You might be able to use a disability freeze to your advantage when applying for disability benefits. Finding out how a disability freeze works and your eligibility for this may help you improve your disability payments. Do not panic if this process seems confusing. An experienced Philadelphia individual disability insurance attorney might be able to help you navigate this process.
A disability freeze was implemented by the Social Security Administration (SSA) decades ago to improve the disability benefits program. The SSA defines a disability freeze as a period of time when someone is disabled. This disability freeze is used for certain disability benefits programs and could affect disability benefits.
What the disability benefits freeze does is exclude certain years of work. The years of work excluded include any years that work performance was significantly impacted by the disability. As a result, the person may retain more disability benefits compared to what could happen without the disability freeze.
The disability freeze was created to protect people from the consequences of less income earned as a result of the disability. This is done because the SSA usually takes all years of earned income into account when determining the amount of disability benefits payments. By excluding years worked when people are disabled, disability benefit recipients may become eligible for more disability benefits.
To ensure this is measured accurately, the SSA determines the earliest established onset date of the disability. Medical evidence and doctor statements will be used to determine this date. This will be used in part to determine the disability freeze period.
The main disability freeze benefits include the potential for higher disability benefits payments and lower chances of losing benefits. Your retirement benefits will also be more protected when a disability freeze is put in place. This means you could receive greater retirement benefits with the disability freeze in effect.
Without a disability freeze, the years when you earned less income due to your disability could lower your disability payments. This could also increase your chances of losing access to disability benefits or receiving fewer retirement benefits. To qualify for a disability freeze, these factors will be considered:
A disability freeze is not provided for Supplemental Security Income because this program is based on monthly income rather than work history. The Social Security Disability Insurance benefits program is based on work history and is impacted by a disability freeze. Try contacting a Philadelphia disability lawyer if you have questions about how any of this works.
The disability benefits application process can be confusing at times. Start by exploring options with a Philadelphia delayed insurance benefits lawyer who can guide you through the process. You can call Edelstein & Nelson by dialing (800) 300-0909 for a consultation today about your disability claim. Our team of attorneys can help you take steps to improve your chances of receiving disability benefits.