Answers To A Couple Of Common Concerns About Disability Benefits

Posted on: 13 July 2015

Share

Suffering an injury or illness that deprives you of your ability to earn a living is one of the most devastating events that can happen to a person. While there are disability programs available to help individuals that are in this position, these programs are often poorly understood by those they are designed to help. Not surprisingly, there are a couple of questions about disability benefits that you may want answered, and learning the follow answers should help you to better understand the benefits disability insurance provides. 

What Happens When You Reach Retirement Age While On Disability Benefits?

When someone is permanently disabled, they will need these benefits for the remainder of their lives. However, there are many beneficiaries of these programs that are unsure of how retirement will be handled. Fortunately, you do not need to worry about losing all of your benefits once you reach the retirement age for Social Security. 

Once you reach the age to qualify for Social Security benefits, your disability will likely be terminated and you will be switched to the standard Social Security and Medicare programs. To minimize the chance of encountering a disruption in your benefits, you should start the process of switching your benefits over several months before you reach the official retirement age. 

How Are Instances Of Temporary Disability Handled?

When many people think of someone that is disabled, they will typically assume the condition is permanent. However, it should be noted that there can be instances of temporary disability. Whether these instances stem from severe injuries that require many months to heal or diseases that will require a prolonged treatment, it is important to note that there are temporary disability benefits that you may be able to receive. 

The benefits work exactly as permanent disability benefits except they are designed to expire once you have recovered. However, it should be noted that these benefits are just as difficult to be approved for as permanent disability benefits, and as a result, you may need to seek legal help when applying for these benefits. Luckily, if your initial application is denied, your attorney will be able to appeal this decision, and when your benefits are approved they will be retroactive from the time of your initial application. 

Disability benefits can be the only option for many individuals that have been unfortunate enough to experience severe injuries or illnesses. By understanding how these benefits handle retirement and that there are temporary disability claims, you will be in a stronger position to get the most from the benefits when you need them.