SSA PRISONER RULES UPDATE 01:
Social Security disability benefits can
>> be
>> paid to people who have recently worked and paid Social Security taxes
>> and
>> are unable to work because of a serious medical condition that is
>> expected
>> to last at least a year or result in death. The fact that a person is a
>> recent parolee or is unemployed does not qualify as a disability.
Social
>> Security retirement benefits can be paid to people who are 62 or older.
>> Generally, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for 10
>> years to be eligible. Social Security benefits are not paid for the
>> months
>> you have been sentenced to a jail,
>> prison or correctional facility or confined to certain public
>> institutions
>> for committing a crime. And, no benefits can be paid for any month in
>> which you violate a condition of your probation or parole. Although you
>> cannot receive monthly Social Security benefit payments while you are
>> confined, your spouse or children can be paid benefits on your record
if
>> they are eligible. And if you have worked and paid Social Security
taxes,
>> survivors benefits also may be paid to certain family members if you
die.
>> SSI can be paid to people who are 65 or older, or who are blind or
>> disabled and whose income and resources are below certain limits. No
>> benefits are payable for any month in which you reside in a jail,
prison
>> or certain other public institutions. Also, you cannot receive an SSI
>> payment for any month in which you violate a condition of your
probation
>> or parole.
>>
>> If your Social Security or SSI benefits were
suspended because you
>> were incarcerated, you can request that they be started again when you
>> are
>> released from prison. You will need to contact Social Security and
>> provide
>> a copy of your release documents before they can take action on your
>> request. If you were not receiving benefits prior to your incarceration
>> or
>> your benefits were terminated, you will need to file a new application
>> for
>> benefits if you think you may be eligible. You should contact Social
>> Security for more information about filing a claim for benefits. They
>> will
>> require proof of your release from prison, in addition to a new
>> application and other documents. If your institution has a prerelease
>> agreement with the local Social Security office, it will notify them if
>> you are likely to meet the requirements for SSI or Social Security
>> benefits. SSA can then process an application several months before
your
>> anticipated release so that benefits can start as soon as possible
after
>> your release. You should contact institutional or social service staff
to
>> find out if the institution has a prerelease agreement with Social
>> Security. If there is no agreement, when you know your anticipated
>> release
>> date, contact Social Security to apply for benefits if you think you
may
>> be eligible so SSA can take prompt action on your application.
For what
>> you can do online refer to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/
>> [Source: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10133.html
Jun 08 ++]