From a column by Joanne Crane, Manager of the Social Security District Office in Neptune, NJ (although there is an excellent chance this was written by someone else at Social Security) appearing in the Asbury Park newspaper:
Q: I'm thinking about getting disability protection from a private company. If I become disabled and have a private policy, would it reduce my Social Security disability benefit?
A: No. Your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits is not affected by any private insurance you may have.
The Asbury Park newspaper, like most newspapers these days, seems to try hard to disguise its actual name and location in its online edition. This newspaper identifies itself only as "APP." Perhaps it is the Post, but it will take some effort to find that name online. It was hard enough to figure out where the newspaper is located.
The problem with the answer given is that it does not mention that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits would be reduced by "disability protection from a private company." Even more important, these private disability benefits will almost certainly be reduced by Social Security disability benefits. There is an offset; it just works in the opposite direction than the questioner thought. Thus, the answer is incomplete and misleading.
The problem with the answer given is that it does not mention that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits would be reduced by "disability protection from a private company." Even more important, these private disability benefits will almost certainly be reduced by Social Security disability benefits. There is an offset; it just works in the opposite direction than the questioner thought. Thus, the answer is incomplete and misleading.
4 comments:
The paper is the Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park is in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
But that is like so many questions asked about Social Security benefits. The answer to the question asked is correct, but the person didn't ask a complete question. As a claims rep, after answering the question the claimant asked, I then tell them the question they should be asking and then answer it.
It is not SSA's job to tell you what your private insurer may do. That would be speculation. This questioner didn't ask about SSI although the majority of the public does not know the difference between the programs.
I think that is one reason teleservice reps and SSA in general has such a bad rep for giving different answers to the same question. There are so many permutations to questions asked by claimants that the answers can easily be different.
I had an interview with a very disgruntled (and rightfully so) claimant about a missing check. She had gotten into what I call IP hell when the in-office replacement checks have to be done multiple times without solving the underlying check problem. When I said with direct deposit, we should be able to replace her check in a few days, that was not a good enough answer for her. She demanded to know if that meant two days or three days since one person had said two days and I said a few days. When I wouldn't commit to a specific number of days (since I only control one end of this electronic transaction), she demanded to speak to a supervisor. He then guaranteed her a two day check and that satisfied her. I have no idea if the check took 2 or 3 days to get to her bank, but she got an answer that she wanted.
This is not an actual question from the public, it is a Q&A prepared by the SSA press office and distributed to all field offices to inform the public. Like so many of these, it is a bit misleading -- probably prepared by a public affairs specialist who has no practical experience with disability benefits, or maybe just a myopic viewpoint. It is a good reminder to take the whole situation into account.
The private insurance is a joke; there should be hearings. I wonder if there are anyy legitimate ones out there that don't offset and what their rates are compared to the offsetters who require apps and clog the system.
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