Q&A: Social Security Disability Today

A VA disability rating gives you a percentage. What can the medical records behind that rating tell Social Security about your ability to work?

In this companion to the January 2, 2011 remastered episode of Q&A Social Security Disability Today, Tony Reeves revisits a question from a veteran and explains what changed in 2017. Using a back injury as an example, he walks through the kinds of details that can help explain how a condition affects sitting, standing, lifting, and getting through a workday. Watch the remastered episode on YouTube at Q&A Social Security Disability Today. Look for “Will a VA Disability Rating Help You Get SSDI?” This episode is for general educational purposes. It does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. 

The views expressed are personal and do not represent the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Social Security’s rule on decisions by other agencies

If Social Security approves your disability claim, which months will it pay you for? In this companion episode to the remastered January 9, 2017 Q&A Social Security Disability Today video,

“Understanding Back Pay,” I walk through three dates that can be easy to mix up: when you filed, when Social Security determines your disability began, and when your claim was approved. I explain how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) use those dates differently, where the SSDI waiting period comes in, and why your representative may hesitate to estimate your back pay before a decision.

A clarification for viewers of the remastered video
For an initial SSI claim, the earliest payable month is generally the month after you file or the month after you first meet all eligibility requirements, whichever is later. Keep that rule in mind when following the two SSI examples in the original recording.

Watch Understanding Back Pay (Remastered) on the Q&A Social Security Disability Today YouTube channel to follow the examples step by step.

Disclaimer
This episode provides general educational information. It does not provide legal advice, establish an attorney-client relationship, or predict the outcome or payment amount of any claim. The views expressed are personal and do not represent the Social Security Administration or the U.S. government.

For questions about your claim, review your SSA notices and contact SSA or a qualified representative. SSA’s SSI payment rule
SSA’s explanation of SSDI retroactive benefits

Getting approved for Social Security disability benefits may leave you with another question: When will the money arrive?

In this remastered archival episode of Disability Talk Live with Attorney Anthony Reeves, originally posted March 15, 2017, Anthony discusses issues that can affect payment after approval, including financial documentation, representative payee determinations, SSI back pay calculations, and coordination between SSI and SSDI. The episode also includes historical audience questions about VA benefits, continuing disability reviews, and returning to work.

IMPORTANT ARCHIVE NOTICE
This episode preserves a recording from 2017. The audio has been remastered, but the underlying discussion has not been updated. Laws, benefit amounts, agency procedures, and processing practices may have changed. Some statements are simplified or require correction. Historical dollar amounts and timelines are not current benefit rates or payment guarantees.

SPECIFIC CLARIFICATIONS
• The recording suggests that a non-service-connected VA pension may reduce SSDI through an offset. SSA guidance excludes Department of Veterans Affairs benefits from the workers’ compensation/public disability benefit offset. SSI and VA pension income rules are separate issues.
• The discussion of expedited reinstatement following a reduction in VA income is overly broad. Expedited reinstatement has specific work-related eligibility requirements; reduced VA income alone does not establish eligibility.
• Discussions of SSI income calculations, attorney fees, incarceration, garnishment, and payment processing should be checked against current official guidance. This episode is for general educational and historical purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not establish an attorney-client relationship, and is not an offer of legal representation or individual case review. Any invitations to contact the presenter in the original recording are historical. The original program title reflects Anthony Reeves’s professional role at the time of recording. This archival presentation is not an official government communication and does not imply government endorsement.

For current information, visit https://www.ssa.gov or consult a qualified representative about your circumstances.

Official resources:
VA benefits and SSDI offset exclusions:
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.05/handbook-0504.html

Expedited reinstatement:
https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/exr.htm

Receiving a notice that Social Security is reviewing your disability benefits can raise difficult questions: Why am I being reviewed? What if my condition has improved but I still cannot work? What happens if my benefits are stopped?

In this remastered audio edition of Disability Talk Live with Anthony Reeves, originally recorded February 15, 2017, I discuss Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) and answer questions from a live audience.

Topics include:
• Medical improvement and the ability to return to work
• How new medical conditions factor into a review
• Medical treatment and supporting records
• Appealing a decision to discontinue benefits
• Continuing payments during an appeal and potential repayment
• Working and self-employment while receiving disability benefits

This episode preserves a discussion recorded while I was a practicing attorney, now available as a companion podcast for listeners who prefer audio.

ARCHIVAL NOTE: This recording has been remastered, but its content has not been updated. Dollar amounts, rules, deadlines, and processing estimates discussed reflect the original 2017 presentation and may be outdated. Confirm current requirements with Social Security at SSA.gov. This episode provides general educational information, not individualized legal advice.

Follow the podcast for more conversations about the Social Security disability process, and share this episode with someone interested in understanding Continuing Disability Reviews.

