It can be a challenge to wind your way through the labyrinthine Social Security regulations and find out which social security benefits you are eligible to receive. To help you, here are some answers to common questions about disability benefits received through Social Security.
There are no partial disability social security benefits, since SSA is designed only for people who are completely disabled and who have been (or are expected to be) disabled for at least a year. If you wish to file for partial disability, you will need to do so through a state or local program. You will still be able to receive state and local disability benefits if SSA denies your application because you are not completely disabled.
However, even if you are deemed to be completely disabled, you can keep working while receiving disability social security benefits, provided you are sufficiently disabled that your work capacity is low. You total income will be taken into account by the state agency that handles your social security case. If your annual earnings fall under a certain amount, you will still be considered eligible for disability. Note that the agency will consider how much you CAN earn, not how much you DO earn: You will not be eligible for social security benefits if there is another occupation that you have the training and physical ability to perform, and you would be able to earn above the minimum income level by switching to it. You will not be pushed beyond your limits and asked to do work you are not capable of doing. The state agency will consider your experience, education, medical condition, and even age when evaluating your ability to change jobs. Help is available for applicants who need assistance at moving from a lower paying job to a job that would enable them to support themselves.
Many applicants are told by their doctors that there is no further treatment for their condition, but their social security agents ask them to continue visiting doctors. If this is what you are dealing with right now, there is an explanation! First, the state agency in charge of your social security benefits may need more information to evaluate your case, and your regular doctors may not have the equipment or experience necessary to provide it. The agency may arrange for you to see another doctor. The visit is not for treatment; it is simply part of your case evaluation.
Second, even untreatable conditions change, and not all disabilities are permanent. Regular examinations to chart the progress of your health are essential. Even without treatment, your condition may improve enough to allow you to return to work.
And third, medical science comes up with treatments for “untreatable” conditions every year. Why miss out on a cure because you stopped going to the doctor out of resignation? Occasional doctors’ visits are a minor nuisance compared to the vast improvements you could someday see.