If you live in Illinois and you are 56 years old or a similar age, you may have questions about various benefits offered by the Social Security Administration and whether or not you might be eligible. Let’s examine the law and how it may apply to your circumstances.
What is the Purpose of a Social Security Number?
As many know, a Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine-digit number that is issued by the Social Security Administration to United States citizens, permanent residents, and temporarily employed residents pursuant to Section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act. This number is important for a variety of purposes, including taxation, identification, and eligibility for various government benefits, including benefits from the Social Security Administration, such as retirement and disability benefits.
For many years, Social Security numbers were issued using a certain format based on the circumstances of each recipient. The first three digits indicated the “area number,” where the individual resided when the number was assigned. The second two digits indicated the “group number,” and the last four digits identified the “serial number.” As a result, those born in Illinois would have a certain first three digits unique to that area.
If you live in Illinois and you have a valid Social Security number, you may, depending upon your circumstances, be eligible to receive various benefits from the Social Security Administration. Two primary types of benefits include disability benefits and retirement benefits.
What Types of Disability Benefits Are Available?
If you are a 56-year-old Illinois resident, and you are struggling with a disability that has rendered you unable to work, you may qualify for one of the two types of disability benefits offered by the Social Security Administration. These include:
- Social Security Disability Insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI benefits for short, are benefits the Social Security Administration provides to “insured” individuals with a qualifying medical disability that has rendered them disabled for one continuous calendar year or more. To be considered “insured” by the Social Security Administration, an individual must have worked a sufficient length of time at a job during which they regularly paid a portion of their salary as taxes to the Social Security Administration.
- Supplemental Security Income: As with SSDI benefits, in order to receive SSI benefits, an individual must have a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for at least one continuous calendar year or more. Unlike SSDI benefits, SSI benefits are not funded through employment taxes. Therefore, applicants do not have to be “insured” to be approved for benefits. However, they have to have income and resources below a certain limit established by the Social Security Administration.
Regardless of which type of benefit you receive, the amount for which you are approved will not depend upon the severity of your particular condition. Instead, it will depend on a variety of factors, including work and earnings history, income and resource level, and other factors.
The maximum amount of benefit that an individual can receive may change from year to year. In 2024, the maximum SSI benefits that can be received is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 per month per couple. Those amounts are expected to rise to $967 per individual and $1,450 per couple in 2025. The maximum SSDI monthly benefit amount in 2024 is $3,822, and that amount will rise to $4,018 in 2025. As Social Security is a federally administered program, these maximum benefit limits apply to residents in Illinois and all other states in the country.
What About Other Types of Benefits?
If you are 56 and living in Illinois, you may be considering retirement in the future. If so, you may be wondering whether you can receive disability and retirement benefits simultaneously from the Social Security Administration. Those who are age 56 have not yet reached full retirement age, but being prepared and knowing what to expect can be tremendously helpful.
As a general rule, the amount you receive in SSDI benefits is equal to the amount you would be eligible to receive in retirement benefits once you reach full retirement age. For those who are receiving SSDI benefits prior to reaching full retirement age, those benefits will automatically convert to retirement benefits. As a result, you should continue to receive the same amount of money before and after full retirement age.
GCC Law – Here for You
At GCC Law, we know that disability benefits can make a tremendous difference to those who are struggling with a disability. That’s why we are passionate about representing each and every one of our clients with the excellent guidance they need as they pursue disability benefits. We understand every aspect of the law pertaining to these claims and will always utilize the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. Give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.