Tucson Social Security Disability Blog

Can I Apply For SSI Online?

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Traditionally, a claimant could only apply for SSDI benefits on the internet. If that claimant wanted to also seek SSI benefits, she had to check a box on her SSDI application. Social Security would then, in theory at least, get back to her and take the SSI application.

A Welcome Change

Due to a recent change, however, claimants can now apply for SSI online.  Not only is this more convenient, it also avoids potential pitfalls.  In the past, many people simply missed the box that indicated they wanted to apply for SSI. These claimants assumed they had applied for all the benefits to which they were entitled. But, failing to apply for SSI can be a big problem.  In some cases, it can mean that an applicant gets no benefits at all, despite being disabled. This could occur, for example, if the applicant’s date last insured was at some point in the distant past.

So, There Is Another Use For The Internet

Note The Requirements To Apply Online

This is a welcome change and should make the process of applying for Social Security disability benefits easier and more uniform.

You can apply online if you:

■ Are between the ages of 18 and 65;
■ Have never been married;
■ Aren’t blind;
■ Are a U.S. citizen residing in one of the fifty states, District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands; and
■ Haven’t applied for or received disability or SSI benefits in the past.

What Are You Waiting For?

The most notable of these requirements is that the person has not applied for nor received Social Security benefits in the past. Many claimants have applied for SSI three, five, or even ten times. Others are trying to get their benefits back after an interruption.  I am not sure why Social Security included this requirement. Perhaps they will drop it at some point.

Remember that no matter how you apply for disability benefits, be sure to follow up with Social Security if you have not heard from them within a month of applying. 

As always, I welcome your questions and concerns. If you have applied for SSI online, how did it go? Let me know.

Hearing scheduled? Call Today.

If Social Security has scheduled your disability case to be heard by one of their judges, call me immediately. Unlike many large law firms, I can move quickly to get your case ready to be won.

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About The Author

Since 1992, I have been helping the people of Southern Arizona get the benefits they are due. Before devoting all my efforts to assisting people with Social Security disability claims, I also handled such complex lawsuits as medical malpractice and products liability. I brought to my Social Security cases all the skills and attention to detail that I developed in the courtroom. I approach each Social Security disability case as if it were a million-dollar lawsuit. For the people trying to get Social Security benefits, their claim is every bit as important. Because I have personally handled so many Social Security cases, I have refined the skills I need to win your case for you. I have helped people win cases for every kind of ailment from arthritis to valley fever. At present, I am focused on helping those persons with neurological and orthopedic disorders. Because claims for people over age fifty bring additional complications, I particularly seek out those cases to work on. I regularly write about back and spine conditions on my blog. I actively seek out the latest information about orthopedic and neurological disorders to ensure I can represent my clients as effectively as possible. Because of my current focus, I regret that I am not able to take any cases for mental disorders. If you are over age fifty and suffer from any orthopedic or neurological disorder, please contact me at once.