The Benefits Blog

Client is roughly 40 and has a (likely terminal) cancer diagnosis. They are planning to work for another couple of years and then go on disability (private). She wants me to run a plan where she anticipates passing away in the next 5-7 years. She is married (husband doesn’t work currently and used t...

I am working with parents of a special needs adult child. An attorney has advised the family that one of the parents needs to collect their SS benefit for the son to receive SSDI. That does not sound correct to me…is it?

The attorney’s advice might be based on a misunderstanding. Here’s how Social ...

My sister-in-law turned 66 on August 15, 2022 and will reach full retirement age on December 15. She is currently in a residential Mental health facility but will be released tomorrow. She has not applied for Social Security benefits and the psychiatrist is telling her to apply for Social Security d...

We have a client receiving kidney dialysis.  He needs to apply for Social Security Disability. He still works but can barely work anymore. We understood that if someone has renal failure and is on dialysis it’s an automatic qualifier for disability.  Are we incorrect? 

Kidney failure with dialysis ...

I have a client that took his Social Security Retirement benefit at age 65, and his Full Retirement Age is 66 and 8 months. He did not take the Medicare Part B as he is still on his wife’s employer plan. He is diabetic and had his leg amputated below the knee. Since he is already taking his social s...

Have a client who is going to start Soc Sec benefits at 62. Her estimate is about $2,400 per month.  She has a daughter who is 24, and will be 25 in Sept.  She has been physically and mentally disabled and receives SSI (which is $947 per month). Will she get an increase when my client retires next y...

Wife is collecting SSDI, but the husband with a much larger benefit has not filed for SSB.  Since she has SSDI, does deemed filing apply?  Meaning she will get a reduced Spousal benefit when the husband does file. This makes me think that she can refile for spousal at FRA if she wanted to get the ma...

My client is needing to get income now (64 years old) and just applied for SS.  He plans on working and making under the $22,000 amount so he does not subject himself to the earnings test.  If he applies for disability and is accepted, will he get bumped up to his full PIA?

Yes, if your client appl...

If I have a client who was permanently disabled and was drawing disabled benefits based upon his prior salaried employment, but then returned to work as a self-employed individual, would he still be eligible for SS benefits upon retirement based off his years as a salaried employee? Would they still...

Can you help me confirm the best way to begin the application process and which disability report, adult or child, is needed to apply for the Disabled Adult Child benefit? On the website, it states that this benefit cannot be filed for online, and you must call in to start the process which requires...