Verified Ok I have two questions:
1. I have a sister that is on Social Security and was working part-time to make ends meet. OK, she was collecting retirement benefits based on her husband's work record - if he is still alive, it would be spousal benefits at a maximum of 50% of his benefit - if he is deceased, at a maximum of 100% of his benefits.
She has now been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. My question is would she be elegible to apply for SSDI which would increase her benefit some and be very helpful during this difficult time? If she is over her full retirement age, she would not be eligible, because SSDI converts to retirement benefits at such age in an amount equal to the SSDI. If she is under FRA, she COULD be disabled by her disease and collect SSDI, if she is not able to work substantially, any longer, but she would only want to do so if her SSDI on her work record were greater than her current retirement benefits on her husband's record.
2. I also have a niece that has been diagnosed with MS. She is having great difficulty minimal health insurance. Would this be a diagnoses that would be considered under SSDI and also have some medical coverage for this illness? MS can be disabling, under SSDI rules, if it in fact prevents her from doing nearly any job, full time. Since MS is a very individiualistic disease, disabling some, less so others, her medical evidence needs to amply demonstrate how her MS disables her, as defined by the SS Act, regulations, rulings, etc. In all cases, medical evidence of lack of capacity to do various work related tasks (such as sitting, standing, walking, and others) is the foundation of the case, and necessary to win. If she is not insured for SSDI (depending on her work history), the same definition of disability will apply if she is otherwise eligible for SSI.
Good luck to everyone.
I hope this helps clarify for you.
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