Q: “Can my children receive dependent’s benefits because I am on supplemental security income?”
A: No. SSI benefits are based on the needs of the individual and are paid only to the qualifying person. You can learn more about SSI by reading the online publication, Supplemental Security Income at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.
Q: “I need help. My husband was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. We need Social Security disability benefits. What should we do?”
A: You should apply for disability benefits. You can complete an application for Social Security benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. Then, fill out an adult disability report, which you also can find online. The disability application is a claim for benefits, while the disability report provides us with information about your husband’s current impairment.
You should be able to complete these on your own, but you can call us toll free at 800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to set up an appointment to help you complete the application in person or over the phone.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s falls under the purview of compassionate allowances.
This means Social Security will be able to expedite the processing of your husband’s disability claim. Claims involving compassionate allowance conditions can be processed in a matter of days rather than the months and years. For conditions see www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
Q: “My neighbor is blind and receives Social Security benefits. Are there other ways for her to get letters from Social Security?”
A: Yes. Social Security offers a number of services and products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Below are a couple of them.
* Special notice option: If you are blind or visually impaired, you can choose to receive notices and other information from Social Security in special ways that may be more convenient for you. To find out more about this service, please go to our webpage, “If You Are Blind Or Visually Impaired — Your Choices For Receiving Information from Social Security” at www.socialsecurity.gov/notices.
In addition, if you have a question about a Social Security notice you receive, you may call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or call or visit your local Social Security office and ask us to read it to you.
* Public information materials: Many of our publications, such as brochures and fact sheets, are available in Braille, audio cassette tapes, compact discs, or in enlarged print. Our publication, “If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision — How We Can Help,” and other publications in alternative formats can be obtained by calling toll free, 800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information on obtaining public information materials for people who are blind or visually impaired, see our page, Public Information Materials in Alternative Media at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/alt-pubs.html.
Get answers to your Social Security questions each Thursday from the Social Security District Director Martin Coffey. Submit questions by writing to Business Editor John Vass Jr., Chattanooga Times Free Press, P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37401-1447, or by e-mailing him at jvass@timesfreepress.com.