I meet with many individuals that are between the age of 62-65, and do not realize that they are able to pursue Social Security Early Retirement benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits at the same time. These individuals normally assume that these programs are mutually exclusive, and that a decision has to be made to pursue one program or the other. In fact, the Social Security Administration will let individuals apply for both programs simultaneously.

There are some important reasons why individuals that are eligible for early retirement should consider applying for both programs; however, it is also important to know that there can be a negative impact on your Social Security payments if you are ultimately found not disabled.

What Happens when I Accept Early Retirement from Social Security?

When you elect to receive your Social Security Retirement at age 62 you are receiving a 25% reduction in your retirement benefit if you were born between 1943 and 1954. [See Social Security Administration’s Retirement Benefits by Year of Birth Page for reduction based on other years of birth.] This is a permanent reduction if you elect to start retirement at age 62. This means that if your full retirement benefit at 66 would be $1,000 per month, you will only receive $750 per month (for the rest of your life) if you retire early.

How Does Disability Impact My Early Retirement?

The exception to this lifelong reduction is if the Social Security Administration determines you are disabled at some point before you reach full retirement age. If you are found to be eligible for Social Security Disability and your payments start retroactively prior to the date you actually began receiving reduced retirement, your early retirement application is effectively withdrawn. The Social Security Administration will pay you the difference between your reduced retirement and your full Social Security benefit for each month that you have already been paid, and you will receive your full payment for each month going forward.

Example

For example, let us assume that an individual named John Smith was born on January 1, 1948. He turned 62 on January 1, 2010. John stopped working because of his health condition on May 2, 2009. Since he was unable to work, he applied for early retirement on January 1, 2010 when he turned 62. John’s full retirement rate is $1,000, but since he elected early retirement at 62, he is only entitled to $750 per month in retirement benefits. [If John is found disabled, he receives payment at his full Social Security rate of $1,000 per month]

Now since John has the necessary quarters of coverage for retirement, he is eligible to begin retirement benefits immediately when he turned 62. John is informed that he can also apply for disability since he stopped working because of a medical impairment that prevented him from continuing to perform work. John applies for Social Security Disability Insurance and alleges that his disability began on May 2, 2009.

The Social Security Administration determines on June 6, 2010 that John is disabled, and that his disability began on May 2, 2009. John is entitled to start disability payments in November 2009. He has already received early retirement benefits from January 2010 until May 2010. Since he was found disabled, he is entitled to his full Social Security rate of $1,000 per month. The Social Security Administration will pay John $1,000 for November and December 2009, and will pay him $250 per month from January 2010 until May 2010 (since he already received $750 per month from early retirement). His early retirement benefits will stop effective June 2010, and John will receive only his disability check of $1,000 per month going forward.

Since John was found entitled to Disability benefits prior to the date that his early retirement began, there is no reduction in his Disability payment. Even when John turns 66, he will continue to receive his full Social Security rate as long as he remained disabled until he turned 66. The benefit to John is that he received payments from January 2010 until May 2010 while he was waiting for his disability application to be decided. This would be important to John, because otherwise he would have no income during that period.

Warning

It is important to remember that if the individual in the example above had not been approved for Social Security Disability Insurance, he would have received the reduced retirement rate for the rest of his life. Individuals that are eligible to begin Early Retirement and apply for Disability should always remember that there is no guarantee that they will be approved for Disability benefits. If you do not want to risk receiving reduced retirement benefits for the rest of your life, then you should simply apply for Disability benefits if you are between the age of 62-65.

The second warning is that the Social Security Administration could determine that your disability began at a later date. If John had not been found disabled until May 2, 2010, his disability benefits would not begin until November 2010. Since he began retirement payments in January 2010, there would have been 10 months that he only received early retirement benefits. John would begin receiving disability benefits in November 2010, but his disability payment amount would be reduced by the number of months he already received early retirement. When John turns 66, he would have a permanent 10-month reduction on his retirement benefits.

In other words, when he turned 66, the Social Security Administration would pay John at a rate as if he had retired at age 65 and 2 months. For an individual born in 1948, starting benefits at age 65 and 2 months would result in a permanent reduction of 5.6%. John’s disability benefit and his retirement rate at age 66 would then be reduced to $944 per month. [Please see the Social Security Administration’s Retirement Benefits by Year of Birth Page for information about early retirement reduction rates based on year that you were born. See POMS RS 00615.110 for more information about benefit reductions when entitled to both Social Security Retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits.]

