Upon being determined blind or legally blind, the process is quite different than that of other disability applications. As mentioned previously, the claims approval rate is nearly 100%. The turnaround to decision and starting benefits is approximately 4 months as compared to other types of disability claims where the average decision/benefit time is 18-24 months. Along with monetary benefits comes medical benefit approval via Medicare at 2 years from the date of approval of benefits. The date of benefits is retroactive to the date of application with medical bill coverage extending back beyond that date for 3-6 months for applicable medical bills.

The amount of monetary benefit is determined by rate of FICA tax deducted from one’s employment income. The average monthly benefit amount generally falls in the area of $700 to $900. For those applicants deemed not qualified due to lack of sufficient pay into social security, be it through lack of work history in the specified time period or in the case of a child, there is another avenue available – SSI. SSI, or more correctly, Supplemental Security Income, is determined by the Social Security Administration, but it is managed at the individual state level.

While blindness can be viewed as a fast track to obtaining one’s due benefits, the chance of claim denial does exist. However small, it is there. As with any dealings with the Social Security Administration concerning disability benefits, the hiring of an attorney specializing in disability claims should be considered. Attorneys familiar with the claims process can assure that you have the proper forms completed and that medical paperwork supporting your claim is adequate and sufficient enough in volume to overwhelmingly support your claim. When viewed on the basis of strength of case, the use of an attorney is not necessarily needed in a blind person’s application process.

The chances of returning to gainful employment are far more woeful than those involved with benefit approval/denial. Less than 0.075% of the blind in the world are employed in a gainful capacity. The nature of the compensation received by an attorney is a  25% or a cap at $5000 deducted from the lump sum of back benefits accumulated during the  application process.

If you are blind, a sighted person, family or friend, doing the paperwork is adequate in most cases. This highlights another self-defeating issue when dealing with the Social Security Administration. While mandated by federal law to provide accessible material for the blind, they do not offer this for the application process. They will offer to read everything and to assist in the writing needed. Being blind, it is very difficult to trust someone you cannot see and do not know. This is where the family member or good friend comes in. Even should you hire an attorney, someone sighted whom you trust is very much the number one requirement in undertaking this whole process.

Process to Apply for Disability

The first step that needs to be undertaken is to apply for Social Security Disability, Medicare and/or Medicaid. This can be done via hard copy or on the online. The reason to start on this as soon as possible is that this in its self can take from two to three years.

The claimant will likely be called into a local Social Security Office after filing the initial paperwork. Here the SSA will verify what you have claimed and ensure that all the information needed to actually start the claims process is available.

It is not uncommon to be refused benefits on the first attempt. This can be quite disconcerting to an applicant but it is not a lost battle and there is no need to quit just yet. A person that is denied may file for an appeal. This will mean a hearing with a judge or judges advocate and the applicant will ave a chance to present their case.

It is of utmost importance to keep meticulous record of each and every document and step. Copies of all medical reports are necessary and this should not be the original or only copy that you have in your possession.

Lawyer/Attorney for Disability

Most people opt for hiring an attorney because the stress of dealing with the system is overwhelming and many applicants stop trying after a while. A legal representative will ensue that every step is undertaken in a timely manner because they will only get paid if the case is settled in your favor.

The legal representative is allowed by law to receive no more than 25 percent of the award. A judge may be able to lower that amount if they feel that the attorney was not efficient in handling the case on behalf of the applicant.

Disability Medical Assessment

The claimant will likely be asked to submit to various tests by a doctor chosen by the SSA and this has to be completed as required. Medical assessments can be quite trying in that the doctor will be very thorough in the evaluation in order to identify fraudulent applicants. If there is truly a disability, the applicant should not fail this assessment.

It is also advisable during a trip to the doctor to ask about getting a handicap sticker for the vehicle of the disabled person. The doctor often only has to fill out a form which is then taken by the individual to the tag office and wither a handicap placard or a handicap plate is issued. It is quick and easy and may actually bolster your chances at getting an award because this is further proof that a medical professional thinks that the injury is serious enough to warrant special treatment.

Keep in mind during this process that if the injury or ailment is not serious there is a strong chance that  the disability benefits will not be awarded.

