Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyers Blog
There is no question that applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits can be a long and difficult process, especially for the claimant who is not represented by experienced disability counsel. Once a claimant finally gets declared disabled and is deemed eligible for Social Security benefits, he she will obviously depend on those benefits to make ends meet and help take care of his or her family. If those benefits were to stop being deposited in claimant’s bank account without warning, that would not only be inconvenient, but could subject a claimant to a significant hardship.
According to a recent news article form Kiro 7 News, thousands of Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries were shocked to discover the monthly direct deposit for their disability benefits was not made last month. The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) has stated that there was some kind of problem with the Supplemental Security Income benefits payment file.
One claimant interviewed as part of the article has said she has been constantly calling her bank to see if her check has been deposited. She waits for the money anxiously as her overdue bills are starting to accrue. She learned that her checking account had less than one dollar. This particular disability benefits claimant has severe epilepsy. While she has medication to control her seizure disorder, the medication itself causes her hands to shake uncontrollably. This condition is exacerbated by anxiety, and the fact that she cannot pay her rent is only making things worse.
SSA has attempted to show that problem is not widespread, since over 8 million Americans got their benefits on time, and just under 19,000 people were affected by the problem with the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment file issue. While this may seem like a drop in the bucket in terms of actual numbers, to the nearly 19,000 who are without benefits, this is an unbearable problem.
However, SSA has said that it has isolated the problem in the payment file, and those who did not receive their Supplemental Security Income benefits on time should be receiving a direct deposit in the next week. While the vast majority of claimants receive their benefits via a direct deposit to their respective checking accounts, there are still a few disability benefits recipients who choose to receive a paper check each month. For these few claimants, they should be receiving a check in the mail a few days after the electronic deposits are made.
It should be noted that this program (SSI) is designed to assist disabled children who live in low-income households and their families, as well as blind Americans and disabled elderly claimants. The program has strict income guidelines, unlike the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which is not tied to income but does require a claimant to have a substantial work history. However, every situation is different, as the facts are never the same, and you should speak with a Boston disability benefits attorney about the facts of your actual disability claim.
If you or a loved one is seeking Social Security Disability Insurance benefits in Boston, call for a free and confidential appointment at (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
Thousands of SSI recipients find their bank accounts missing monthly payment, December 2, 2015, Kiro 7 News, by News Desk
More Blog Entries:
Social Security Disability Claims Process, Jan. 23, 2015, Boston Social Security Disability Insurance Lawyer Blog