Q: Are there any restrictions about attending classes after I have applied for social security disability benefits?
A: You can attend classes while your social security disability insurance claim is being processed. It is best not to broadcast your academic endeavors, though, if your application was submitted due to a mental claim. Everyone knows that the stressors of going to work everyday can be quite different than those of the flexible academic environment, but the case representative reviewing your claim may assume your injury does not qualify as a disability. A disability examiner may assume that if your injury does not prevent you from attending classes, then you can surely be part of the workforce. That is why it is often recommended that you be careful when mentioning your student status if your social security disability claim is pending.
Q: If you are awarded social security disability benefits, when are you eligible for Medicare?
A: Once you have reached two years past your date of entitlement for social security disability, you can qualify for Medicare. That entitlement date is the date of onset of your condition (determined by social security when your claim was approved) with the 5 month waiting period added on. You begin receiving social security disability benefits roughly on your entitlement date. Medicare benefits can be awarded two years after that. If you were awarded social security disability insurance benefits, you will receive Medicare. You will be eligible for Medicaid if you were awarded Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. For individuals who collect SSDI and SSI benefits concurrently, they should get in touch with their local social security office to know which medical benefits they will receive.
Q: How are social security disability benefits calculated?
A: Your payments are determined by how old you are, your earnings, your years of employment and the amount of social security contributions you have made through payroll taxes. Depending upon those factors, you can collect up to about $2200 in social security disability payments monthly. A family can receive as much as $3800 in monthly payments.