Social Security
Client Story
When you retire, or when you become unable to work because of a disability, Social Security can provide you with a source of income. Social security covers everything from retirement and disability to spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and supplemental security income (SSI).
Context
Social Security is a public benefit that may be claimed by any eligible individual. It can come in different forms and for different causes.
- Retirement benefits, which you pay for by way of social security deductions from your paycheck during your working life
- Disability benefits, if you are unable to work because you have:
- A physical or mental impairment that has lasted at least 12 months or is expected to lead to your death, or
- Blindness of no better than 20/200 vision in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens.
- Spousal and Survivor benefits, if you were married for at least 10 years to someone who was eligible for social security.
Requirements
What you will need to create an account and apply:
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Social Security number (SSN)
- Where you were born (city, state, country)
- Names of employers for the past two years and dates of employment
- Your spouse/former spouse’s Social Security number and birthday
- Date you got married/divorced and where you got married
- Routing and account number for your bank account
- Most recent tax return (or either a W2 form or 1099 form)
- Valid email and mailing address
- May need birth certificate and social security card
- If you are a veteran, you will need your dates of service and your service papers
- If you were born abroad, you will need proof of legal status
Steps
Step 1: Determine Benefits Eligibility
The first step to applying for social security is to determine whether you’re eligible for benefits. The easiest way to do this is to fill out a questionnaire on the Social Security Administration’s website.
Go to SSA.gov and, under the Prepare header, click Check eligibility for benefits.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SSA WEBSITE
Click through on “Get Started,” and then “Start Application.” You’ll only need to fill out this application once to learn about all of your potential benefits.
Step 2: Begin Application
The form must be filed in the county in which you reside.
There will be a filing fee. If you are unable to pay a filing fee you may fill out an Affidavit of Hardship.
Once you’re ready to apply for Social Security benefits, you have three ways to apply:
- In person at the Social Security office
- On the phone
- Online
If you apply online, you will also create an account that will allow you to check your benefits, update your information, and review your case status and estimated future payments.
Be aware that if you are applying for spousal benefits, you must apply by phone or in person. You cannot apply for spousal benefits online.
Step 3: Review Process
Once you complete your application—whether that’s online, by phone, or in person—you’ll be entered into the review process.
At this time an examiner, working for the Social Security Administration, will review your application. They will either approve or deny it.
If it’s approved, you will begin to receive your benefits soon. This may even include back pay for time in which you were eligible for benefits but hadn’t yet received them.
Step 4: Appeal Process
If your application is denied, you may file an appeal within 60 days.
If you wait more than 60 days to file, then you must provide a good reason for the late filing; this may make it more difficult to successfully appeal.
An appeal must be made in writing.
You may file an appeal online, in the local Social Security office, or by mail in a letter which includes your social security number and a written request.
If you have created an online account, it will keep track of where you are in the appeal process and what the final decision is.
The Social Security Administration offers forms to use when filing an appeal.
What you will be seeking from the SSA is a Reconsideration.
A reconsideration is a complete review of your claim, along with any additional evidence you provide, by someone who wasn’t involved in the original decision.
Once you submit your request for reconsideration it takes an average of six (6) months for a second decision to be made. If your application is denied a second time, you have 60 days to file a request for a hearing with an administrative law judge.
If the administrative law judge denies your claim, then you may appeal to the Social Security Appeals Council.
If the Appeals Council denies your claim, you may file a final appeal to a federal district court for a judicial review of your claim.
You may not file an appeal to a federal court online.
If the federal district court denies your claim, then you have no more options of appeal.
If you application is approved after any of the stages of appeal then you will receive back pay for the time between your application and the approval, as well as any back pay you are due from the time prior to your application.
You may file a new claim any time your claim is denied instead of appealing the decision. This would allow for your application for benefits to start fresh, even if the previous claim was denied by federal district court.
Step 5: Collect Benefits
Once your claim is approved you will begin to receive benefits.
You may receive your benefit money either through Direct Deposit, which will place the money into your bank account, or via a Direct Express Debit Mastercard.
To have your money transferred via Direct Deposit, sign up online at Go Direct, by phone at (800) 333-1795, in person at your bank or credit union, or by calling Social Security. You may also start or change your Direct Deposit information through your my Social Security account.
There are no transfer fees taken out of your benefits if the money is transferred via Direct Deposit.
If there is a rare circumstance where neither above option will work for you, then you may fill out a waiver to ask that your money be sent by check.
For more information and/or help with filling out the waiver please call (855) 290-1545.
Conclusion
Social Security is a public benefit which we all contribute to during our working lives, and is meant to help provide for us when we retire or become unable to work.
To check your eligibility, begin your application, or access your account, visit the Social Security Administration’s website.
If you need assistance, want to speak to a person, or would like to schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office, call (800) 772-1213.
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