What to Remember

It is important to understand what your options are if you are eligible to apply for both disability and early retirement. Prior to pursuing both retirement and disability benefits, it is normally a good idea to speak with someone that has knowledge of the interaction between the two programs. If you decide to proceed without the assistance of an attorney, ask the Social Security Administration to run through scenarios with you of what will happen if you are found disabled on the date that you stopped working, but also if you are not found disabled until a later date, or if you are never found disabled.

It is also normally a good idea to consult with a financial planner when deciding how to proceed with early retirement benefits. A financial planner will be able to review the positive and negative consequences of receiving retirement payments at reduced rate.

This article was written by Steven Butler. Steven is a partner atLinarducci & Butler, PA and his practice is limited to Social Security Disability/SSI claims. Steven offers free initial consultations for Social Security Disability/SSI claims. To schedule a consultation with Steven, please use the Linarducci & Butler Contact Form or call 302-613-0707 to schedule an appointment.

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Episode 6 of Social Security Disability Law Weekly Podcast includes discussion of: importance of local attorneys in Social Security Disability Claims; use of an iPad in Administrative Law Judge Hearings; don’t blame the messenger when unpleasant information is communicated about your disability or SSI claim; Social Security Denials Remain High in Delaware; impact of disability on Social Security Retirement benefits; and concept of medical record lag in Social Security claims. Download Episode 6 or press play below to listen in your browser.

Show Notes: Social Security Disability Law Weekly Podcast Episode 6

• Subscribe in iTunes (subscribe in iTunes)

This Week’s Topics:

• Off Topic
  • Support local attorneys – discussion of advantages of having a local attorney
  • Is my attorney using an iPad?
• Issues during my week in practice
  • Don’t Blame the Messenger!
    • Finding out that you don’t qualify for Social Security disability can be difficult, but it is important to remember that the person communicating the message to you isn’t the one making the rules.
• Social Security News (Discussion of Topics Reported in the News and Blogs this Week)
  • Social Security Denials Remain High by Mike Chalmers of the Delaware News Journal
    • Further discussion of the relatively high denial rate for Social Security disability claims by Delaware Administrative Law Judges
  • Social Security Disability Benefits at Retirement Age by Scott Lewis of Indiana Social Security Disability Lawyer Blog
    • Description of what happens when you reach retirement age and are on disability
    • Reminder to consider loss of benefit when on Early Retirement instead of disability
  • The Medical Records Time Lag by Gordon Gates of the Social Security Disability Lawyer Blog
    • More complete medical records can help you win your claim

Closing Credits:

• Contact Steve Butler to Discuss Social Security Disability Law Weekly
  • DelawareDisability.com Contact Form
  • Email: Steve@SSAlaw.us
  • Twitter: @DisabilityGuy
  • Facebook: http://facebook.com/SSALaw

I hope you enjoyed the sixth episode. Please feel free to give me any feedback for improving future episodes. If you enjoy the podcast, you can subscribe in iTunes.

Social Security Disability Law Weekly is a podcast devoted to issues in Social Security Disability Law. Discussion is focused on Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income payments. Social Security Disability Law Weekly is hosted by Steven Butler of Linarducci & Butler, PA.

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When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments from the Social Security Administration, it is important to realize that different standards are used to determine your disability based on your age. As an adult, it is hardest to qualify for benefits if you are between the ages of 18-49. The closer you are to full retirement age, the easier it is to qualify for benefits.

Below is a brief overview of what you must establish in order to prove that you meet the medical requirements of disability. These are just general guidelines, so it is always important that you speak to an attorney about your eligibility even if it appears that you will not qualify based on the information below.

Disability Benefits for Individuals Ages 18-49

• Generally to be found disabled:*
  
  • You must have a solid work history (have worked in 5 of the last 10 years before becoming disabled and earned sufficient lifetime work credits); and
    
  • You must have less than $1000/month (in 2010) of earned income; and
    
  • You must have a medical condition (or a combination of medical conditions) that prevents you from performing any of the work you have done in the last 15 years; and
    
  • You must be unable to perform any full-time work (regardless of pay or experience).
    

