Noteboom The Law Firm

Count on Long Wait Times When Dealing with the SSA

If you have dealt with the Social Security Administration recently, you know how backed up the system is right now. Unfortunately, most people who apply for some financial support need it right away. They often have to rely on food banks, local churches, and the charity of loved ones for lodging, food, and other necessities.

This is why planning is important before you depend completely on money from SSA disability or SSI checks. If you are struggling to work full time and are considering quitting and applying for Social Security benefits, you should save as much money as you can before this occurs, as you will likely not be approved for nearly a year.  (It should be noted however, that there are two types of Social Security disability benefits and SSI is income contingent. If you only qualify for the SSI program, any assets you have may be used to determine your eligibility.)

In fact, even when you are approved, you will probably experience long wait times, typically much longer than officials tell you. It seems when it comes to the SSA, you can count on unexpected delays happening almost all the time. For this reason, you should count on most services taking about three times longer than officials estimate. This rule of thumb applies to the following cases in particular:

• When you are waiting on approval for SSI or SSDI
• When have been approved and are waiting for payments to begin
• When you have been approved for back payments and await the start of those

While some people claim that the long wait periods mean that SSA officials lied, that is not always the case. In fact, most payments need to be processed through a separate payment center before you will see any money, so backups at the center can also cause longer waits. Such issues are out of the hands of the SSA.

The bottom line is to have a backup plan if possible, because if the person you contact at the SSA says your payments will be in your account by next month, it will likely actually take three months. If you have questions or would like someone on your side to keep your updated on your case, contact a lawyer.

If you or your loved one are suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The disability lawyers at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.