Applying for Social Security disability can leave you wondering: What happens next—and what can you do if you’re denied?

In this companion audio edition of “Walking You Through the Social Security Disability Process,” Anthony Reeves explains the journey from an initial application through hearings, decisions, and further appeals.

Originally broadcast live on January 25, 2015, this remastered episode of Q&A Social Security Disability Today explores: • What to consider before applying
• Choosing a representative
• Why claims take time and requests for expedited processing
• Disability forms, medical records, and supporting evidence
• Understanding denials and preparing appeals
• What to expect at a disability hearing
• Post-hearing status updates and favorable decisions
• Appeals Council review, federal court, and new applications

This approximately 50-minute episode is the audio companion to the remastered video. References to slides and on-screen material remain in the recording.

ARCHIVE NOTE: This episode preserves a 2015 discussion; remastering does not update its content. Rules, procedures, wait times, and statistics discussed may be outdated or inaccurate. References to legal services reflect the original broadcast and are not a current offer of representation.

For general education only, not individualized legal advice. Follow Q&A Social Security Disability Today for more plain-language explanations, and share this episode with someone trying to understand the process.

This remastered podcast episode is based on a Social Security Disability Today Q&A originally posted on March 16, 2017. In this episode, Tony Reeves explains what you should do if you disagree with the need for a representative payee.

The key takeaway is simple: SSA decides whether a representative payee is necessary, but you can ask what information is needed to show that you are capable of managing your own benefits. If SSA says your evidence is not enough, ask what else is required and keep moving the process forward.  

Listen, share, and follow the podcast for more remastered Social Security Disability Q&A episodes designed to help you better understand the process, your responsibilities, and the questions you should be asking.

This remastered podcast episode comes from the original Q&A Social Security Disability Today video posted on January 7, 2014.

In this episode, I break down whether a person receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits can serve as their own payee. I explain why Social Security may appoint a representative payee, what kinds of concerns may lead to that decision, and how a person may be able to show that they are capable of managing their own money.

This conversation is especially important for anyone who has been told they may need a representative payee, or anyone trying to understand how Social Security evaluates financial responsibility when disability benefits are involved.

Listen to this remastered Q&A episode, share it with someone navigating Social Security Disability benefits, and follow the podcast for more practical conversations about the disability process.

In this remastered companion podcast episode of Q&A Social Security Disability Today, originally posted on February 27, 2013, Attorney Anthony Reeves explains what may happen when Social Security requires a disability beneficiary to have a representative payee.

The discussion covers why SSA may believe a payee is necessary, what kinds of concerns may lead to that decision, and why the agency focuses on making sure disability benefits are properly used for the beneficiary’s needs.

Attorney Reeves also explains that a beneficiary may be able to dispute the need for a payee, including by speaking with SSA and possibly providing medical evidence that supports the ability to manage benefits independently. This remastered episode is especially helpful for individuals who feel frustrated, embarrassed, or confused after being told they need someone else to manage their Social Security disability payments.

Originally posted: February 27, 2013
Remastered for the Q&A Social Security Disability Today archive.

This remastered episode of Q&A Social Security Disability Today was originally posted on January 14, 2013. In this episode, Attorney Anthony Reeves discusses the responsibilities of a representative payee in Social Security Disability cases.

A representative payee may be appointed when Social Security determines that a beneficiary, including a child or an adult with certain limitations, should not manage their own disability benefits. The episode explains that serving as a representative payee means accepting responsibility for handling federal funds on behalf of another person. The money must be used for the claimant’s benefit, and the representative payee may need to keep records, track expenses, maintain receipts, and be prepared to explain how the money was spent.

Attorney Reeves also cautions that representative payees should ask Social Security what is required before accepting the role and should not accept the responsibility if they are uncomfortable with the duties involved. Originally posted: January 14, 2013

This is a remastered episode. Call to Action:
To watch the companion video version of this episode, visit the Q&A Social Security Disability Today YouTube channel. Subscribe or follow for more remastered Social Security Disability question-and-answer episodes.This remastered episode of Q&A Social Security Disability Today was originally posted on January 14, 2013.

Originally posted on July 17, 2023, this remastered episode of Q&A Social Security Disability Today revisits a critical issue for many disability claimants: what happens after a judge denies your Social Security Disability case?

Tony Reeves breaks down the difficult decision many people face after an Administrative Law Judge denial: whether to appeal the decision or start over with a new application. He explains why starting over may affect your ability to recover back pay, what the Appeals Council reviews, and why simply disagreeing with the judge may not be enough.

This episode also highlights the importance of understanding the reason for the denial and recognizing when you may need help identifying whether the judge made a legal error. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.

Podcast CTA to Companion YouTube Video
Want to watch the remastered companion video and explore more Social Security Disability Q&A content?
Visit the Reeves Firm Disability Law YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@ReevesfirmDisabilityLaw