Social Security Disability provides financial benefits to those disabled due to a serious illness or injury. In order to be eligible for the program, applicants must have paid Social Security Disability taxes, worked long enough to be eligible for the program, and have a medical disability.
Disabled, as far as the Social Security Administration (SSA) is concerned, means the applicant is unable to do substantial work because of a medical condition. The medical condition is expected to last at least one year or result in the applicant’s death. Social Security Disability claims often take a very long time to be approved. Because of this, the SSA started the Terminal Illness Program (TERI) to expedite claims for those with a terminal illness.Social Security field office personnel will flag an application for TERI if one of the following occurs:
- The applicant, a friend, family member or doctor alleges that the illness is terminal.
- The applicant is diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
- The applicant is diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
- The applicant is receiving home hospice care, inpatient hospice or nursing care.
- The applicant alleges or medical records indicate an untreatable impairment—one that cannot be reversed—that is expected to end in death.
Social Security Disability cases flagged as TERI receive special handling, tracking, and continuous monitoring to ensure they are processed without delay. If the Social Security Disability benefit is denied, claimants may wish to obtain the services of a skilled Lebanon Social Security Disability attorney to guide them through the complicated appeals process.Have you been disabled due to a serious illness or injury? If the SSA has denied your disability benefit application, contact one of our Social Security Disability attorney at Schmidt Kramer. Call us today at (717) 888-8888 for your free case review.