$100,000 LUMP SUM BACK PAY




A lot of people think of Social Security benefits as "small potatoes."  But I recently had a client who collected almost $100,000 in Social Security back pay--all in a lump sum settlement.  And this client will get over $2,000 a month in continuing benefits.

This is certainly a life-changing benefit.  The client gets to keep his home, can keep his car, pay off all his debts and have money for a decent lifestyle.  His quality of life just took an atmospheric climb!

Was it a long, difficult road to get there?  You bet it was.  This case was denied twice, at least once because of a technical error in the application the claimant had filed himself.  The case was under appeal for several years.  However, one look at the claimant's medical history showed beyond doubt that he was disabled and should have got disability benefits years ago.  Persistence and hard work finally paid off.

This individual had paid Social Security taxes (FICA) for over 30 years.  The Government had provided him with a disability insurance program (SSDI), promising to pay a benefit out of the Social Security Trust Fund if he ever became disabled.  I think of this as very similar to an individual who purchases a disability insurance policy from an insurance company.  The company collects the premium for 30 years, then refuses to pay a claim. 

The money my client collected did NOT come out of the US treasury and did not cost taxpayers a penny.  Social Security is a self-financing program with benefits paid from the Disability Trust Fund.  Money is put into the fund in the form of FICA taxes--where workers pay approximately 7.5 percent of their wages and their employer pays an additional 7.5 percent into the fund.  That's a total of 15 cents on every dollar earned--going into the trust fund--being accumulated so benefits can be paid if the insured worker becomes disabled.

If Social Security forces you to make FICA contributions out of every paycheck you earn, then they should be prepared to pay out on legitimate claims for disability.  And they will IF you can prove that you are disabled according to their rules.  That's the problem.  Their rules are very strict and very narrow.  The claimant must navigate the system, dodging all the obstacles in the way to prove that he/she meets the rules for a disability payment. 

Nothing feels better than winning a case like this where the claimant is obviously disabled, fully insured by Social Security, and entitled to a benefit.  It really is a life-changing event for the claimant. 
______________
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
7027 Old Madison Pike NW - Suite 108
"in Research Park" across from Bridge Street Town Center
Huntsville, AL 35806
PH (256) 799-0297


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