Q: Should I make my claim for social security disability under my own account, or under the social security account of my spouse who recently passed away?

A: For most social security disability applicants, the goal is to get the largest payment possible. Sometimes the largest social security disability payment will come from the survivors benefits you receive from a deceased spouses account. In other situations, the greatest social security disability payment will come from applying under your own account. Either way, you have to choose which payment is highest, as you cannot have both.

When deciding if you want to apply under a spouses account or your own, calculating the highest social security disability payment is an obvious first step. It is best to check with the SSA to determine what those payments might be. Whether the payments are higher under your own social security disability account or your deceased spouses is determined by your current age, the severity of your disability, and your earnings record. In the case that you do choose to claim survivors benefits, you will receive your spouses full social security disability benefits when you reach retirement, or when you reach the age of 50 and are disabled. If you are not disabled, you can get anywhere from 71 to 99 percent of your spouses benefits before you reach retirement, as long as you are 60 years old or older.

Q: I am receiving social security disability but I want to apply for SS retirement.

A: In most cases, a person currently receiving social security disability benefits will automatically receive retirement benefits when they reach full retirement age. Most people who get social security disability have to do little or nothing to bring about the transfer. Consult the Social Security Administration or talk to a lawyer for information about transferring from social security disability to retirement.

Q: Is it true that everybodys social security disability claim gets denied the first time?

A: While you may hear plenty of horror stories about constant rejection from the social security disability program, the truth is that not all first claims are denied. In truth, the SSA has no rule in place that directs them to deny all first claims. That said, it is true that many first applications are denied, and that approvals tend to result from the appeals process.

Of all social security disability claims, about 70% are denied the first time they apply. Unfortunately, many of those who are denied do not have a full understanding of what they should do in order to be approved next time they apply. In order to reduce your chances of being denied more than once, it is important to have a through understanding of the social security disability appeals process. Speak to a social security disability professional or the SSA for details.