Military
service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims
from Social Security. Benefits available through Social Security are
different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require
a separate application.
The expedited process is used for
military service members who become disabled while on active military
service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability
occurs.
Below are the answers to the questions most people ask
about applying for disability benefits. Knowing the answers to these
questions will help you understand the process.
What types of benefits can I receive?
Social
Security pays disability benefits through two programs: the Social
Security disability insurance program, which pays benefits to you and
certain members of your family if you are "insured," meaning that you
worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes; and the Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) program, which pays benefits based on financial
need.
What is Social Security's definition of disability?
By law, Social Security has a very strict definition. To be found disabled:
- You must be unable to do substantial work because of your medical condition(s); and
- Your medical condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least one year or to result in death.
While some programs give money to people with partial disability or short-term disability,
Social Security does not.
That
depends. If we find that you are disabled under our rules and your
application was filed within a specified time frame, we will consider
whether you qualify for a closed period of disability. There are
specific requirements for a closed period of disability:
- The medical evidence must establish that you were unable to engage
in substantial work for a continuous period of 12 months, but by the
time the disability decision is made, your condition has improved to the
point where we find you are no longer disabled.
- You also must file an application within 14 months after the disability ended.
- If you meet the requirements for disability benefits, there is a
five-month waiting period before your first monthly benefit can be paid.
You can receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits from the date you file an application with Social Security.
Example: You file an application for Social Security
disability benefits in December 2011. After reviewing your claim, we
find that your disability started on April 15, 2010, and that your
condition improved to the point that you were no longer considered
disabled as of September 2011. We refer to this as a closed period of
disability.
Your five-month waiting period begins May 2010, the
first full month you are disabled. The months in your waiting period are
May, June, July, August, and September. Thus, the first month for which
you are entitled to disability benefits is October 2010.
You
could potentially receive benefits for October 2010 until September
2011, the month your disability ended. Based on the application you
filed in December 2011, you would receive 10 months of retroactive
benefits for December 2010 through September 2011.
How does military pay affect eligibility for disability benefits?
Active
duty status and receipt of military pay does not, in itself,
necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits.
Receipt of military payments should never stop you from applying for
disability benefits from Social Security. If you are receiving
treatment at a military medical facility and working in a designated
therapy program or on limited duty, we will evaluate your work
activity to determine your eligibility for benefits.
You cannot
receive Social Security disability benefits if you engage in
substantial work for pay or profit. However, the actual work activity
is the controlling factor and not the amount of pay you receive or your
military duty status.
How do I apply?
You
may apply for disability benefits at any time while in military
status or after discharge, whether you are still hospitalized, in a
rehabilitation program, or undergoing out-patient treatment in a
military or civilian medical facility. You may
apply online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors, in person at the nearest
Social Security office, by mail, or by telephone.
You
may call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. If you are deaf
or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. We
also have a “
disability starter kit” available online to help you complete your application.
To
apply for benefits, you or your representative must provide
information and documentation about your age, employment, proof of
citizenship, and information regarding all impairments and related
treatment. Social Security will make every reasonable effort to help
you get the necessary medical evidence.
Important: You should
file the application for disability benefits as soon as possible with
any documents readily available. Do not delay filing, even if you do
not have all the documents mentioned below.
- Original or certified copy of your birth certificate or proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency if foreign born;
- Form DD 214, if discharged from military service;
- W-2 form or income tax return from last year;
- Proof of military pay or workers' compensation;
- Social Security numbers of your spouse and minor children;
- Checking or savings account number, if you have one;
- Name, address, and phone number of a contact person, in case you are unavailable; and
- Medical records that you have or that you can easily obtain from all military and civilian sources.
Your
claim is sent to a State Disability Determination Services (DDS)
office that makes disability decisions. The State has medical and
vocational experts who will contact your doctors and other places where
you received treatment to get your medical records. The State agency
may ask you to have an examination or medical test. You will not have
to pay the costs of any additional exams or tests you are asked to
take. If the State does request an examination, make sure you keep the
appointment.
How long does it take?
The
length of time it takes to receive a decision on your disability
claim can vary, depending on several factors, but primarily on:
- The nature of your disability;
- How quickly we obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source; and
- Whether it is necessary to send you for a medical examination in order to obtain evidence to support your claim.
You
can speed the decision on your application for benefits by being
prepared for your interview. We can take prompt action on your claim
if you:
- Let us know right away that your disability occurred while on active military duty;
- Have information available regarding all the doctors you have
seen and the address of the military site where your records are kept;
- Notify us of any address changes you have while we are working on your claim; and
- Inform us about any changes in doctors, hospitals, or outpatient clinics where you are receiving treatment.
After we receive your application for Social Security
disability benefits, we will identify it as a military service member
claim and expedite it through all phases of processing, both at Social
Security and the DDS. We also expedite disability claims filed
online.
Certain members of your family may qualify for benefits based on your work. They include:
- Your spouse, if he or she is age 62 or older;
- Your spouse, at any age, if he or she is caring for a child of yours who is younger than age 16 or disabled;
- Your unmarried child, including an adopted child, or, in some
cases, a stepchild or grandchild. The child must be younger than age
18 or younger than age 19 if in elementary or secondary school full
time; and
- Your unmarried child, age 18 or older, if he or she has a
disability that started before age 22. (The child's disability also
must meet the definition of disability for adults.)
NOTE: In some situations, a divorced spouse may qualify for
benefits based on your earnings if he or she was married to you for at
least 10 years, is not currently married, and is at least age 62. The
money paid to a divorced spouse does not reduce your benefit or any
benefits due to your current spouse or children.
When do I get Medicare coverage?
