Monthly Disability Benefits | Types of Social Security Disability | SSDI vs. SSI | Murfreesboro Social Security Disability Lawyer
What is Social Security Disability?
Social Security is a federal program established by Congress in 1935 with the Social Security Act. Social Security pays both retirement benefits and benefits to the disabled. Many people in the Murfreesboro area support themselves with these very benefits.
There are two different kids of Social Security disability benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It is possible to file a concurrent claim for both SSDI and SSI benefits. In order to qualify for SSDI or SSI, the Social Security Administration’s guidelines state that a person must have a condition so severe that it prevents them from working and that is expected to last for more than 12 months or result in death.
Social Security Disability (SSDI) – Murfreesboro Social Security Disability Lawyer
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program for workers who have paid into the Social Security trust fund. This is the “FICA” line that you see taken out of every paycheck. SSDI provides income to those who are no longer able to work because of a serious disability. Many hundreds of people in Murfreesboro and throughout Rutherford County find themselves in this situation every year. SSDI is also available to some dependents of workers. SSDI payments can be paid on a permanent or temporary basis, depending on the duration of a person's disability.
SSDI is considered a kind of insurance, not a welfare program, so the amount of money you are eligible for depends on how long you've been paying into the program and how much money you've made. Any legitimately disabled person who has paid into the system, regardless of their current income level, can receive it.
If you are eligible for SSDI you may be eligible to retroactive benefits if you are able to show your disability set in before the date you applied for benefits. However, the Social Security Administration will never pay any money for the first five months of your disability – for the first five-month period after your disability’s date of onset.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Rutherford County Social Security Disability Lawyer
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a social welfare program for disabled people with limited incomes and assets. You can get SSI regardless of whether or not you have worked in the past. If your resources are too great or your income is too high, you will be turned down for SSI benefits. Today, 7.9 million Americans receive benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program each year, a number of them in the Murfreesboro area.
In order to start receiving SSI benefits, an applicant must be able to prove the following: 1) they are 65 or older, blind, or disabled; 2) They are a legal resident of the U.S. or one of its territories; and 3) Their income and resources falls within certain limits (Generally, an individual must not have more than $2,000 in liquid assets to qualify).
Those who qualify for SSI benefits are also automatically eligible for several other public assistance programs, including Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Section 8 housing vouchers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Section 8 Housing in Murfreesboro
For more information about receiving housing vouchers in the Murfreesboro area, you can visit or call the following locations.
Murfreesboro Housing Authority
415 North Maple Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(615) 893-9414
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Nashville Field Office
235 Cumberland Bend, Suite 200
Nashville, TN 37228
(615) 736-5600
Differences between SSDI & SSI—Which is right for me?
Use this chart to compare SSDI and SSI:
| SSDI | SSI | |
| Must have paid Social Security taxes to qualify for this benefit? | Yes | No |
| Waiting period before benefits can begin? |
Adults: 5 months after becoming disabled. Children: no |
No |
| Health insurance along with disability award? | Yes, Medicare can begin after 2-year waiting period. | Yes, in most states Medicaid kicks in immediately. |
| Can be presumed disabled before benefits are actually approved? | No. | Yes, up to six months before. If found not to be disabled, claimant does not need to return payments. |
| Can a person receive retroactive benefits? | Yes, up to 12 months worth. | No. |
| Are any financial factors taken into account when determining eligibility for benefits? | SSA looks at “Substantial Gainful Activity.” If a claimaint were to make more than $1000 a month as of 2010 then they would lose their eligibility for benefits. |
SSA looks at both “Substantial Gainful Activity” and other resources. |
| Is there a minimum period that the disability must persist for? | Yes, one year. | Yes, one year. |
| Can you receive benefits for a past period of disability even if you are no longer disabled? | Yes. | Yes. |
| Can you continue to receive benefits if you go back to work on a trial basis? | Yes. | No. |
|
Can you get your benefits quickly reinstated if you go back to work and are unable to continue? |
Yes. | Yes. |
| Can you receive benefits if you live outside the US? | Yes, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens who have paid into the system. | Generally not for U.S. citizens, and never for non-citizens. |
Where are the Murfreesboro Social Security Administration offices located?
Regardless of whether you want to apply for SSI or SSDI, you will need to know where to find the local Social Security office. If you are looking for a local Social Security Administration office in the Murfreesboro or Rutherford County area, DotCO has compiled a list of their addresses for your reference:
|
Social Security Administration |
US Social Security Administration 931 Old Smithville Road McMinnville, TN 37110 (877) 616-2515 |
|
US Social Security Administration |
Social Security Administration 1885 Shady Brook Street Columbia, TN 38401 (931) 381-5832 |
Social Security Disability Attorneys Serve Murfreesboro and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Central Tennessee, including Brentwood, Centerville, Columbia, Dibrell, Franklin, Hendersonville, La Vergne, Lebanon, Lewisburg, Manchester, McMinnville, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Shelbyville, areas in the vicinity of Murfreesboro Municipal Airport,and other communities in Rutherford County.