Disability Benefits for Individuals Ages 50-54

• Generally to be found disabled:*
  
  • You must have a solid work history (generally have worked in 5 of the last 10 years before becoming disabled and at least 7-8 years during your lifetime); and
    
  • You must have less than $1000/month (in 2010) of earned income; and
    
  • You must have a medical condition (or a combination of medical conditions) that prevents you from performing any of the work you have done in the last 15 years; and
    
  • You must be limited to lifting no more than 10 pounds of weight; and
    
  • You must be unable to stand for more than 15 minutes every hour in an 8 hour workday; and
    
  • There must be no sit-down jobs that exist in the economy that use skills that you have acquired from jobs performed in the last 15 years that you still have the ability to perform today.
    

Disability Benefits for Individuals Age 55-64

• Generally to be found disabled:^*
  
  • You must have a solid work history (generally have worked in 5 of the last 10 years before becoming disabled and at least 8.5-10 years during your lifetime); and
    
  • You must have less than $1000/month (in 2010) of earned income; and
    
  • You must have a medical condition (or a combination of medical conditions) that prevents you from performing any of the work you have done in the last 15 years; and
    
  • You must be limited to lifting no more than 20 pounds of weight; and
    
  • There must be no jobs that exist in the economy that use skills that you have acquired from jobs performed in the last 15 years that you still have the ability to perform today.
    

Documentation Required to Proof Disability

• You must have a documented medical impairment; and
  
• You must be receiving ongoing care for your medical condition; and
  
• You must comply with your doctor’s orders (take medication, attend scheduled appointments); and
  
• Your doctor should support your application for disability.
  

Advantages of Being Found Disabled as Opposed to Early Social Security Retirement

• Your Social Security Retirement benefits are not reduced (if you begin retirement early your benefits are reduced for the rest or your life); and
  
• You are eligible to begin Medicare coverage after 24 months of Social Security disability payments; and
  
• You protect your earnings record so that your retirement rate does not decrease.
  

When to Consider Social Security Disability

• You are injured in any way that prevents you from performing work;
  
• You are diagnosed with a medical condition that prevents you from performing work or is terminal;
  
• You retire from work early because you are unable to continue to perform your work
  

What Happens if You do Not have Sufficient Work Credits to Qualify?

• If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income Payments (SSI);
  
• SSI has the same medical requirements as SSDI, but you also have to establish financial need for eligibility;
  
• Social Security also considers income of spouse when determining eligibility.
  

This is just general information to help individuals that are considering applying for Social Security disability benefits. Please contact our office, the Social Security Administration, or another attorney if your situation matches the criteria discussed above.

^* The rules are slightly different for individuals that are illiterate or unable to communicate in English.

This article was written by Steven Butler. Steven is a partner at Linarducci & Butler, PA and his practice is limited to Social Security Disability/SSI claims. Steven offers free initial consultations for Social Security Disability/SSI claims to residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To schedule a consultation with Steven, please use the Linarducci & Butler Contact Form or call 302-613-0707 to schedule an appointment.

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Most people do not realize that there is a clause in their LTD policy that indicates that if you are approved for SSDI, your LTD benefits will be reduced. Your LTD benefits are normally reduced by almost the entire amount of your SSDI (there is a normally a clause in your LTD policy that states that you will receive a minimum monthly amount of $50-$100, even if your SSDI is greater than your LTD benefit). This is why you are required to apply for SSDI if you are approved for LTD benefits. If you are approved for SSDI, your LTD company will issue an overpayment and require you to repay any amount that you receive in SSDI for the same month that your received LTD benefits.

Most individuals that are approved for LTD benefits sign a form acknowledging that they are being paid at their full LTD rate, but informing them they will be responsible for repaying a SSDI offset if they are eventually approved for SSDI. Once you are approved for SSDI, the LTD company will request a copy of your SSDI Notice of Award, and will compute how much you should have received on a monthly basis in LTD payments if you had received your SSDI payments when they were actually due. You must repay the difference between what you should have been paid by the LTD company and what you were actually paid.

