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Nov 13, 2017

I'd Call This Answer Seriously Incomplete -- Why?

     From app., some newspaper that doesn't want you to know its name or where it's located:
In my daughter’s senior year of high school, she had an accident that paralyzed her. It doesn’t look like she will be able to work in the near future, and since she has never worked she hasn’t paid Social Security taxes. Can Social Security still help her?
Your daughter may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI is a needs-based program paid for by general revenue taxes and run by Social Security. It helps provide monetary support to people who are disabled and who have not paid enough in Social Security taxes to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. To qualify for SSI, a person must be disabled, and have limited resources and income. For more information, visit our website and check out our publication, “You May Be Able To Get SSI,” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Valerie Fisher is district manager of the Social Security office at 3310 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753. Call 800-772-1213 for information.
     This may have been prepared by some press officer at Social Security rather than by Ms. Fisher. In any case, it's an incomplete answer. It's the sort of thing that is often, perhaps usually, missed. What is it?

16 comments:

  1. Individual could qualify for Title II Child benefits under the parents earnings, assuming the correct situation is present.

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  2. That's the Asbury Park Press in NJ.

    Individual could qualify for Title II Child benefits under the parents earnings, assuming the correct situation is present.

    Well, it depends on what you mean by "could." On the facts as presented, the child can't qualify for auxiliary benefits. We'd need the additional fact that the parent is entitled to Title II benefits.

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  3. @3:48

    Sure, but the point is the district manager of the local Social Security office declined to mention that possibility.

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  4. Nice simple generic answer for an incomplete set of information. Get them in to file and figure out what they are eligible for. You are overthinking this.

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  5. If the parent were on benefits the child would have been eligible for benefits on his or her account until attaining age 18 anyway

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  6. Keep in mind the general rule is that when you file an SSI application, you are also filing for all benefits to which you may be entitled.

    Doesn't necessarily help on the front end when the oversight occurs, but it at least offers a potential avenue for a remedy at a later point, IF the oversight/issue is identified; emphasis on "IF".

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  7. She doesn't have to give that possibility. When someone files for SSI, they're required to file for any other potential benefits available. She gave the answer based on the available information provided.

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  8. Since an application for SSI is also an application for all Title II benefits, the correct course of action was stated: 1) call for more information, or 2) file.

    If you want to be a crab and complain that incomplete information is given, then you have to point out -but don't let your child marry before becoming entitled, don't let them show any capability of being able to perform work, etc. etc.

    These things are not written to teach you SSA law and regulations. They are written to get you in to get to file and get more information about the beneficiary.

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  9. While the above answers are accurate and I agree to an extent that they can't include all the information for it to be a "complete" answer in a short response such as this, it's also possible that by not including the possibility of the child being able to get Title II benefits off a parent's work record that this claimant will simply look to the SSI rules and perhaps see that he/she is not eligible for same and never even go to the local office or apply.

    It is true that an app for SSI is an app for all benefits available, but if the app never gets filed because people see the income and resource guidelines and know that they don't meet them, they never apply in the first place. I've seen in many times in my practice.

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  10. Val Fisher is one of the best managers in the NY region. She is also very active in the management society. She wants the best service for ssa customers. Why are you nitpicking a random press release? Do you know the demands of a district manager. Granted, maybe not the perfect answer for leaving out CDB possibility but it is no on the face of it an "incorrect response." get a life!

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  11. Sometimes you just want to know what time it is not the history and step by step process of watch making.

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  12. @6:13

    When you put something in quotes it is generally meant to convey you are quoting someone. No one said the answer was incorrect. Charles said it was incomplete. It is.

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  13. Leaving the possible entitlement to T2 aside for a moment, there's no indication of the age of the high school senior. If she's under age 18, the income and resources of her parents are considered in the SSI eligibility determination. She may not be eligible for SSI regardless of the severity of her disability.

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  14. I don't see it as any more incomplete than telling someone you have to be 62 to file for retirement. Oh, you are a widow or widower or your ex-spouse died--then you can file at 60. Oh, you are disabled, you can file at any age on your record or perhaps your late spouse's record.
    As someone has already said, if her parents were on retirement or disability, she should have been receiving as a child or a student already.

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  15. It also says SSI is for people who did not pay enough into Social Security taxes to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. That is also an incomplete answer. SSI can be paid to SSDI recipients with a low PIA; they can be insured for SSDI and entitled and still get SSI if the monthly benefit is low enough.

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  16. @ 1019 BUT, the question is for someone who never worked. It also doesn't mention that SSI is for blind or folks 65 and older but the question was for a high school senior who was not alleged to be blind and is not likely 65 or over.
    For the question asked, a high school senior (18 or under most likely), the answer is complete

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