Important Benefits Questions for a Social Security Lawyer

Q: Social Security says they paid me too much. What happens next?
A: Any social security lawyer will tell you that you have a few different options when you are told that you have been overpaid. The first thing you can do is request a reconsideration from Social Security. This is generally what you should do if you believe that the SSA is incorrect in defining you as overpaid. In this case, Social Security will look over your file again. If you meet with them, you may want to take a social security lawyer along, just in case.
If you do not believe that the SSA made a mistake when they calculated your overpayment, you can ask them to waive the overpayment. When you request a payment waiver, you acknowledge that you were given too much money, but would like to be exempt from paying it back. This is the course of action a social security lawyer might suggest if the overpayment was due to Social Securitys mistake, not yours.
If, on the other hand, you believe that you were overpaid due to your own mistake, you will probably need to pay the money back. A social security lawyer will tell you that your best option is to speak to the SSA about scheduling payments. With a schedule, you can pay bit by bit instead of all at once. Dont know whether to choose the first, second, or third option? Speak to a social security lawyer.
Q: Is somebody who is legally blind eligible for Social Security Disability?
A: According to Social Security, "legally blind" means your vision cannot be corrected to more than 20/200. And just as with most other disabilities, the legally blind are eligible for benefits in many cases. While you may want to speak with a social security lawyer about your specific case, in general you can look over the guidelines for eligibility under any other disability to determine whether you may be eligible.
In general, the legally blind are treated by Social Security in the exact same way as other disable persons. But some special benefits are set aside for the legally blind, as this condition is particularly disabling. If you are legally blind, you may want to speak to a social security lawyer about any extra benefits you may be eligible for.
Q: A friend told me that everybody has to wait until theyve been disabled one year to apply. Is this true?
A: You do not have to wait 12 months to apply for benefits. The SSA defines a SSD eligible disability as one that keeps you from earning a substantial gainful income. In the "small print" it goes on to say that your disability either needs to be fatal, or to have lasted or be expected to last one year or more. Those that dont work with a social security lawyer often take this to mean they have to wait until theyve been disabled 12 months to apply. But a social security lawyer will tell you to apply right away.