It is important to remember that you do not have to use the legal representative offered by your LTD company. You can hire your own attorney to help you with your SSDI application. I normally recommend that individuals contact their LTD carrier prior to hiring their own attorney. It is important that you receive a written statement from your LTD carrier indicating that if you are approved for SSDI, you will receive a credit for the attorney fee before the LTD overpayment is assessed. If you receive a credit for the SSDI attorney fee, you end up having the assistance of a private attorney for free.

Reasons why you should consider obtaining your own attorney.

• The attorney will work directly for you. They will not represent the interest of your LTD company in any direct way. They will not share information with your LTD company without your authorization.
• You get to choose someone that you are comfortable with. Most of the legal representatives used by LTD carriers are national companies. You normally work with a non-attorney during the SSDI process, and you cannot visit a local office of the person representing you. If you choose your legal representative, you can make sure that you are actually working with an attorney.
• If your LTD benefits are terminated, you may also lose the legal representative that your LTD company hired. The legal representative provided by the LTD company may have a primary responsibility to your LTD company and not to you. If you are no longer eligible for LTD benefits, your LTD company may not have an interest in continuing to pay for your legal representation for your SSDI application.
• National legal representatives do not have local knowledge. The companies used by LTD carriers may not be familiar with the nuances of the local Social Security offices and the Administrative Law Judges in your area. Since they do not represent a large number of individuals in your area, they do not approach your claim with the same unique knowledge that a local attorney has.
• You support your local community. A local attorney normally lives in the same community as you. The local attorney pays local taxes, and uses the money that they earn to help other local businesses prosper. By obtaining a local attorney, you help your own community, and you help the local attorney stay in business so that they can also be available to assist friends and family members with similar issues.

Why it is important to pursue SSDI while obtaining LTD benefits.

Although you are required to apply for SSDI based on your LTD policy that is not the only reason that you should pursue SSDI. There are several other advantages for you if you are approved for SSDI.

• You may be eligible for SSDI longer. Most LTD policies define you disabled for up to 24 months if you are unable to perform the duties of your past work, or if you are unable to work because of a mental illness. After 24 months, you are normally only entitled to continue to receive LTD payments if you have a physical condition that prevents you from performing any full-time work. If you are under the age of 50, you will only be approved for SSDI if you are able to establish that you are unable to perform all full-time work. However, you are entitled to continue to receive SSDI with no time limit even if you are found disabled and remain unable to work solely because of mental illness.
• Medicare Coverage. If you are approved for Social Security Disability, you also become eligible for Medicare after you receive SSDI for 24 months. The only way that you can receive Medicare before the age of 65, is if you are found disabled by the Social Security Administration and receive SSDI.
• SSDI is not reviewed as often. Once you are approved for SSDI, normally the Social Security Administration only reviews your SSDI eligibility every 3-5 years (sometimes longer). Depending on your condition, it is common for LTD companies to review your eligibility as frequently as every few months. I have represented many individuals that have lost their eligibility for LTD benefits while a SSDI claim was still being decided. Since the Social Security Administration reviews claims so infrequently, it is likely that you will remain eligible for SSDI longer than LTD.
• To remain eligible for SSDI coverage. SSDI has a recent work requirement in order to qualify for benefits. You have to have worked in 5 out of the last 10 years prior to becoming disabled in order to qualify for SSDI. If you wait to apply for SSDI for an extended period after you stop working, not only are you potentially losing past-due benefits from SSDI ( you can only receive past-due SSDI payments for a maximum of 12 months prior to your application date), but you also risk losing your SSDI insured status. That means that you may not ever be able to submit a new application for SSDI if you are denied on the first claim you file.
• You protect your Social Security earnings record. If you fail to apply for SSDI and you are unable to work for several years, each of those years will show up with no earnings in your Social Security Statement. This can cause your retirement benefits to be reduced. However if you are approved for SSDI, any year that you are disabled, a “disability freeze” is placed on your Social Security record. In other words, the Social Security Administration will remove any years that you disabled from your earnings statement, and your Social Security Retirement benefit amount will not continue to be reduced for every year that you are not working.

