Noteboom The Law Firm

Is the CLASS Act a Replacement for Social Security Disability Benefits?

In the midst of controversy over President Obama's signing of the new health care bill, there are provisions buried within the bill that many Americans are unaware of. One of them is the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS).

The CLASS Act was designed to work like Social Security. Premiums are deducted from paychecks; however, workers can opt out since this is a voluntary program. Workers who enroll in this program would become eligible for benefits after a 5 year "vesting" period. The CLASS Act would help provide support and services for those needing long-term disability care.

It is estimated that 10 million Americans are unable to perform daily living tasks on their own and require some assistance. These are not people who reside in a nursing home or other assisted-living facility but are part of the "outside" community. The CLASS Act is designed to help cover some of the non-medical costs that Medicare or Medicaid doesn't cover.

There have been questions raised whether this program is worth it. Many lawmakers wonder if it will pay for itself. There is concern that premiums could end up being very high which would turn away healthy people. This could create an imbalance in the risk potential, causing the premiums to end up going even higher.

If you are interested in learning about the differences between these benefits and Social Security benefits, contact a lawyer with Social Security disability experience. If you're currently disabled and in need of immediate assistance, a disability attorney can talk to you about your options for benefit programs and how to build a winning claim. 

The Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia represent more than 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your case. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.