You will get Medicare coverage automatically after you have received disability benefits for 24 months.
How does Medicare affect my TRICARE?
For
service members who are entitled to Medicare Part A (Hospital
Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance), TRICARE provides Medicare
“wraparound” coverage. Medicare is the primary payer for these
beneficiaries, and TRICARE serves as a supplement, paying the Medicare
deductible and patient cost share.
If you are entitled to
Medicare Part A based on disability or permanent kidney failure,
contact the Department of Defense to find out how this may affect your
TRICARE benefits. You may need to be enrolled in Medicare Part B to
keep your TRICARE coverage. For general information about TRICARE,
please visit
http://www.tricare.mil/welcome/eligibility/medicareeligible.aspx.
Individuals
who are awarded retroactive Social Security disability benefits also
may become entitled to Medicare Part A for months before they receive
the disability award notice. Effective October 2009, TRICARE
beneficiaries who are awarded retroactive benefits based on disability
or permanent kidney failure do not have to enroll in Part B for those
months in the past and can keep their TRICARE coverage as long as they
enroll in Part B currently. You should contact the Department of
Defense to find out whether you need to enroll in Medicare Part B so
you can keep your TRICARE.
The Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act of 2010 provides for a 12-month Medicare Part B special
enrollment period for TRICARE beneficiaries who are entitled to
Medicare Part A, but did not enroll in Medicare Part B during their
initial enrollment period. The Department of Defense will notify
eligible individuals about this period.
For more information about TRICARE and recent changes in the law, please visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/tricareinfo.html.
You
may receive Social Security disability benefits and remain on active
duty. It is important that you immediately contact Social Security if
there is a change in your --
- Military Occupational Specialty code (MOS);
- Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC); or
- Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC).
A permanent change of station (PCS) move from one duty station
to another is also a potential indicator that you may be going back to
work and should contact Social Security
Changes in your work
status may affect your Social Security benefits. Tell us right away
about any changes in your work or active duty status.
If you are
planning to change your PCS, MOS, AFSC, or NEC, you can request a
Benefits Planning Query from Social Security. This query contains
information about the status of your disability benefits, work history
and current work status, health insurance, scheduled medical reviews,
and representative payee data.
You can use the Benefits Planning
Query as a tool to help you plan your return to work. Request your query
by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local field office.
Social
Security has special rules called work incentives that allow you to
test your ability to return to work and still receive monthly Social
Security disability benefits.
You also can get help with the
education, training, and rehabilitation you need in order to work. You
will find a description of the work incentives and other programs that
can help you return to the work force below. For more information, ask
us for
Working While Disabled -- How We Can Help (Publication No. 05-10095) or visit
www.socialsecurity.gov/work.
Yes. If you take a job, it is important that you let us know about it as soon as possible. You should tell us:
- When you start or stop work; and
- If there is a change in your job duties, hours or work, or rate of pay.
Even if you are receiving full pay, you still may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
You may visit your local field office to report your current work activity. You can find the closest offfice on our website at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Ask
the Social Security representative to give you a receipt showing that
you reported your work activity. The work report receipt is for your
records and serves as proof that you told us about your current work
situation.
When
we receive notification that you have returned to work, we perform a
work continuing disability review (CDR). During this review, we look to
see whether you are doing substantial work. For 2013, we consider you to
be doing substantial work if your monthly earnings are over $1,040
($1,740 if you are blind).
That amount may change each year. When we conduct a work CDR, we ask you to complete an SSA-821-BK (Work Activity Report-Employee). You should complete the form and provide as much detail as possible about your job duties.
It
is important that you tell us whether you are in a designated work
therapy program or whether you are assigned limited duty because of your
disability. You may be receiving full military pay, but not performing
work duties. Without this information, we cannot properly evaluate your
work, and your Social Security benefits may be suspended or terminated.
What are the work incentives?
Trial Work Period (TWP)
The
TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least nine months.
The months do not need to be consecutive. During your TWP, you will
receive your full Social Security benefits, regardless of how much you
earn, as long as you report your work activity and you continue to have a
disabling impairment.
In 2013, a trial work month is any month in
which your total earnings are more than $750 or, if you are
self-employed, you earn more than $750 or you spend more than 80 hours
in your own business. The TWP continues until you have worked nine trial
work months within a 60-month period.
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
After
the TWP ends, you have 36 months during which you can work and still
receive benefits for any month that your earnings are not "substantial."
During
the EPE, your benefits are suspended for any month that you have
substantial earnings. However, you will receive a benefit for any month
your earnings fall below the substantial level. You do not need a new
application or disability determination to receive a Social Security
disability benefit during the EPE.
More information on work incentives is available at
www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook.
Ticket to Work Program
Social
Security's Ticket to Work program offers many supports that can help
you return to work. Under the Ticket program, you can obtain vocational
rehabilitation, training, job referrals, and other employment support
services free of charge. These services are provided by Employment
Networks, which are private organizations or government agencies (state
or local) that have contracts with Social Security to provide employment
services and other supports to beneficiaries with disabilities.
If
you are interested in using the Ticket program to go to work or get
vocational services, please call 1-866-968-7842, toll-free.
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program
The
WIPA program is a nationwide network of community-based organizations
with experts who can answer questions about Social Security's work
incentives and help you make a decision about working.
WIPA
experts, called Community Work Incentive Coordinators, provide
information and work incentives planning and assistance to people who
are receiving Social Security disability benefits and who are currently
working or considering work. They can help you understand how work
affects your disability benefits and explain what other federal, state,
and local supports there are for people with disabilities who want to
work.
To locate the WIPA project nearest you, call 1-866-968-7842, toll-free.