Keep your SSDI attorney advised of any changes in your LTD Benefits

If you are pursuing both LTD and SSDI, it is important to notify your attorney if you are also applying for LTD and if you approved for LTD. It is important to remember that even if you are awarded SSDI, the majority of money that you are awarded in past-due benefits will have to be paid back your LTD company. Your should provide copies of any forms that your doctors complete for your LTD company, to your SSDI attorney. A knowledgeable SSDI Attorney can help advise you of any other issues that you may encounter as you pursue both SSDI and LTD payments, and can provide you with instructions on what to do if you are approved for SSDI and you also received LTD payments.

This article was written by Steven Butler. Steven is a partner at Linarducci & Butler, PA and his practice is limited to Social Security Disability/SSI claims. Steven offers free initial consultations for Social Security Disability/SSI claims to residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To schedule a consultation with Steven, please use the Linarducci & Butler Contact Form or call 302-613-0707 to schedule an appointment.

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From my experience in Social Security Disability, I have learned that the Unions that represented employees at each of these plants had done a great job of protecting workers. Despite serious medical limitations, many employees were able to maintain their employment thanks to accommodations that were made for them. With the disappearance of the large manufacturing sector in Northern Delaware, is unlikely that many of these individuals will be able to obtain competitive work despite the skills they have acquired over their lifetime and their long work history. Even if many of these workers find alternative employment, without the protection of the Union, it will be more difficult for those with medical limitations to maintain work.

It is important that individuals age 50 and over consider Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits if they have become displaced because of a plant closing. If you are over the age of 50, the Social Security Administration Disability Regulations require that greater attention be paid to the work that you performed in the past. It is much more likely that an individual over the age of 50 will be approved for Social Security Disability Insurance if they have performed skilled physically demanding work in the past. The main consideration will be on whether you can perform the same type of work you did in the past. (If you are under 50 you are only disabled if you are unable to perform all full-time work).

Normally, individuals that have performed work on an automobile assembly line or at a refinery have a much better chance of being approved for disability benefits than individuals that have performed less physically demanding work. If you are experiencing difficulty finding work since you have become unexpectedly unemployed, it is important that you consider an application for disability benefits if you have a medical condition or conditions that limit your ability to perform work in any way.

My office is available for free consultations for individuals that have been displaced from manufacturing work and have been unable to obtain alternate employment because of physical or mental disabilities. It will be important that you are able to describe your physical and mental limitations, and that you can describe in simple terms how your condition limits your ability to sit, stand or lift. It is also important that you have regular medical treatment for your medical condition or conditions.

Social Security disability insurance is an entitlement program that you pay into when you are working and have taxes withheld from your paycheck. Unfortunately, many people that lose manufacturing jobs and are over the age of 50 do not recognize that they may qualify for these benefits. If you are considering collecting early retirement or you are unable to continue to work and are over the age of 50, I would strongly advise that you also determine if you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance.

Related Posts:

• Social Security Disability Insurance as an Alternative to Early Retirement
• Information Needed at Initial Consultation Appointment for Social Security Disability/SSI
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This article was written by Steven Butler. Steven is a partner at Linarducci & Butler, PA and his practice is limited to Social Security Disability/SSI claims. Steven offers free initial consultations for Social Security Disability/SSI claims to residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To schedule a consultation with Steven, please use the Linarducci & Butler Contact Form or call 302-613-0707 to schedule an appointment.

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President Barack Obama called for Congress to quickly pass an Economic Recovery Provision for 2010 that would extend a onetime payment of $250 to all individuals receiving Social Security Retirement, Disability and Supplemental Security Income Payments. Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael Astrue echoed support for this provision.

Although there will be no COLA for 2009, increases were announced for Substantial Gainful Activity and Quarters of Coverage. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for 2010 will be defined as earned income of $1,000 per month or more. Individuals that earn less than $1,000 per month can still potentially qualify for Disability Benefits despite working. Individuals that are already receiving Social Security Disability Insurance are able to work on a part-time basis as long as earned income does not exceed SGA.

In 2010, individuals must earn at least $1,120 to earn one Quarter of Coverage for Social Security purposes. To earn the maximum of 4 Quarters of Coverage for the year, an individual would need to make at least $4,480 of earned income in 2010. (Individuals must establish that they have at least 20 Quarters of Coverage in the last 10 years before becoming disabled to potentially qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance).

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on October 16, 2009 that Medicare Part B monthly premiums will also increase in 2010.

