Applying For Disability With No Insurance

Do you need to have health insurance already in place before you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? This is good question, but in reality the two issues are unrelated and you do not have to have health insurance, or even other types of disability insurance in order to apply for disability benefits.

Who is Eligible for Social Security Disability?

SSDI benefits are payable to someone who:

• Is an adult who cannot work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death
• Can pass a "recent work" and a "duration of work" test which tells Social Security that prior to your disability, you have worked a minimum amount of time that is acceptable based on your age
• Paid Social Security taxes while you worked

Under certain conditions, your spouse who is older than 62 can also receive benefits based on your work history. Children who are disabled and adult, unmarried children who had a disability that began before they turned 22 can also collect on your disability.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to people who have a low income and are disabled, blind or age 65 or older. You do not have to have separate insurance to qualify for SSI.

Apply For Benefits Early

As soon as you become disabled, Social Security recommends you file your claim because for the most part this is a process that takes months to complete, and there is a waiting period of 5 months from the date Social Security says your disability began to when you are eligible to receive payments, so even if you were to be approved immediately for a disability that began in January, it would be August before you got a check. Social Security pays monthly in arrears, which means that you are paid each month for the previous month.

When you are disabled and unable to work, you obviously have no income and even if you had health insurance prior to your disability you might be unable to continue to pay the premiums. It is essential that you face reality, and apply for your benefits as soon as you realize the seriousness of your medical condition.

Compassionate Allowances

Compassionate Allowances is a relatively new program that has been instituted to expedite the approval process for those adults and children who have a medical diagnosis of a disease that Social Security recognizes almost always results in a benefits approval. There are currently over 80 serious medical conditions on this list (including ALS, many forms of cancer, and more recently early-onset Alzheimer's), which allows people who need the help the most to receive it as quickly as possible.

Legal Help Is Available

There are many competent, caring attorneys who specialize in helping people like you obtain their rightful Social Security Disability benefits. They can answer your questions, help fill out and file forms, make sure your file is complete and assist you with any appeals should that become necessary. Talk to an attorney today and start the process to get the benefits you need and deserve.