SSA and/or judges don’t usually approve your case based on what you say on the forms. However, they often use what is said in the forms to support a denial of your claim. This is because if SSA or a judge is going to approve your claim, they will base it on more compelling objective evidence such as medical records and/or treating physicians’ opinions regarding your inability to work.

The inherent problem you have as a claimant is twofold. First, with all due respect, you don’t know what you need to prove in order to win your case. Second, you have spent the past several months or years consistently downplaying the severity of your medical problems to anyone you thought was listening (i.e. your employer, family, friends, doctors and SSA). Even though you are constantly in excruciating pain or exhausted; nobody wants to be viewed by others as a whiner.

Disability Forms Filling

Studies consistently show that Americans are more productive and annually work longer hours than workers in any other country; consequently, it isn’t fashionable to complain. Instead, Americans “grin and bear it” or we follow the British and keep the proverbial “stiff upper lip.”

All too often, your denial mechanism rears its ugly head when you complete SSA forms. The result is that you consistently overstate what you are capable of doing and understate the severity of your symptoms and limitations. Does this also sound familiar?

The problem is that the aforementioned disability strategy may likely kill your chances of winning your SSA case without you even knowing it.

By following these tips when completing SSA’s forms you should significantly reduce the likelihood of making a serious mistake that comes back to bite you in the you-know-what!

• Certainly you remember the advice your parents gave you as a teenager – the more you say, the more its gets you in trouble! This is not the time to become a novelist! This clearly applies to completing SSA forms. SSA does not give you a lot of room to answer the questions and that is good. Limit your answers to the space that has been provided in the question and do not write in the margins or attach additional sheets of paper.
• Always answer the question honestly, but keep your answers brief and to the point.
• Remember, a critical issue in a social security disability case is always what activity level are you capable of sustaining on a regular and continuing basis (i.e., a 5 day work week). The issue is never what you can do for only one day. Clearly, almost everyone is capable of performing some activities for one day such that it would make them appear to be capable of working. Never forget…the issue is always what level of activity you can sustain on a daily basis, week after week.
• Another critical issue in a social security disability case is your symptoms and limitations (e.g., pain, fatigue, concentration problems, inability to maintain any activity for a reasonable period). Always remember, you are unable to work due to the frequency, severity and duration of your symptoms and limitations, and not due to a diagnosis. You should mention all the diagnoses that have even a small impact on your inability to work, but you should use 5% of the allotted space to reference diagnoses and 95% to discuss The Big Three and how they limit not only your ability to work but also your ability to function on a daily basis.
• If psychological issues play even a small part in preventing you from working, you must allege them on the forms. Although the primary reason you are unable to work may be due to a physical diagnosis, don’t overlook the psychological issues that often arise after years of dealing with chronic pain and fatigue. You want to win your case anyway you can, whether it is due to physical or psychological problems, or quite frequently, a combination of both.

Judges like to have several medical conditions to choose from if they want to approve your claim. For example, if a judge believes your claim is not strong enough to be approved based only on your physical diagnosis, they want the option to approve your claim based on another diagnosis, perhaps psychological.

What prevents the judge from simply approving it based on a psychological diagnosis? The problem is you never told SSA on any of the forms you completed that you believed a psychological condition was at least in part responsible for why you can’t work!

Thus, a door that could have used to approve your claim does not exist; consequently, the judge has no choice but to deny your claim. This scenario is terribly unfortunate because your claim was denied when the judge was looking for a way to approve it!

The solution is to tell SSA early, often and consistently that you believe a psychological diagnosis plays a part in your inability to work. It is fine to state that it is “secondary to” or “as a result of” dealing with your chronic physical symptoms and limitations.

Remember, proper preparation as well as understanding what you need to prove and how you need to prove it are critical to winning your case. By following these tips, you should avoid making a mistake that you later regret.

Disability Benefits -The Application Process

In order to claim social security disability benefits for whatever disability you may have, you first have to make an application. Obviously, to do this the first thing you need to do is visit the local Social Security Office or call them on their toll free number.

• In Charge: At this stage, your SSI income application is handled by the claim’s representative of your local Social Security office. This officer is in charge of determing whether you fit the bill for the claims you make. The Claim’s Rep considers only non-medical issues and the medical requirements are not determined by this officer.

