What do you know about the social security disability scholarship? We at Study Abroad Nations have compiled the requirements, application, and other details concerning this kind of scholarship for disabled people.
Unfortunately, some people are born disabled or became so through accidents and it is difficult for them to live life like normal people. These special people deserve all the care and support in the world, and the world is setting things right in that aspect.
If you are a disabled person or have a family member or friend who is, this post is for them. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers disability benefits to them which they can also use as scholarships to fund their education in an accredited institute of learning.
This page gives definite data about the disability benefits and can assist you with understanding what is in store from Social Security during the disability cycle. Before applying, set aside an effort to survey the basics, understand the process, and gather the data and records you’ll have to finish an application.
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What is Social Security Administration?
The Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
The mission of the SSA is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.
To get the benefits from the SSA there are a couple of information you need to learn about, such as the requirements, and application process.
The SSA provides two main disability benefits, Supplementary Security Income, and Social Security Disability Insurance. Each of these disability benefits programs meets the requirements of a particular type of applicant and treats bigger assets like university or college funds differently.
The Supplementary Security Income (SSI)
What is the supplementary security income? How does it benefit the disabled?
The Supplementary Security Income program pays monthly benefits to people with low incomes and little or limited assets. The program can benefit the disabled as it mainly targets disabled children or the elderly.
Children under 18 take into account parental income and assets until after the age of 18 then the child may qualify on their own even while attending university or college. The SSI benefit has a limit of $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.
To be eligible for SSI, you must meet the SSA definition of disabled and other income and asset criteria. Below are the guidelines;
Income and Resource Limits
As a single person, having $2,000 in assets can still get you the SSI benefits but when your assets are being calculated by the Social Security Administration things like home and car aren’t considered. As for income, the more you earn or the bigger your income is, the smaller your SSI payment will be.
If your income is now too much then you will completely ineligible to get the SSI benefit.
Education-Related Financial Aid
If you get a monetary guide for school, the SSA may reject (not check) the monetary help when your assets are calculated. Contingent upon the sort of help you get, you might be qualified for a nine-month rejection, or the financial aid might be prohibited for a limitless number of times (depending upon the kind of financial aid).
Here are a few instances of financial aid that is qualified to be prohibited;
- Title IV assistance under the Higher Education Act (HEA)
- Assistance under the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
- Grants from governmental or private sources
- Scholarships
- Fellowships
- Gifts are used to pay for school-related fees.
The first three financial aid can be used as you wish, that is, you may use it however and wherever you want to use it. The last three aids must be used as they are stated, the scholarship grant must be used to fund your college or university tuition.
The fellowship is a financial aid used to fund graduate research and must be used for that while the gifts are used to settle school-related fees such as books, accommodation, living expenses on campus, and other school materials.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
The Social Security Disability Insurance program is designed for disabled workers and their families. This benefit program has no limit on resources and the recipients can save the money for future educational purposes.
This benefit actually extends to the non-disabled as well but they stop receiving the benefit immediately they finish high school or two months after they turn 19. But children with disabilities will keep receiving the benefit even after the age of 18.
Social Security Disability Application Process
To get the disability benefits, you must go through an application which can be done in person, online, or by phone. Follow the general steps below for the disability benefits application;
- There are various information and documents you need to apply, gather them and if you don’t know what this information and documents are, check the next subheading.
- After gathering the required information and documents proceed to complete and submit your application.
- Your application is then reviewed to make sure it meets some basic requirements for disability benefits.
- The Social Security Administration checks if you have worked enough years to qualify and also evaluates any current work activities.
- Your application is then processed and forwarded by the SSA to the Disability Determination Services office in your region.
