thing ends up doing things it was never meant for

Your situation does not qualify for social security.

I can't change that for you. I just answered your question.

Sorry that I bothered though since now I'm stupid and support corruption.

I just played this game a little while back with my mom. All is not lost yet. I was told by a few different doctors to be prepared to be denied that in almost all cases they deny your claim the first time you file it no matter what. That is part of the "scam" of it. There are a lot of people who simply won't continue to fight them after that first denial.

Here are a few ideas. Sadly, as others have pointed out, had you started this process right when things happened it may have helped, but you still might be okay. First, you will need to go to your doctors and collect information from them that says you were disabled and unable to work and for what period of time this took place. Get copies of your medical records. Second, once you have all of this information contact a social security/disability lawyer. They will give you a free consultation. Go in and talk to them and find out what they have to say. If they feel you have a legit case, you can try to move forward on your own. Chances are their fee might be too high to justify having them do it for you because they normally deal with people who are going to be on it for life, not just looking for a 1 year payout. Now you refile your claim. This time you include a nice, stern letter explaining why you should have never been denied and why you should be approved. Tell them about the doctors claims and include those letters from the doctors. Tell them you met with a lawyer who agreed that your case is clearly one that qualifies and then tell them what you expectations are. Explain that you can have all your medical records sent to them as needed and give them the names and contact info of the doctor's offices so they can do that.

You may still get denied. If that happens your only other choices are to have your doctor file on your behalf or hire a lawyer.

My mom was denied the first time and after getting info together I filed again and this time she was accepted. They also paid he retroactive to the date of the first filing.

Good luck.

From the SSA:

You can apply for disability benefits if:
- are age 18 or older;
- have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to qualify;
- have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or end in death; and reside in the United States or one of its territories/commonwealths

You are stupid to suggest someone who supports or does not support a policy from any corrupt politician gets what they deserve when referring to a disabling injury. I'm sorry, but that's fucking ignorant. I didn't mean to say you support corruption, just that I believe all politicians are corrupt.

Thank you, this is the process I'll begin working on tomorrow, gathering all data regarding the injury. I called the neurosurgeon earlier today after getting the mail and talked to one of the girls in the office. I got to know them all pretty well there, I was going in for a test or procedure a few times a month for nearly 7 months. They said they can't believe I was denied and they have the document my neurosurgeon signed stating he believes I will be disabled for a year to pass along to the SSA when filing the claim, which I did way back when.

It's a shame they deny those that really have legitimate claims without even investigating so much as calling doctors.

There are two parts of social security. Straight social security is for people who are retired. SSA (sometimes also called SSD or SSI) is a disability payout. It covers those who are younger than retirement age and are disabled to the point where they cannot work. This is the hard one to get because there are a lot of scammers who will make claims like "crippling migraines all day long" or "social anxiety" and say these thing make it so they can't work and they can draw SSI and get food stamps, section 8 housing and medicare.

SSI can be drawn for short term disabilities as well. My uncle who is 57 had to have a knee replacement surgery. Between his job and regular health insurance they only covered about 60 days of disability and the doctor told him it would be at least 5-6 months until he was able to go back to work full time (he is a carpenter) so he drew SSI for about 3 months.

yeah it sucks. there are so many scammers that they have put so many hurdles up that now people who really need it have a hell of a time getting it. When my mom first got sick they suggested she apply for the "emergency" funds. This would give her a small amount of of money to help cover the bills while she waited for the regular process to go through. They told us it would take 30-45 days for this to happen. It took 5 months. Even after getting approved for the emergency money they still declined her for the regular disability.

That's a shame. Luckily, I'm better now and back at work. But, I was out of work for over a year and definitely feel I deserve the insurance I paid for. I feel bad for those permanently disabled that cannot go back to work and support themselves again. They have to wait such long periods of time, then get rejected, then wait, then hope and my god, by the time they get their insurance payments they could be homeless.

Wow... the whole automatic denial thing is super fucked up..

My Dad was an iron worker that had a long 15'+ fall onto steel that prevented him from ever working again.

Even with a lawyer, he was denied Disability/SSI the first time.

You're ALMOST ALWAYS denied your first time. Lawyer up and try again.

Edit: Oh yeah, what Kane said ... I didn't read any of the replies before posting.... apply again.

Yes, I know about the other parts of social security.
But I still never heard of a case like his being approved for social security.
Of course I haven't heard them all either.

I agree that his claim makes sense to pay but when does the government make sense?

He had a "back injury". That's almost a guarantee to get turned down.

Back injury, lol. I had a piece of my spine removed, a disc removed, and another section of a disc removed. This was no mere back injury.

Have you met some of the people on disability these days? It seems like just being fat gets half of them approved.

He didn't have a minor back injury. He had major back issues. There is a HUGE difference.

I throw my back out every 3 to 4 weeks and can't hardly move for two days after doing it, but I would never imagine getting disability for that. His thing though? Yeah!

Well, I'm off to bed, it's going to be a long day of collecting records tomorrow. Thank you everyone for the advice.

I still think it's a shame everyone who works pays for this insurance, and for what? To have to fight tooth and nail for what's ours. Sad.

I think you were rejected because of time frames...criteria...ie you apparently are not permanently disabled. I have never heard of SSA paying retroactively for lost work or a temporary disability.

Please notice the quotes around "back injury".
That was notice that the term is used loosely in the context in which social security
will see it.

You know what, I think you just got denied for being a fucking asshole.

Seriously.

See quotes around "back injury".

Back injury is one of those things that everybody tries to get disability for, because you cant prove it a lot of times and they cant disprove it. So its almost an automatic rejection.

