Tucson Social Security Disability Blog

A Senate Bill Would Eliminate The 5-Month Waiting Period For Social Security Disability Benefits

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Even when Social Security does approve people for disability, a few unpleasant surprises await. One is that Social Security does not pay benefits for the first five months of a person’s disability. In addition, a person has to be disabled for 24 months before becoming eligible for Medicare. The 24 month countdown begins after the 5-month waiting period expires.  A person who was just found disabled, thus, could have to wait for 5 full months to see any money. That person could also be looking at 29 months before getting Medicare.

Just Can’t Wait

If you have a disease that progresses very rapidly, such wait times might mean you never get any benefit at all from Social Security.  Even if your disabling condition is chronic, you might have to wait almost two and a half years to get Medicare and start seeing doctors who can assist. This setup is a poor one that does more harm than good.

To Change What I Can

A Good Idea Around Here Is DOA

Fortunately, a group of members of Congress is trying to change that. Senators Brown of Ohio and Casey of Pennsylvania have introduced a bill that would eliminate the 5-month waiting period. The proposed legislation would phase out the 24-month time frame for the disabled to get Medicare. This is such a good idea that it is probably doomed. Congress can find all the money in the world for idiotic boondoggles all around the world. But, when it comes time to aid disabled Americans, the bank account is empty.

A Fool’s Errand?

While it is likely a fool’s errand, contact your Senator and ask him or her to support this bill. All the following organizations are behind it:

The Arc of the United States, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Center for Medicare Advocacy, Families USA, Justice in Aging, Medicare Rights Center, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), National Association of Council on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), The National Council, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Disability Institute (NDI), National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the Social Security Task Force of the Consortium of Citizens for Disabilities (CCD), Strengthen Social Security Coalition, and Social Security Works.

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.