What is the Amount of a Monthly Disability Benefit Payment I Can Expect to Receive in Florida?
Many applicants receive more than $3,000 per month.
SSDI cash benefits, which average about $1,200 per month, are available to disabled individuals who have sufficient work credits. The work credit requirement does not apply in all cases, but the Social Security Administration’s complex “disability” definition does apply in all cases. Medicaid membership is probably the most significant non-cash SSDI benefit. In some cases, the medical payment benefit is more critical than the amount of monthly cash.
The average amount of a disability payment is not enough to live on. But it does supplement other household income and often makes the difference between paying the bills and not making ends meet. The $1,200 figure is just the average. Substantially higher benefits are available, and substantial back pay may be available as well. A Tampa Social Security Disability lawyer ensures that applicants receive the maximum amount of benefits possible.
Am I Disabled?
Disability is not an injury or illness. The doctor never comes into the examining room and soberly announces, “You have a disability.” Rather, any illness or injury could be disabling if it meets the SSA’s five-part test:
- Medical Condition: The applicant must furnish sufficient medical evidence on this point. A Tampa Social Security Disability lawyer can use additional evidence, not that the SSA has expended the rules in this area. When necessary, a lawyer will order an IME (independent medical examination) to prove this point.
- Disabling Condition: Overall, an illness or injury is disabling if it substantially interferes with a necessary physical work skill, like sitting or standing, or an essential mental skill, such as concentrating or following directions. Additionally, the impairment must prevent the person from doing work they did previously or adjusting to other work.
- Permanent Disability: The applicant must have a disabling medical condition that’s terminal or expected to last at least twelve months. In non-terminal cases, the SSA usually requires benefits recipients to re-apply every twelve months. Temporary disability benefits may be available elsewhere but not through the SSA.
Applications that have sufficient proof on all three points and contain certain magic words are usually eligible for fast-track review. Otherwise, the SSDI disability process could drag on for at least a year.
Can I Work and Collect SSDI Benefits?
Yes, as long as the disability precludes SGA (substantial gainful activity). The SGA definition is rather complex. However, the short form is that most SSDI recipients can earn around $1,500 per month in an unsheltered environment and retain their benefits.
In fact, most SSDI recipients work part-time to supplement their benefits. Most part-time jobs don’t have health insurance, which is why Medicaid membership is so crucial. Usually, the $1,500 ceiling applies to everyone in the household, not just the applicant.
On a related note, the onset date is usually much earlier than the application date. Many people work as long as they can, even though they are disabled. In fact, in many cases, the onset date is several years before the application date or even several decades earlier. Substantial back pay is available in these situations.
Furthermore, the applicant must earn $1,500 per month in an unsheltered environment. Family-owned businesses are usually sheltered environments since managers often look the other way if disabled employees leave early or come in late. These accommodations are unavailable elsewhere.
Reach Out to a Savvy Hillsborough County Workers Compensation Lawyer
Victims need and deserve compensation for their serious injuries. For a confidential consultation with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer in Tampa, contact the Rooth Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.