Following this, your Social Security disability benefits application is then dispatched to the state agency which makes a decision on the medical and health requirements for your claim. This agency is known as the Disability Determination Services and is a 100% federal funded state run agency.

• In Charge: At this stage, your SSI income application is handled by a Disability Determination Specialist. This officer double checks on all your medical claims by getting in touch with your doctor, your physicians, clinics, hospitals and any other medical institutions or professionals that may be able to shed light on your case. Based on the information provided by the medical professionals, the disability determination specialist assesses your medical condition and also reviews your vocational information.
• The information is then further assessed by a medical specialist to ascertain whether your medical condition prevents you from working in your nominated field. If so, to what degree.
• Further, quality assurance staff may also look through your paperwork for disability benefits in order to ensure everything is in order.

The Disability Discrimination Services office makes a decision about whether or not you are eligible to claim Social Securtiy Disability Benefits. Needless to say, these decisions are not made randomly and are made after carefully studying your case and after all relevant information has been thorughly scrutinized and assessed.

Once the DDS has made a decision, your case is sent back to the local Social Security office. If your medical claim is denied by the DDS, the local office will send you a letter outlining the reasons for denial. If your claim has been approved, the local Claims Representative once again assures all non-medical matters are in order and payments are consequently initiated as quickly as possible.

Local and state agency employees working in the field of disability work hard to ensure cases are looked at and processed as quickly as possible. Some people who have been denied Social Security insist it is an arbitrary decision, however the decision for disability benefits is based purely on whether your case fits disability laws and regulations. The people involved work within these parameters to assess whether or not your claim stands, and if it does, ensure payments as quickly as possible.

Social security benefits for the disabled vary from country to country but most countries have some kind of benefits that disabled people may be entitled to.

It is worth checking with the relevant social security benefits office in your country to make sure you don’t miss out on any of benefits you may be entitled to receiving due to your disabilities.

There are generally three main disability benefits that disabled people may be entitled to, these will have slightly different names depending on the country you live in.

Social Security Benefits

Main Disability and Sickness Benefits

Disability living allowance – This benefit is paid if you cannot look after yourself properly and need help getting around, you must be under 65.

Attendance allowance – You may be entitled to this benefit if you are over 65 and need help in looking after yourself.

Incapacity Benefit – If your disability stops you from working then you may be entitled to claim this benefit, the rates payable depend on the amount of time you are unable to work.

Benefits for Healthy Living

Direct payments – If you have been assessed and need care and support then you may be entitled to direct payments; direct payments will give you the opportunity of buying care yourself instead of receiving it from social services directly.

Equipment for Independent Living

If you need special equipment to be able to live independently then you may be able to claim towards the cost of alterations needed to adapt your home.

Health Equipment and Prescriptions

You could be entitled to help with prescription costs, dental care and items such as wheelchairs and hearing aids.

Tax relief on equipment

Some goods may qualify for tax relief if it has been designed or adapted for a disabled person.

Independent Living Fund

If you are severely disabled then you may be entitled to a grant which could enable you to live independently rather than in a care home.

Work schemes

“Access to work” is a scheme set up to provide practical support at work, it can help with paying towards special equipment needed or to help with costs towards travel if you are unable to use public transport.

Blind persons Tax

This allowance allows you to receive an income without having to pay tax on it, it is usually added to your personal tax allowance.

Disability Living allowance

This is an allowance for a child with a severe physical or mental disability; you may be entitled to claim this if the child needs a lot more looking after than other children of similar age.

Disabled Facilities Grant

This is a local council grant that may be given when help is needed adapting the home.

Television license discount

If you are registered blind then you are entitled to 50% off your television license.

The Motability scheme

This scheme can help you purchase or rent a car, powered wheelchair or scooter if you are getting the highest rate of the disabled living allowance.

Disabled students allowance

This allowance can help pay for specialist equipment and non medical personal assistance.

Industrial injuries disablement benefit

If your disability is the result of an accident at work then you may be entitled to claim this benefit.

Constant attendance allowance

If you need daily care because of a disability then you may be entitled to receiving this allowance.

War disablement pension

If you have become disabled due to serving in the armed forces then you may be able to claim this.