Disability solutions for you and your family

Photo of attorneys Jonathan P. Gardberg and Colin Edward Kemmerly

Applying for Social Security Disability Online – A Cautionary Tale

by | Jul 24, 2014 | Social Security Disability |

You can apply for Social Security disability online through the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov. It’s a great way to avoid timely delays you may encounter when scheduling an appointment that may reach a month or more into the future. However, ne particularly important caveat you should know about applying online – you cannot apply for SSI online.

There are two major types of benefits that most people apply for:

· Disability Insurance Benefits (Title II or SSD), which are based on your earnings history, and

· Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a needs-based program. Filing for SSI is particularly important if your earnings history is sparse or if your income has been low. SSI is also the gateway through which you may qualify for Medicaid. The start date for your SSI benefits and for Medicaid is controlled by your application date. This is why it is so important to file for SSI as soon as possible.

So what does this mean if you are applying online? Unfortunately, applying online may mean that you are not applying for all of the benefits you are entitled to. An experienced Social Security attorney can help you determine whether you have filed the appropriate applications.

Social Security online benefits may not be the BEST option for you because you do not have the availability to apply for SSI. You can go in person to your local Social Security Office or call 1-800-772-1213 and schedule an appointment.

Make sure to tell your attorney if you applied for benefits online; it may be an important piece of the overall puzzle as he or she is helping you obtain the best disability benefits possible. Keep copies of your confirmations as proof of your filings. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for additional help to ensure that you are filing the correct applications.

Archives

Client Testimonials

Mr. Gardberg – I am forever in your debt. I will never be able to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for me. I praise you and your firm for all they did to help me in my disability case. Thanks for being so kind.

– L. Nelson

Saying thank you is easy, but you will never know how you impacted my life by helping me with me Social Security disability case. This thank you comes right from the heart.

– R. Turner

Thank you, thank you , thank you to all of the angels in the law firm at Gardberg and Kemmerly. I sincerely hope you know how much you did to make my life better.

– D. Thompson

FindLaw Network