Online Application Process for the Social Security Disability Benefit Program
- To begin your application, click here, which takes you to the “Apply for Benefits” page, and read and agree to the Terms and Service. Click “Next”
- On the same page, review the “Getting Ready” section to be sure you have all the required information for the application
- Click “start a new application”
- Few questions will be asked to who is filling out the application
- Proceed to sign in to your “my social security account” or create one if you don’t have
- Complete the application
You can only use the online application method if you pass the eligibility criteria above;
- 18 years or older
- Not currently benefiting from your own Social Security record
- Unable to work due to a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death
- Have not been denied for disability in the last 60 days.
You can also file for Supplementary Security Income (SSI) online but only if you;
- Between ages 18 and 65
- Never been married
- A United States citizen living in one of the fifty states
- Never applied nor received SSI benefits
- Are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance at the same time as your SSI claim
Information Needed to Apply for the Social Security Disability Benefit Program
Before applying for this benefit, you must be prepared to provide well-detailed information about yourself which also includes your medical condition or that of your disabled child, and your work.
The first information is about you and it should contain the following;
- Date and place of birth
- Social security number
- Names and dates of birth of your minor children
- Your bank and the account number
This information category is about your medical condition;
- Name, address, and phone number of someone that can be contacted who has info about your medical conditions and can assist with your application
- Well-detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries, or conditions:
- Names, addresses, telephone numbers, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for all specialists, hospitals, and clinics.
- Names of prescriptions you are taking and who recommend them
- Names and dates of clinical trials you have had and who sent you for them
This information category is about your work;
- The measure of cash acquired a year ago and the current year
- The name and address of your employer(s) during the current year and a year ago
- The start and finishing dates of any dynamic U.S. military assistance you had before 1968
- A rundown of the positions (up to 5) that you had in the 15 years before you got incapable to work and the dates you worked those positions.
- Data about any specialists’ remuneration, dark lung, and additionally comparative advantages you documented, or plan to petition for. These advantages can;
- Be transitory or perpetual in nature
- Incorporate annuities and single amount installments that you got previously
- Be paid by your manager or boss’ protection transporter, private offices, or Federal State or other government or government or public offices; and
- Be alluded to as:
- Laborers’ compensation
- Dark lung benefits
- Longshore and harbor workers’ compensation
- Common service (disability) retirement
- Government employees’ retirement
- Government employees’ compensation
- State of neighborhood government incapacity protection benefits
- Disability profits by the military
Documents Needed to Apply for the Social Security Disability Benefit Program
The documents listed below will be asked of you along with the information above, to show that you are eligible you may be asked to provide these documents. They are;
- Birth certificate
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States
- S. military discharge paper(s) if you had military service before 1968
- W-2 forms and /or self-employment tax returns for the previous year
- Medical evidence which includes medical records, doctors’ reports, and recent test results
- Grant letters, pay hits, settlement arrangements, or other evidence of any brief or lasting specialists’ pay type benefits you got.
Once you submit your application for the Social Security Disability Benefits Program it will be reviewed by the Social Security Administration. You will be contacted or if additional documents aside from the ones listed here are required or if there are questions.
After the review, you will have to wait for a response from the Social Security Administration. The response will be in the form of a letter which will be sent in your mail. Also, if you included details about other family members when you applied you’ll equally get a response to know if they qualify for the benefit from your application.
You can also check the status of your application online using your “my social security” account and if you can’t check it online you may contact the SSA on 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday.
Applicants reserve a privilege to claim any choice SSA makes about whether you are qualified for benefits. You should demand an appeal recorded as a hard copy within 60 days of getting your choice. There are four degrees of appeal;
- Re-examination
- Consultation under the guidance of a law judge
- An audit by Social Security’s Appeals Council
- A survey by the government courts.
Check application and appeal status here
This brings an end to the Social Security Disability Program, read them carefully to avoid confusion, and the telephone number and appropriate links have been provided in case you want to make contact with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
I love these trips to local social security offices, where they are always ready to help with up-to-date information or some new retirement laws. However, you sometimes think about some alternatives. But in the meantime, I still go to my local socail security office for advice.