Some Answers to Your Social Security Benefits Questions
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by: albert.tobega
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Q: I own a business, but do not run it myself. Can I have still apply for social security benefits?
A: As defined by the Social Security Administration, disability is the "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity." They determine substantial gainful activity according to the National Average Wage Index, which gives a dollar amount per month. They consider a person to be working any day that he or she "is the owner or part owner of a trade or business even if he or she does not actually work in the trade or business or receive any income from it."
Your business income may affect your social security benefits. If that income goes over the predetermined substantial gainful activity (SGA) level, the SSA may consider it a substantial income. This level is determined by comparing your business earnings to your pre disability earnings, and the earnings of a non disabled person engaged in the same business.
Q: If I pass away while I am in the Social Security Disability application process, where does my claim go?
A: The SSA states that when an individual who was or could have been eligible to receive social security benefits becomes deceased, surviving family member can request a Lump Sum Death Payment. What does this mean? If you die in the while your claim for social security benefits is pending, your family may be able to get some of the benefits you would have been eligible to receive after the waiting period. To do this, surviving family members need to prove that their deceased relative did or could have qualified for social security benefits in the month that they died.
Lump Sum Death Payment of social security benefits is available only to particular surviving family members. As part of the application process, the SSA will request information about the deceaseds Social Security record and application (if they applied for social security benefits). They will also request evidence of the deceaseds disability beginning at 14 months before the date of death.
Q: If I am receiving social security benefits and I die, what happens to them?
A: When you are receiving social security benefits, and have paid social security taxes, some family members may be eligible to receive survivors benefits upon your death. For ones family to be eligible for survivors benefits, up to 10 years of work is needed, depending on ones age. Survivors social security benefits can be paid to:
• A spouse, with full benefits when they reach retirement, or some benefits beginning at age 60 • A disabled widow or widower, starting at age 50 • Children less than 18 years of age (or as old as 19 if they still attend secondary school) • Currently disabled children who were disabled at less than 22 years of age • Dependent parents who are 62 years old or older.
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Find more info regarding social security disability, visit www.hillandponton.com.
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