Can I work for a union and still apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Can I work for a union and still apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?
At Sharon Christie Law, a Baltimore Social Security Disability Law Firm, we are often asked the question, can I work for a union and still apply for Social Security Disability Benefits? In this video, Sharon Christie examines this question and provides you with the answer.
Official Transcript: Can I work for a union and still apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Hi I’m Sharon Christie your nurse attorney for Social Security disability benefits. In the office the other day we got a call from someone who wanted to know if working for a union would have any effect on applying for Social Security disability benefits and frankly, I was surprised by that question because it was never anything you know that I had to think about.
The answer basically is no it’s not going to have an effect. Now you have lots of benefits working for a union and perhaps through your union you are receiving some type of short term or long-term disability. But that’s no different than people that work for non-union companies who have a private short term or long-term disability plan and the fact that you may be receiving some type of disability through your employer or through your union doesn’t affect it at all your ability to apply for Social Security disability benefits.
Now if you are receiving private disability it may ultimately affect the amount of your back payment. From this point of view there may be some payback that you have to give to that insurance company or whoever is paying your long term or short-term disability but that’s something that you need to look at in each case. What you have to do is simply ask for a copy of the plan itself or the policy and review it to see what it says about what happens once you are approved for disability through Social Security. But the fact that you are a union member that you may receive some benefits through your union that will not affect in a negative way your ability to apply for Social Security disability benefits. You absolutely can apply and you should.
Now I know that some unions provide legal counsel and you know you can certainly talk to whoever the legal counsel is for your union to find out if he or she is somebody who is experienced in Social Security disability and consider them as a lawyer that you might want to retain to represent you. But if they’re not experienced in that field then you want to look for an experienced disability lawyer so you know those are some of the ways that being a member of a union might have an effect on your disability case. But it’s certainly not a negative effect in any way if you’re unable to work and you’ve worked long enough under Social Security paying your Social Security tax and you’re going to be out of work for at least twelve consecutive months because of your health problems.
Then you want to be putting in an application for Social Security disability. If you have other questions about Social Security disability just leave a comment on this video and I will be happy to address that question in a future video.
The Path to Social Security Disability Benefits with Sharon Christie Law
Step 1: Understanding Social Security’s Definition of Disabled
The definition of disabled, according to Social Security, is that you have severe limitations from your health problems that keep you from doing any kind of work for at least 12 consecutive months. This is the first thing we look at when evaluating your case. Your diagnosis is just the starting point. To get disability benefits for you, we must prove that your disabling condition causes severe limitations in your day to day activities.
Step 2: Medical Records in Your Disability Case
You must have medical evidence to prove your disability case. The most important evidence is your medical records that show your diagnosis, your symptoms, and your response to treatment.
Step 3: Don’t go it alone: How Sharon Christie Law Can Help You
At Sharon Christie Law, a Social Security Disability Law Firm, we recognize that no one ever plans to get so sick that they have to stop working. When you need to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits we recognize that you will be anxious about the process and whether you can qualify for disability benefits. Our goal at Sharon Christie Law is to help you win your case and give you the financial stability you need! Why work with us?
We do it all for you: At Sharon Christie Law we handle all aspects of the case for you, from preparing and filing your application through the hearing with a judge. We are with you every step of the way. When working with us, you focus on feeling better, and we focus on winning your case.
We return your phone calls: We understand that you have many questions regarding Social Security Disability Benefits. We never want you to wonder what is happening with your case. We are here to answer your questions. All phone calls and emails are returned within 24 hours. That is our promise to you.
We believe in client education: The Social Security Disability process is confusing. We think it is important that you understand each step in the process. So, we created a section on our website that is accessible only to clients. This client’s only section tells you everything you need to know about the disability process.