For individuals that are enrolled in Medicare in November 2009 and December 2009, Federal Law has a “hold harmless provision” that prevents an increase to Medicare Premiums if COLA is not large enough to cover increase of Part B Premium. This means that for most individuals currently receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits there will be no increase in Medicare premiums as long as Medicare eligibility and enrollment began no later than November 2009. Additional information about the “hold harmless provision” of the Social Security Act can be found at the Center for Medicare Advocacy Website. (For a detailed description of the 2010 Medicare Premium and Deductible increases, please see “CMS Announces 2010 Medicare Fact Sheet and Part B Premium Increase.”)

What you can do.

If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits, it is important that you contact your United States Senators and United States Representative to encourage them to support President Obama’s Economic Recovery Payment for 2010 so that you can qualify for a onetime payment of $250 in 2010. Delaware Residents should contact Senator Thomas Carper, Senator Edward Kaufman, and Representative Michael Castle and encourage each Congressman to support the Economic Recovery Payment for 2010.

If you are currently a client of Linarducci & Butler, PA, please contact our office with additional questions.

This article was written by Steven Butler. Steven is a partner at Linarducci & Butler, PA and his practice is limited to Social Security Disability/SSI claims. Steven offers free initial consultations for Social Security Disability/SSI claims to residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To schedule a consultation with Steven, please use the Linarducci & Butler Contact Form or call 302-613-0707 to schedule an appointment.

Relevant Links:

• Social Security October 15, 2009 Press Release
• Social Security 2010 Fact Sheet
• President Barack Obama’s Statement in Support of Extending Economic Recovery Payment to Social Security Recipients
• Center for Medicare Advocacy Description of Hold Harmless Clause of US Code
• CMS Announces 2010 Medicare Fact Sheet and Part B Premium Increase
• Contact Senator Tom Carper
• Contact Senator Edward Kaufman
• Contact Representative Michael Castle

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Social Security disability is an entitlement program. Money is withheld from your paycheck when you are working to support the Social Security Disability program. If you are age 50 or over and you have a strong work history (i.e. you have made more than $5,000 per year in five out of the last 10 years prior to your retirement, and you have worked at least 10 years in your lifetime), you probably are insured for Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability is not a welfare program, and you can only qualify if you have actually paid into the system and you have a strong work history. Even if you are already receiving early retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration, you can still file an application for Social Security Disability. Social Security Disability pays you at your full retirement rate and not at a reduced rate such as early retirement.

If you are between the ages of 50 and 54, generally in order to qualify for Social Security disability, you must establish that your medical condition will prevent you from performing your past work, and at most you can only perform a sit-down job that does not require any of the skills that you have obtained from previous work. If you are age 55 to 64, again you must establish that you are unable to perform your past work, but even if you can perform a job that requires standing six hours a day, and lifting up to 20 pounds of weight, as long as none of your skills from your previous work would allow you to obtain alternate employment, you are most likely disabled.

Social Security Disability should be considered for any individual over the age of 50 that decides (or has already decided) to stop work because of difficulty performing the job duties. Individuals that are engaged in physical demanding work, often experience aches and pains from years of physical exertion. Commonly factory workers, construction workers, pipefitters, welders, and other typical union employees experience various injuries over their lifetime that affect their ability to perform work. Although you may not qualify for benefits from your employers (or union) because of the wear and tear on your body, if you have a medical diagnosis that would limit your ability to perform the work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability.

Even if you have already retired, it is important to know your options. Our office is available to help anyone that has already retired or is considering their options. If you are between the ages of 50 and 64 and you have had to stop your work because of physical limitations, please contact our office for a free initial consultation. We will review the Social Security Disability program with you and help you determine if you qualify for benefits. These are benefits you have paid taxes into and it is important that you know your rights and your eligibility. If you qualify for Disability, you also become eligible for Medicare after being on the Social Security Disability Program for two years. If we determine that you qualify, our office can assist you with the application process and the completion of any forms. For further details please contact our office immediately.

This article was written by Steven Butler. Steven is a partner at Linarducci & Butler, PA and his practice is limited to Social Security Disability/SSI claims. Steven offers free initial consultations for Social Security Disability/SSI claims to residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. To schedule a consultation with Steven, please use the Linarducci & Butler Contact Form or call 302-613-0707 to schedule an appointment.

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