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Social Security & Medical Assistance
May 19, 2021
Benefit Guidance from Our SSI Lawyer Serving Abilene & San Angelo, TX
Medical assistance programs provide health insurance for low-income individuals who otherwise could not afford adequate coverage. In the state of Texas, the two common examples of this are Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicare is also available for senior citizens over the age of 65 as well as some younger people with disabilities.
To qualify for such medical assistance programs, you must meet certain financial eligibility requirements. Because of this, it is understandable to have concerns about the impact that receiving social security income or disability benefits may have on your ability to qualify. The expert SSI lawyers here at the Law Office of Ty Groat can help individuals and families in the Abilene and San Angelo, TX area navigate this complex situation.
As a general rule, SSI
benefits will not affect your Medicaid eligibility, though SSD
might, depending on the type of Medicaid you receive. SSD benefits are typically higher than those of SSI and may push you above the acceptable income threshold.
Most states have a plan in place for this, however, commonly referred to as a "spenddown." If you have a spenddown, you will be responsible for paying some amount of your monthly medical expenses out of your own pocket before your Medicaid benefits take effect. The specific rules of a spenddown can be confusing, so it is recommended to consult with a knowledgeable social security disability attorney on such matters.
Another option is Medicaid "buy-in" programs. These allow disabled individuals who earn slightly too much to purchase Medicaid coverage at an affordable rate. This option is often reserved for people who are working some amount, though the requirement may be as low as a couple hours per month. If you choose to start working to pursue this course, be sure to consider how the additional income might impact your disability benefits.
One other thing to note is that it can take a very long time to get Medicaid coverage with a disability. Sometimes SSD benefits are paid with a large check upfront which causes income threshold issues. In many cases, SSD recipients do not become eligible for Medicaid until two years into the process.
If you have concerns over the particular details of your personal medical assistance situation, please contact
our office and schedule a consultation to speak with an experienced SSI attorney.
Law Office of Ty Groat is an SSI Lawyer serving the San Angelo, TX area. Click here to learn more about if SSI benefits are taxed!
Law Office of Ty Groat is an SSDI Lawyer serving the San Angelo, TX area. Click here to learn more about the benefits of hiring an SSDI attorney!
It's that one thing many people start to look forward to as they begin to age - retiring. Being able to slow down, relax, and do what you want to do day in and day out is the goal of many hard workers. When it comes to retirement benefits and receiving social security, it's important to be informed and make the best decision for you and your family. You can officially start collecting social security retirement benefits as early as 62 years old. However, the amount you receive will be lower than what you would receive at your full retirement age. Your full retirement age is based on the year you were born. If you wait until 70 years old, you will be able to receive your full benefits. In fact, you will receive credits for each month you delay filing for social security benefits meaning the longer you delay your retirement, the higher your payments will be.
If you believe you qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits, a qualified attorney can help you through the process. Whether you are applying or appealing a decision, let us help you!
The COVID pandemic has resulted in many unexpected educational drawbacks for young students. Thankfully, the Law Office of Ty Groat offers modern child welfare services.
If you are a federal employee, the social security lawyers at the Law Office of Ty Groat can help you understand your benefits to better plan for retirement.
If your application for social security disability has been denied, do not give up hope. Instead, work with our expert SSI lawyer to strengthen your claim!
If you are receiving social security, you may feel confused over the details and have some unanswered questions. Click here for the information you need about how going back to work will affect your benefits.
Social Security Disability (SSD) provides much needed benefits for those with long-term disabilities who are unable to work. If you have such a disability, you deserve to receive these benefits, but qualifying and applying for them may be difficult without the help of an experienced SSI attorney. SSD is different from any retirement benefits or Social Security benefits you may qualify for. While you need to be a certain age to receive retirement benefits, SSD benefits require you to have a long-term disability which makes it impossible for you to work. The general term as viewed by the Social Security Administration is a year. The following are some conditions which usually qualify a person for SSD benefits: • Fibromyalgia • HIV/AIDS • Crohn’s Disease • Multiple Sclerosis • Epilepsy • Parkinson’s Disease This is not an exhaustive list, but you can get a better idea of what kinds of conditions might qualify you for SSD benefits. Short term disabilities, on the other hand, tend to last only weeks or months. While the severity may be just as high, there is not the same longevity. Conditions like pregnancy, broken bones, surgeries, etc. The best way to determine if you qualify for SSD is to speak with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer like the ones at the Law Office of Ty Groat. We can help you understand if you qualify and what medical testing, records, and information you will need to apply for the benefits. Just as importantly, we can guide you every step of the way and make sure you receive the benefits you deserve, even if you’ve been rejected before. We understand this process can be complex and confusing, and many people have been denied simply because they don’t understand the procedure. Call our office today to speak with our Social Security lawyer; we serve those in Abilene, TX and the surrounding areas who need an SSDI lawyer.
Unemployment insurance and Social Security Disability are two types of financial support that are available to eligible workers. Based on the nature of these programs and criteria for eligibility, you cannot receive both of these supports. Below, we’ll review these to help give you a better idea of which you are eligible for. Unemployment Insurance Unemployment insurance is a protection in place that provides funds to those who have lost their job through no fault of their own. This is a state-run program, so you must meet the requirements set by the Texas Workforce Commission. In order to be eligible in Texas, there must be an accepted form of job separation. There are several different circumstances that fall under this category. If you have been laid off, furloughed, or had your work hours reduced. Those who have been fired or who have quit their job are generally not eligible for unemployment insurance, but there are some exceptions to the rule. If you were not fired due to misconduct or left your job due to safety condition concerns, major changes in your hiring agreement, or a similar scenario, you may still be eligible to receive benefits. The amount of money you receive each month depends on your wages from your last job, so it will vary for everyone. It’s important to note that unemployment is limited. Generally, Texas allows for 26 weeks of unemployment, and during that period, you should be able to prove that you are actively looking for new employment. Some situations may allow for extended benefits. Social Security Disability (SSDI) Social Security Disability is for those who meet the government’s definition of disabled who are unable to work for a year or more. There are short-term and long-term conditions for SSDI. In general, you must not be currently working due to one of the conditions established by the government, and the condition must be severe enough that you are deemed unable to work, unable to adjust to your work, and unable to continue to work in another field with your condition. Outside of this, you must also have worked a job that is covered by SSDI. This generally means any job where you had taxes come out of your paycheck for benefits such as Social Security. Applying for and being accepted for SSDI benefits is not a simple task. Unfortunately, many applicants are turned away who meet all criteria. If you feel you have been wrongly denied SSDI, you will need a Social Security attorney to assist you. The Law Office of Ty Groat is a Social Security lawyer and Social Security Disability lawyer with the knowledge and determination needed to assist you in earning your benefits. If you live in or around San Angelo, TX or Abilene, TX, contact our SSDI lawyer.
