Nolo’s Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & Keeping Your Benefits
Nolo’s Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & Keeping Your Benefits
The complete guide to understanding-and benefiting from-the Social Security disability system
Nolo’s Guide to Social Security Disability is an essential book for anyone dealing with a long-term or permanent disability. Written both for first-time applicants and existing recipients of Social Security disability, the book demystifies the program and tells you everything you need to know about qualifying and applying for benefits, maintaining your benefits and appealing the denial of a claim. This comprehensive guide also explains:
This step-by-step guidance allows you to match medical details of your disability to the SSA regulations that will qualify you for benefits and shows how to apply for those benefits. Additionally, the author’s background in medicine gives him the distinct ability to decipher the medical portions of the SSA regulations as no one but a doctor could.
The 5th edition contains: new and updated descriptions of SSA regulations governing immune and digestive system disorders; updated information on the “ticket-to-work” program (which provides new training and opportunities for disabled workers); the latest new SSA forms and instructions (with sample filled-in forms throughout), plus updated figures, fees, and contact information. (20080304)
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Another great NOLO book
The SSDI process is one of the most frustrating, Kafkaesque, and labyrinthtine bureaucratic processes you will ever have the misfortune of experiencing should the necessity arise. Denials of the initial disability application vary slightly state to state, but run in the 90-100% range. The initial appeal is rarely ever more than a rubber stamp of the initial decision. The next step is the administartive hearing. Here the applicant prevails over 60% of the time. The problem is, it make take years to reach this point. Who has enough financial reserves to survive for years without working? Not very many people.
This book is an excellent guide to the process and will definitely help you. Will it be enough information for you to prevail? That depends a lot on your disabling condition, your age, where you live, what your occupation is, and many other factors. At some stage of the process, you will almost certainly require an attorney or advocate who specializes in social security disability. Good luck!
4 Stars Another consistently fine effort from Nolo
This was a very useful book in explaining social security disability benefits to me and written well enough that I was able to explain key concepts to interest members in my family.
Well done.
4 Stars Like the Label Says. . . .
A guide to all things relating to the application for SSI/Disability. Nolo books tend to be comprehensive guides and this is no exception. It covers everything you need to know when applying for disability. I wish I’d had a guide like this when I had to apply for disability nine years ago. If I ever need to apply again, this book will be a lifesaver!
5 Stars A Very Comprehensive Guide
This is a very easy to read book with everything organized in a step by step manor for the reader to follow. I have a friend going through this exact process right now who has experienced many obstacles along the way. This book helped him to have a better understanding of his rights, which are very important to know and very difficult to find out from the massive bureaucracy that is the Social Security Administration. There are an abundant number of sample forms presented in the book that are part of the process and information on the kinds of documentation that you will need to successfully get through the maze of people and requirements. The book also tells you how to avoid some of errors (sometimes intentional) made by Doctors (or non-qualified personnel) that perform your initial examinations and may unjustly not qualify you for your benefits. The book also discusses and warns you of the biases that you may experience along the way that could hurt your claim.
Even though some of the information might seem common-sense, I think it’s good to have the guidance and information, and overall, this book is very much worth the read and assistance in helping someone through the process. I give it a full recommendation.
4 Stars Easy guide for newbies
Nolo’s guide for Social Security benefits helped me determine if my son (diagnosed with PDD) would qualify for benefits in about all of 10 minutes. I found the guide well written, well organized and informative. I recommend to anyone questioning how the system works. This guide is much easier (at least for me) than trying to fumble through the SS website.
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