Finding reliable social security disability information online can be challenging. Here are five top resources to help you navigate the web to reliable information.
If you find yourself needing to apply for social security disability insurance (SSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI), you likely have many questions.
- Am I really disabled enough to qualify?
- How long will it take to begin receiving benefits, and how much will I get?
- What do I do if my application is denied?
Not knowing what to expect is stressful. And when you’re worried not only about your health, but how you will pay the bills while you are unable to work, you don’t need any additional stress.
But where can you go for answers? In addition to the information on this site, here are five more websites that will give you a better understanding of the SSDI and SSI process.
Social Security Administration: Benefits for People with Disabilities
For information on SSDI and SSI, head straight to the source – the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Disability page. The page contains a wealth of information written in straightforward, easy to understand language. Fact sheets, downloadable publications and videos supplement the site’s content and help explain, among other things:
- The differences between SSDI and SSI;
- Eligibility criteria for each benefits program;
- The disability determination process;
- How financial need is determined for SSI, and;
- The disability claims process.
In addition, the site has a benefits eligibility screening tool that helps determine what benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Homepage
Another SSA website, the SSI Homepage provides detailed information on the SSI program, including the application process, disability and financial eligibility criteria, what counts as income and resources when determining financial eligibility, and information on transfer of resources.
Social Security Administration – Chicago Region
SSDI and SSI applications are reviewed by a field agent with disability determination services. If you live in Palatine or the Chicagoland area, your application will be handled by the SSA’s Chicago regional office. Their site has contact information for local offices, links to area work incentive coordinators, who provide employment assistance to SSDI and SSI recipients who wish to work, information on the appeals process and links to state resources in the six states that comprise the Chicago Region – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Social Security Disability Resource Center
Written by Tim Moore, a former disability determination services claims examiner in North Carolina, Social Security Disability Resource Center guides readers through the SSDI and SSI process from start to finish. In addition to giving readers a thorough overview of each benefits program and the application and disability determination processes, as a former claims examiner, Mr. Moore provides tips and advice on common mistakes made throughout the process and how to avoid them in order to increase your chances of approval.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a national policy organization that conducts research and analysis on proposed budget and tax policies. Its goal is to help ensure legislators and policymakers keep the needs of low-income Americans in mind when drafting legislation that deals with these two issues. The Center publishes fact sheets and policy statements of its research, including a brief, but thorough, review of the SSI program, from its inception to present day, including statistics on the number of Americans who receive SSI and an explanation on the difference between SSI and social security.
We hope these resources prove valuable to you.
Neil H. Good has over 25 years of experience working on Social Security Disability cases. For a free case evaluation contact us online or call #(847) 577-4476. Remember, there is no fee unless we win.
