I have been reading through the posts and am trying to wrap my head around the different waiting periods since SSDI and SSI are federal programs. I can't find anything that addresses how it could be applied differently state by state so I don't think that is the reason. (However some states do have state supplemental income programs in addition to the SSI provided through the SSA which could allow for confusion.)
In regards to waiting periods for federal SSDI/SSI, I found this link from ALS Society helpful.
http://www.alsa.org/files/cms/Resources/FYI_07_Govt_Benefits.pdf
ALS is a "teri" case allowing applications to be expedited through the Social Security system. There is a 5 month waiting period for SSDI after
the date your disability began so I would assume that if for some reason you did not apply for disability right away the 5 month waiting period goes back to when you were disabled not when you applied so this could make waiting periods vary.
When you apply for disability you are screened for both SSDI and SSI. If you have paid enough income tax into SSDI (disability insurance) then you are eligible for SSDI benefits. If you have not paid enough into the system you receive SSI (supplemental income).
Here is an outline of the 2 programs from the ALS Philadelphia:
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance, or Title II of the Social Security Act)
• Provides monthly income to people who worked in jobs in which they paid Social Security taxes, and are no longer able to work because of disability
• Requires a certain number of “work credits” (based on your years of employment and how much you earned)
• Requires that you meet the government’s definition of “disabled,” which for people with ALS is a formal medical diagnosis of the disease
• Pays an
average monthly amount of $862 for a single person and $1,442 for a disabled worker with a spouse and dependent child
SSI (Supplemental Security Income, or Title XVI)
• Is available to people who never worked, or worked but didn’t pay Social Security taxes, or didn’t work enough in recent years to meet the “work credit” requirements of SSDI
• Helps very low-income people who are 65 or older, blind or disabled
• Requires that your financial resources (savings and assets) not exceed $2,000 and that you meet the government definition of disabled
• Pays a
set monthly payment of $564 to an eligible individual and $846 to an eligible couple.
http://www.alsphiladelphia.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=845 - note this resource was written in 2003 and the payments are higher today.
The SSI program has a presumptive disability benefit that allows people to receive a disability check while they are waiting for up to 6 months on a determination and those checks start right away.
If you are being processed for SSI and have ALS you automatically qualify for presumptive disability checks while you wait - not all field offices know this. Some individuals who qualify for SSDI also qualify for SSI so we should be sure we inquire about this program.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/TheALSAssociation(Steve Gibson)12-4-07.pdf
I also found interesting that for both programs you do not need to establish your inability to work or severity of symptoms to be eligible but rather the diagnosis itself actually makes you eligible for benefits. "
Under the new regulations, a valid diagnosis of ALS is sufficient to prove disability, regardless of how impaired the applicant is at the time." The MDA/ ALS Newsmagazine 9-6 | MDA
Any clarification from others experience would be appreciated as it seems not all SSA field offices process applications the same as not all field agents are knowledgeable of recent regulation changes that pertain specifically to the ALS diagnosis.