Have you been hearing a lot of negative information in the news recently about Social Security?
It is important that every American have a right to defend him or herself when it comes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These benefits are crucial to many people, who live modestly and cannot work to support themselves. Your political leaders should be sticking up for you to make ends meet if you suffer from a disability.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is attempting to fight back against Social Security criticism by calling on people to defend the programs against political attacks. In a speech recently at the Center for American Progress, Brown said, “The debate over Social Security should not be how much we can cut from the program in order to balance the federal budget.”
According to the Columbus Dispatch Brown also said the “debate over Social Security should not be about raising the retirement age or limiting benefits. The debate over Social Security should be about retirement security.”
Brown urged politicians not to let “one piece of Social Security be picked off.”
Last year, Brown called for a raise in Social Security benefits to recipients, while proposing higher taxes to upper-income Americans. He claimed that conservative leaders are attempting to “privatize” benefits through negative attacks on the system.
As we have been blogging about recently, there is expected to be a lot of debate this summer over Social Security in preparation for the 2014 elections. When this occurs, you should keep in mind that most people who receive benefits live very humbly. In fact, it is estimated that many SSDI recipients live on as little as $17 per day.
How Do I Know If I Am Eligible for SSDI?
When people debate the merits of Social Security, they often do not understand how the programs work. For example, to qualify for SSDI you need to have earned work credits, so it is not the entitlement program many politicians make it out to be.
SSDI benefits are determined by how much you have paid into the system and for how long. For further information on qualifications, we suggest you visit our FAQ page. You can also visit our page that details the differences between the SSI and SSDI programs by clicking here.
If you have questions about applying for benefits, call us today. Remember, if your initial application is denied, you can seek the help of an attorney and request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
We offer free evaluations of your case. Contact us today to learn more about your rights.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security Disability lawyers
Troutman Touts: Social Security spending is expected to be around $846 billion this year.