Medical Coverage for Social Security Claims

After months and sometimes years of effort, a well represented Chicago Social Security case may be approved and the fortunate applicant provided with a monthly sum. But depending on the type of benefit there can be pitfalls without proper representation.

For example, a current application for Social Security Disability, if approved, is rewarded with an accompanying Medicare Card. This benefit can sometimes be worth the entire Social Security application in the first place. Medical coverage is notoriously difficult to come by, especially for those who have trouble working. And for nearly all Social Security applicants, medical issues are why they apply in the first place. The catch here is that the Medicare benefit only becomes active after a two year waiting period.

Well where’s the problem with that you ask? Lets say Sam is applying for Chicago Social Security benefits. He currently has no income and lives in a shelter. With his medical condition, he needs regular medication to survive. He cannot afford this medication, but through his need-based Medicaid, he is able to get it regularly.

After nine months, Sam is approved for Social Security benefits and a Medicare card in two years time. But because he now has a monthly income from Social Security, he no longer qualifies for Medicaid and his medications are no longer affordable. His benefits make him temporarily ineligible for the medication he needs to live. It’s a terrible position to be in: accept a monthly benefit and move into your own home? or keep receiving your medication?

Now some may say that Sam should just find work. If he needs his medication so badly, he could manage to work somewhere right? Well maybe, but there is no debate that currently, it is incredibly hard to secure regular work. Now imagine that you have severe diabetes, or are fighting cancer, not to mention if you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and are homeless after being discharged from military service. How are people like Sam and other citizens expected to find work if very qualified, healthy people are having a hard time? Social Security keeps State Street moving. If Social Security were not in place, entire neighborhoods would shut down, and a corner store in Uptown would likely have to close up and move elsewhere.

These are tragic situations and ones that can happen without a knowledgable representative for a Social Security Chicago  case. A well trained representative cannot fix all the holes in the Social Security system, but can prepare clients for the pitfalls and soften them when they come up. In this case, Sam could apply for a variety of dire need approvals which could allow him to get his medication, and sometimes remove the waiting period for his application. These are not common occurrences, and are difficult to overcome, but without a good representative, they are nearly impossible to fix.