Colorado Springs Law Blog

Losing Social Security disability benefits can be alarming which is why disabled individuals should know how to fight back if they have lost their disability benefits. A 22-year old woman with a deadly disease recently learned that her Social Security disability benefits had been terminated. The woman lives with cystic fibrosis which causes serious lung damages and frequent infections. The woman receives medications and therapy 6 hours a day.

The woman was granted Social Security disability benefits as a result of her medical condition and also qualified for Medicaid as a result. The woman, however, received a letter in the past year that stated her health had improved since her last review and that she would no longer receive disability benefits. According to the woman, her health had actually worsened. Social Security disability benefits are periodically reviewed for eligibility.

Because waiting for Social Security disability benefits can have serious consequences for disabled individuals badly in need of the benefits, it is helpful for disabled applicants to be familiar with the application and appeals processes. Greater than 800,000 Americans are currently waiting for an appeals hearing for Social Security disability benefits. Unfortunately, thousands of disabled applicants die each year while they wait for benefits. One United States representative noted it was unacceptable for 10,000 disabled individuals to die while waiting for Social Security disability benefits.

A total of approximately 8.8 million disabled individuals rely on the safety net provided by Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration reports that the average wait time for an appeals hearing is 540 days. There has been a greater demand for benefits are baby boomers begin to age. Delayed SSD benefits have consequences.

Workers' compensation benefits are important benefits available to help workers with employment-related injuries and illnesses. Workers' compensation benefits are a type of benefit that is available to injured workers in the state of Colorado and is an insurance program paid by employers.

Workers' compensation disability benefits must be paid to injured workers to help them with injuries they suffer on the job. Workers' compensation is a no-fault system and most accidents, injuries and illnesses are covered by workers' compensation benefits. Workers' compensation benefits can help with necessary medical care the worker needs associated with their injury or illness; replacement income; vocational rehabilitation and costs or retraining; permanent disability; and survivors benefits for surviving loved ones when a worker is killed on the job in a fatal accident.

The availability of Social Security disability benefits is based on two important components. Those components include a medical requirement and a work history requirement and it is helpful for disabled applicants to be familiar with both.

Social Security disability is available to disabled individuals who suffer from a medical condition that is severe enough that it prevents them from working and is expected to last 12 months or longer or result in death. Essentially, SSD benefits are not available for short-term disability. To meet the medical history requirement, the Social Security Administration provides lists of medical conditions that can satisfy it including the Listing of Impairments.