Living with a disability could be difficult for any person. Many disabled individuals choose to seek compensation from the Social Security Administration to manage their illness or injury. However, if you are near retirement age, you may be concerned about whether retirement benefits or Social Security disability benefits are the best options for you. If you or a family member is concerned about obtaining disability benefits after retirement, it is recommended that you consult with a Fayetteville, AR disability lawyer as soon as possible. It is understandable to be confused about how SSDI benefits may apply to your situation, and we are here to address your concerns. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, explains whether you could be awarded disability benefits after retiring in Arkansas.
Applying for Disability After Retirement in Arkansas
If a person becomes disabled after retiring or while close to their retirement age, they may wonder whether they could change their potential retirement benefits to disability benefits. Fortunately, you may have some options depending on the circumstances of your case.
If you are approaching the age of retirement, and you are worried that a disability may prevent you from working, you may consider early retirement as your primary option to handle this issue. However, you should also consider whether applying for early retirement benefits or choosing to seek SSDI benefits would be the best move for your unique situation, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict requirements for switching retirement benefits for disability benefits.
A worker could apply for early retirement benefits when they reach the age of 62. Note, however, that if you opt to receive retirement benefits before your full retirement age, the monthly amount of your benefit will be decreased. Specifically, if a person successfully applies for early retirement benefits before they reach the full retirement age of 65, they will only be awarded 80% of the monthly amount. It is also important to note that a person can wait to apply for retirement benefits until they reach the age of 70.
Alternatively, if you successfully apply for disability benefits over early retirement benefits, you would be able to receive the total amount of your monthly payments, instead of only 80%. The full benefits received by filing for disability benefits will be carried over once you reach your full retirement age. As a result, proving your disability before your retirement age will allow you to gain increased benefits.
If you’d like to learn more about applying for disability benefits in Arkansas, contact our dedicated and experienced Harris, AR disability attorney as soon as possible. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, is here to help you weigh your options for claiming benefits for your disability.
Can You Qualify for Disability Benefits Afte Retiring in Arkansas?
Applying for disability benefits in Arkansas is a long and often complicated process that could be extremely stressful for an applicant. Many initial applications for disability benefits are denied by the SSA, which could be worrying for an applicant that would like an alternative to claiming early retirement benefits. Our firm could help you get started on applying for SSDI benefits or could help you reapply if your initial disability application was denied in Arkansas.
The SSA has implemented a multi-step process in order to determine whether a person is eligible to receive disability benefits. The initial step of this process examines the applicant’s employment status and the amount of money the applicant earns per month. If you, as the applicant, earn over a certain amount each month, they would be unable to claim benefits. In 2020, the threshold for $1,260 per month for disabilities other than blindness and $2,110 for a blind applicant.
Next, the SSA will check whether the applicant’s condition was severe, which means that it likely affects the applicant’s daily routine and their capability of performing tasks at work. The following is a list of conditions that qualify for disability benefits in Arkansas and could make a person eligible:
- Amputations
- Bone fractures
- Burn injuries
- Cancer
- Cerebral palsy
- Chronic liver disease
- Down Syndrome
- HIV/AIDS
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
This is not an exhaustive list. Additionally, if you have an equivalent impairment to a disability listed by the SSA, this may be enough to claim benefits.
The SSA will also be concerned about the previous work performed by the applicant and whether the applicant could perform any other type of work with their condition. If the applicant’s disability prevents them from holding their former job or similar employment, this will increase the chances of being awarded disability benefits.
Determining whether to apply for retirement benefits or disability benefits is a big decision, and Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, is here to help you examine which option would be best for you.
Contact Our Experienced Arkansas Disability Benefits Lawyer to Discuss Your Retirement Plans
If you or a member of your family is having difficulty applying for disability benefits in Arkansas, it is essential to work with a Greenland, AR disability benefits lawyer that is experienced in the field. Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, possesses over 20 years of experience handling a variety of disability benefits for many clients, and he would be honored to use his knowledge to help you apply for the benefits you deserve. You do not have to go through the difficult process of applying for disability benefits alone. If you are interested in scheduling a free consultation to discuss the details of your retirement disability case, call Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law today at (479) 316-0438, or contact us through our online form.