There’s a lot of incorrect or misleading information about Social Security disability benefits out there. This is understandable, to a certain extent, because navigating the process to obtain these benefits can be a distinct challenge.
That’s why the team at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons is committed to helping our clients understand what to expect when seeking the Social Security disability benefits they deserve.
Here are a few common myths about these benefits that we frequently hear:
- MYTH: Social Security disability benefits are for short-term injuries. Social Security disability benefits were designed to cover long-term disabling conditions. You can’t even apply for disability benefits unless you are expected to miss 12 months or more of work or have a condition that is expected to end in death. There are other compensation options available for people with short-term injuries, including workers’ compensation and personal injury claims.
- MYTH: If you try to go back to work while receiving disability benefits, you will lose your Medicare or Medicaid coverage. This is not true. According to the Social Security Administration, your Medicare coverage will continue for up to 93 months if you make enough money to stop receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks. If you’re on Medicaid and are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you will continue to receive those benefits even after you return to work, as long as your income level falls below the Medicaid threshold set by your state.
- MYTH: If you go back to work and are re-injured, you’ll have to go through the entire benefit application process all over again. This is another SSD myth. If you received a disability benefit check within five years of returning to work and your new injury is related to your prior condition, you can go through the Expedited Reinstatement process to get your benefits much more quickly.
- MYTH: If your doctor says you’re disabled, you are automatically entitled to start receiving disability benefits. Sadly, this is not true. While it would be nice if your doctor were the one who determined if you are entitled to disability benefits, the decision rests in the hands of the Social Security Administration. More than half of all disability claims are rejected at the initial application stage, and many claims are also denied on appeal. To get the benefits you need, you’ll need help from a lawyer who has experience handling these kinds of cases. This is especially true if your initial claim is denied.
- MYTH: Once you start receiving disability benefits, they will continue for the rest of your life. This may be true for some people, but it’s not automatically true in all cases. The benefit amount and the length of time that you’ll receive them will be determined by the Social Security Administration. Once you start receiving benefits, SSA officials will periodically conduct a medical review to see if you’re still disabled and are still eligible for benefits. If your condition is still severe enough to warrant disability benefits, the benefits will continue.
If you have a disabling condition and are in need of Social Security disability benefits, contact a seasoned disability lawyer for help. The Social Security disability lawyers at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons have helped thousands of Oklahoma residents secure disability claims, and we want to help you however we can.
Find out more by calling us or visiting our contact page for a free and confidential consultation.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
