Category Disability Insurance

Aug 6 2016

What If Social Security Denies Your Disability Benefits?

If Social Security denied your disability benefits, you can file an appeal online, even if you live outside of the United States.

The online appeals application is simple, convenient and secure, guiding you through every step of the process.  From outlining your rights to an appeal, to publications on the appeals process, a fair review of your Social Security is right at your fingertips.  The online application even allows you to upload supporting documentation, like treatments, doctors, and medical reports, as well as an option to save your submissions.

Submitting all the necessary documents will save time and can help return a faster decision.  Here are some things you’ll need when ready to submit an appeal:

  • Doctors, hospitals, medical treatments, and tests since you last gave medical information to Social Security,
  • Medicines you are currently taking, and
  • Changes in your medical conditions, daily activities, work and education

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Ask students if they know someone whose disability benefits were denied? If so, how was the problem resolved?
  • What can you do if Social Security benefits are not sufficient to support your family?

Discussion Questions

  1. Does Social Security provide work incentives that allow people to work and still receive their disability benefits?
  2. Does Social Security provide benefits for partial disability or short-term disability?
  3. How does Social Security define disability?
Sep 19 2015

Ticket to Work Program

What is the Ticket to Work Program?

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program supports career development for Social Security disability beneficiaries age 18 through 64 who want to work.  The Ticket program is free and voluntary and it helps people with disabilities progress toward financial independence.

The Ticket program is a good fit for people who want to improve their earning potential and are committed to preparing for long-term success in the workforce.  Ticket to Work offers beneficiaries with disabilities access to meaningful employment with the assistance of Ticket to Work employment service providers called employment networks.  If you are ready to go to work, there are people ready and waiting to help you.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Ask students if they know someone who is disabled. Is he/she receiving any benefits from Social Security?  Have they heard of the Ticket to Work program?
  • Earning a living through employment is not something everyone can do. How does one decide whether to seek help from Ticket to Work service providers?

Discussion Questions:

  1. People are more likely to lose their incomes due to disability than death. How does the Social Security Administration define disability to qualify for benefits?
  2. More than 80 percent of working Americans don‘t have disability income insurance or are not covered adequately.  How can Ticket to Work program help these people?
Sep 20 2014

You Tube Videos: Healthcare and Taxes

In September 2014, the Internal Revenue Service announced the availability of new You Tube Videos to help taxpayers get important information about the Affordable Care Act and tax return filing.  These videos on IRS You Tube channel discuss the premium tax credit and the individual shared responsibility provision.  These provisions of the Affordable Care Act will affect tax returns beginning with the 2014 filing year.

In the premium tax credit video, the IRS Commissioner explains how it can help make purchasing health care through the Health Insurance Marketplace more affordable for people with moderate incomes.

For additional information on the tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act go to
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/New-YouTube-Videos-Provide-Tips-on-Health-Care-Tax-Returns

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the original article to discuss

  • What are the criteria used to be exempt from the Individual Shared Responsibility provision?
  • How and where can you obtain an exemption?
  • Who is subject to the individual shared responsibility provision?
  • What you need to do if you want to be sure you have minimum essential coverage or an exemption for 2014?

Discussion Questions

  1. What will you have to do if you don’t have or don’t maintain your health insurance coverage?
  2. If you don’t have health insurance coverage or qualify for an exemption, how and when must you make an Individual Shared Responsibility payment?