Appeal and submit your medical records. But if you can get by without it, you may not want to even bother with it.

I could be getting 100% disability from the VA for something right now but I dont want that flag in my records, and I dont like being told I cant be employed or self employed..

"Straight social security" as you called it is SSA and it is SSA that pays for those that are age eligible to retire or are retired from a permanent disability and one must have a minimum of 40 quarters paid into the system to qualify for SSA and the amount of payment is based upon what you paid into the system...thus different people receive different amounts.

SSI is paid by the Social Security Dept. and is paid to those that do not have a minimum of 40 quarters paid into the system (are not qualified for SSA) and eligibility is based upon monthly income...or being age eligible...and can be paid for either a temporary disability or a permanent disability. The amount paid is a low fixed amount based upon income. I think the max is $485 per month but some States will add additional money to this amount...but not all States.

Some people that are SSA qualified were low income earners and receive such a low amount of SSA that they are subsidized with SSI up to the federal maximum which as I stated is somewhere around $485 per month and once again some States will add addional money to the amount of the SSA and SSI...but not all States. In other words if you have income that exceeds more that $485 per month you would not be eligible for SSI and what ever income you may have up to the max $485 will be deducted from the $485.

That clears some things up, but I could almost swear when my mom first got sick they put her on SSI then a few years later when she reached retirement age she was switched to "regular" social security, which I guess is SSA. But I could have it wrong.

I think that you have it wrong. She received SSI initially because she was not SSA eligible (did not have a minimum of 40 quarters paid into the system)...and unless she has worked since she initially received SSI and has now met the 40 quarter requirement she is still receiving only SSI...and unless I am mistaken I do not think Oregon is a State that adds money to the Federal maximum for SSI.

We had no problem with mine and Eva's private and National Insurance. Even her Mother got money to look after her Grandmother at home, rather than cost more in a hospital and Eva's Father, who has just passed on.

These problems don't go away when some big private insurance company refuse to pay. They are just not taken out of shareholders pockets.

Live in a country where the big corporations don't rape you.

I'm not 100% sure. All I know is that when she was finally accepted the caseworker we had said she was on disability so she would actually be getting a little bit more than she would be on social security. This lasted for a few years then when she turned 65 the caseworker told us she was being merged into social security and she would get the same amount, only the checks would be issued on a slightly different date.

I would imagine she had 40 quarters paid into the system. If I understand it correctly each year you work and pay into social security is 4 quarters. When she started drawing she was 60 or 61 years old and she had held a full time job since she was 16 years old so she had about 44-45 years paid into the system.

you even know what this thread is about, old clueless?

Well...I do not care to argue with you...I am just supplying you with information as I understand it.

SSA is for those that have 40 quarters paid into the system. SSI is for those that don't...but as I have stated that some people that were low wage earners receive less from their SSA checks...than the $485 that SSI pays so they are subsidized with an SSI check to reach the $485 per month max. In other words if a person received $385 from SSA they then would also get an additional $100 from SSI.

Also SSA disability payments are not anymore than ordinary SSA payments...both are based upon the amount paid into the system. Low wage earners pay in less than higher paid earners thus receive less. SSA is paid on the 3rd of each month and SSI is paid on the 1st of each month.

Someone that is receiving SSA disability when they become age eligible for SSA the payment remains the same but their classification changes from disabled to age eligible.

The same applies to SSI though SSI did not used to have an age eligible classification but now anyone that is 65 years old and does not have an income of $485 per month can be subsidized by SSI up to the $485 per month.

It sounds to me that your mother should have initially received SSA and possibly shoud have been subsidized with SSI if her SSA payments were less than $485 per month.

In my case I get over $1400 per month SSA disability and over $2600 per month from the VA.

I think this clarifies it for me. I think the situation was she was on SSA disability then when she became age eligible she switched to regular SSA. The payments were more than $485 so clearly it wasn't SSI.

Basically here is how it broke down. She applied for "emergency" assistance that we were told would take 30-45 days to process. It took about 5 months, but she was approved. This was only about $350 per month. While she was on that she was filing for full disability. She was denied the first time and approved the second time. At this point she was about 60-61 years old. Then when she hit 65 they put her on regular social security instead of the disability.

I was confused in thinking that all social security disability was considered SSI, but after reading this post I see the difference now.

Well from this post I in fact do conclude that your mother initially received SSA disability and SSI was never involved.

For future reference just remember that SSA disability or age eligible retirement is for those that have a minimum of 40 quarters paid into the system and SSI disability or age eligible do not have the minimum forty quarters...and only receive a fixed low amount in payment.

Can I ask what happened? Was it while on active duty, hence getting paid with the VA?

Yes...from injuries received during Operation Desert Storm in '91. The injuries ended my military career and I was given a medical discharge in '92 after having served 12 years.

how did you get injured in the first place?

Government red tape is a real bitch to cut through. Good luck man :thumbsup

An update:

I spoke with a lawyer today. She said that as long as my injury caused a disability that lasted 1 year in length and that I paid enough into the system (both of which are true in my case), that I do indeed qualify for SSDI. We started the paperwork and she's going to file an appeal for me. Which is really good to hear, now she can gather all the necessary records and fill out the paperwork better than I could.

She also said being denied is almost automatic. She's seen people that have lost multiple limbs in industrial accidents denied, that it's just the way the system works and not to be discouraged.

Edit* Oh, I forgot to add. She said that she's also seen people claim that they have headaches, without so much as seeing a specialist, and they get their claim processed and approved. That there is almost no rhyme or reason to the way this process is handled.

I know multiple cripples that have been denied. She is right.