SSD

vs. ssi

TRUSTED HELP,

PROVEN SUCCESS.

WHY HAVING REPRESENTATION

IS ESSENTIAL

As you probably know,

navigating government

bureaucracy can be both

tedious and frustrating. When

you are doing so as a means of

obtaining funds and support to

help sustain you and your

family, the convoluted steps

involved in the process can

add unnecessary stress. This

is where having an experienced,

compassionate disability

advocate on your side can make

all the difference. At GD Group

we have committed ourselves to

making this process easier for

you even if you have applied

before. Once you become our

client, we will clarify in simple

terms what you can expect,

obtain all necessary medical

and supportive evidence, as

well as stand up for you in

your dealings with the

government. We understand

how much is at stake for you

and your loved ones and we

will fight tirelessly for you to

obtain the benefits you deserve.

Our mission is clear – every

client matters – and we take

that position seriously.

HOW SSD AND SSI ARE FUNDED

SSD is funded through payroll

taxes. All workers make

contributions, deducted from

their paychecks to the Social

Security trust fund as part of

the FICA Social Security taxes.

In order to be eligible for SSD,

candidates must be, with rare

exceptions: between the ages

of 18 and 65 and to have earned

the requisite number of work

credits during their working

years. Once the disabled

individual has been receiving

SSD for two years, he or she

becomes eligible for Medicare.

Also, working to your advantage

if you’re applying of SSI, once

you qualify for benefits you will

receive retroactive payments

back to the time you first

became disabled depending on

how soon you file your

application. The benefit

amount each month will be

based on your previous earnings

record and are, therefore,

specific to each person. In

addition to the monthly amount

and potential back-pay awarded,

recipients may also receive

Medicare coverage once awarded

SSD. SSI, unlike SSD, is funded

by general taxes rather than

from the Social Security trust

fund. Those who qualify for SSI

are usually eligible for Medicaid

and food stamps as well. While

it may take months to receive

your first SSI check, you may

receive retroactive payments

as far back as the month after

your SSI application was

submitted.

FILING FOR BENEFITS

There are a number of ways to

file for SSD or SSI benefits. You

can go to one of the SSA offices

local to you, by telephone (at

800-772-1213), and online (at

ssa.gov).  An experienced

disability advocate in Michigan

familiar with what is required,

can help you navigate the

process from start to finish so

that you don’t have to worry

about missing critical

paperwork or deadlines. One

of our skilled representatives,

who specialize in disability

benefits, can assist you in

preparing and submitting your

application so that you enter

the process confident and calm.

Many people trying to handle

this procedure on their own

only to experience the extreme

inconvenience of having to

return to the SSA office on

another day because they are

missing a required piece of

information or for more details

that could have been avoided.

 Much of the information you

will have to present includes

details about the condition that

 has disabled you. This means

you will have to submit your

medical or psychiatric diagnosis,

a list of doctors who have

treated you (along with their

contact information), hospitals

and clinics you have visited,

prescribed medications you are

taking, and any other relevant

medical data.  Additionally, for

SSD and SSI, you may have to

provide records of income

-producing work you have done,

such as pay stubs and tax forms.

Having a disability advocate

with you along the way can

alleviate the stress of

compiling evidence as well

as communicating with the

government in following-up

on your claim.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE BOTH

SSD AND SSI AT THE SAME TIME?

In some situations, it is

possible to receive both SSD

and SSI simultaneously — a

process commonly referred to

as “concurrent benefits.” To

receive concurrent benefits,

you must be approved for SSD

with a low monthly benefit

amount and determined to still

be in need of further public

assistance under the criteria

established for SSI outlined

above. In some cases, even

higher wage earners whose SSD

amount is too high to allow for

monthly SSI payments, may be

entitled to SSI payments for a

period of time in the past –

referred to as retroactive pay

or back-pay during a time they

were considered disabled. An

experienced disability advocate,

well-versed in the differences

between the two programs, can

help you understand your

circumstances to maximize what

you may be entitled to so that

you don’t lose out on benefits

owed to you.

BENEFITS YOU DESERVE

At GD Group, our entire staff

is welcoming and supportive.

We always take your concerns

seriously and respond promptly

to your questions and updates.

No one should feel alone in

seeking assistance needed and

deserved, especially with so

much at stake. We are available

to help answer your questions

about the process and help you

at every stage.

CONTACT

Stop by and experience

exceptional service at any of our

convenient locations! Whether

you're nearby or on the go, our

friendly team is ready to assist

you with everything you need.

We look forward to welcoming you

and making your visit a great one.

 

We've helped clients in: Wayne

County, Oakland County, Macomb

County,Ingham County, Eaton

County, Genessee County, Isabella

County, Kent County, Kalamazoo

County, and Calhoun County,

as well as Toledo and Cleveland.