Suffering a severe injury can change your life, as can going on long-term disability. While much of your daily life changes when you go on long term disability, it doesn’t have to keep you from traveling. You must, however, take a few steps before you travel while on long term Social Security disability to prevent losing your benefits. Continue reading to learn more about what you’ll have to do to be able to travel while on long term disability and how Fayetteville, AR disability lawyer Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, can help you with your SSDI claim.
Receiving Social Security Disability Payments While Traveling
You can travel, both domestically and abroad, while on long term disability. Citizens of the United States can continue to receive SSDI benefits while they are traveling outside of the United States as long as they qualify for disability benefits.
However, there are limits on the countries that citizens can visit and the amount of time they can spend outside of the country. If you travel to a Restricted Country, your payments will be withheld while you are there and will be restored when you return to the United States. They cannot be sent to anyone else or you. Restricted Countries include North Korea, Cambodia, Cuba, and certain parts of the former Soviet Union. When traveling to non-restricted countries, United States citizens will continue to receive benefits if they travel there for 30 days or less. If they are gone for more than 30 days, their SSDI coverage will be suspended but restored when they return to the United States.
Tips for Traveling While on Long-Term SSDI
Most of the time, long term disability shouldn’t affect your ability to travel, but there are some tips you can follow to make the most of your time while traveling.
Get Treatment Before You Leave
To make the most of your time while traveling, you should get any medical treatment that you need before you leave for your trip. Receiving medical treatment can be difficult in other countries, especially if there is a language barrier or a discrepancy with your insurance coverage. Make sure you schedule all of your necessary appointments before you leave and that you are in a healthy state when you embark.
Report Any Changes to Your Life
If your travel coincides with any changes to your living arrangements or family, you must report it to the Social Security Administration. If, for example, you’re traveling to adopt a child or get married, you should make the Social Security Administration aware of it as soon as possible. You should always alert the Social Security Administration if there are any of the following changes to your life: marriage, divorce, annulment, adoption of a child, a child leaving your care, a child becoming disabled or a full-time student, changing your address, changing your parental circumstances, being deported or removed from the United States, experiencing a change in monthly wages, or changing your work status.
Getting Long-Term Disability Benefits in Arkansas
It’s essential to understand how you can get long term disability benefits through the Social Security Administration before you consider traveling on disability.
Qualifying for SSDI In Arkansas
To qualify for Social Security benefits in Arkansas, you must have a condition that meets the definition of disability set by the Social Security Administration. You can find out if your disability meets the criteria for requiring benefits by consulting the Listing of Impairments, also known as the “Blue Book,” which is a listing of disabilities that qualify for SSDI benefits. Having a certain condition does not necessarily qualify you for SSDI benefits; the condition must meet a certain level of severity.
Conditions That Qualify for SSDI Benefits
There are different versions of the Listing of Impairments for adults and children. For adults, conditions that qualify for SSDI benefits in Arkansas include the following conditions and disorders: musculoskeletal disorders (spinal disorders, amputations), problems with special senses and speech (loss of vision, speech, or hearing), respiratory system disorders (asthma, cystic fibrosis), cardiovascular system disorders (heart disease, chronic heart failure), digestive system disorders (chronic liver disease and liver transplants), kidney malfunction (impaired renal function, blood (anemia and sickle cell disease), skin (dermatitis and burns), the endocrine system (diabetes and thyroid disorders), congenital conditions (Down Syndrome), malignant neoplastic disease (various types of cancer), immune disorders (HIV and arthritis), and neurological disorders (epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis) and mental disorders (schizophrenia).
Note that this list isn’t comprehensive. Consult the Listing of Impairments for more information about which conditions qualify for SSDI benefits.
The Disability Determination Process
If you sign up for SSDI benefits, you’ll have to go through the disability determination process. The first step is considering whether you are engaged in a substantial gainful activity (also known as SGA)—if you exceed a certain amount of income, you’ll be ineligible. Secondly, the SSA will consider whether your condition or impairment is severe enough and whether your ability to work is affected by your disability. Your ability to do both your old job and other types of work are taken into account when determining whether or not you can qualify for benefits.
Contact Arkansas Social Security Disability Attorney Ken Kieklak If You Are Traveling with Long-Term SSDI
Don’t allow your long term disability to keep you from being able to travel if you need to do so. For assistance with your Social Security claims, use the legal services of Farmington, AR disability attorney Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law. With decades of experience, Ken Kieklak is prepared to help people throughout the state with their disability claims. To learn more or to set up a free and confidential consultation, contact Ken by calling (479) 316-0438.