What Happens after You’re Approved for Disability Benefits
The entire process of applying for disability benefits can be daunting. There are many factors that go into being approved to receive these benefits. Once you've navigated through the application, documentation collection and possible appeals process, you want to make sure that you're receiving the benefits that you've worked so hard to get. Once you're approved, the work doesn't end there.
Things you need to do after disability benefits approval:
You will need to let Social Security know about medical condition changes.
Your approval for disability benefits was based on your medical condition and ability to work. If your condition changes, you need to let the Social Security Administration know. Your benefits may need to be reevaluated depending on if your medical condition and ability to work improves. It is better to do this sooner rather than later. The Administration will find out eventually, so it's easier if it comes from you.
The specifics of your case are subject to review.
Don't think that once you're approved that that's it. Your case will be reviewed periodically to verify that you are still disabled. This is required by law. If your condition is expected to improved, you will normally be reviewed within six to 18 months after your benefits begin. If it is possible for your medical condition to improve, you will normally be reviewed no earlier than three years. If you are not expected to improve, your case will not normally be reviewed before seven years.
You will need to let Social Security know about any work changes.
If you are able to start working more, you need to let Social Security know. The Administration will eventually find out about this as well, but it could take a couple of years to receive the income tax information.
What Happens after You’re Approved for Disability Benefits Things that affect your benefits:
If you earn enough money that it's considered substantial.
If you work enough to earn $1,180 or more per month, you will stop receiving benefits. If you are blind and earn more than $1,970 per month, you will also stop receiving benefits. You need to notify the Social Security Administration if you start to work more.
If your condition improves enough.
Your disability benefits will stop if your condition improves to the point where you are no longer considered disabled. As noted above, you need to notify the Social Security Administration of changes to your medical condition. It is your responsibility to notify the SSA of changes that can affect your disability benefits.
The amount of debt that you have or accumulate.
If you have debt, you may be worried that creditors will be able to seize your benefits. In most cases, if you don't pay your debts, creditors are able to get a court order and garnish your wages. Since your income is coming from Social Security, this changes things. Your Social Security benefits can be garnished, but it depends on whom you owe money to. Your Social Security disability benefits cannot be touched by banks or other financial creditors, but if the government is collecting on a debt, it can. The federal government can garnish these benefits for the following kinds of debts: federal student loans, federal income taxes, non-tax debt owed to other federal agencies, child support and alimony, some civil penalties and defaulted federal home loans. There is still a certain amount that the government can take. Social Security disability benefits are subject to a 15 percent levy in order to pay delinquent taxes. If you owe non-tax debts to other agencies, the first $750 can't be garnished, but the IRS can still take the 15 percent cut. You will get 30 days after the final notice of the levy to make payment arrangements before they start docking your benefits. For student loans, the 15 percent can still be taken as long as your monthly benefits don't drop lower than $750. Child support and alimony goes through the court system and the maximum reduction depends on what state you live in. If you are collecting Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, you won't need to worry at all about this income being taken. This income cannot be garnished no matter what the circumstance. The only way that SSI can be taken back is if you weren't entitled to it in the first place. Once you are approved for disability benefits, you still need to keep the things above in mind. It's best to be proactive about different circumstances in order to avoid problems later on. If you have any questions regarding the application process, the appeals process or the process for after you're approved for benefits, please contact us and we can help you as you move forward.
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