How to Claim Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) serves as a lifeline for about a million of workers and their families in the country. It gives insurance protection to workers and their families when they retire or in case of a serious, long-term disability.

The benefits of Social Security Disability Insurance is modest. Beneficiaries of it get about $42,000 on average, based in 2014 wage levels.

Qualification for Online Application for disability benefits:

•     18 years old or above
•     You are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record
•     You are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death: and
•     You have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. If your application was recently denied for medical reasons, the Internet Appeal is a starting point to request a review of the medical determination we made.

Here's How To Apply Online For Disability Benefits:

1. Print, review and gather the information needed in the Adult Disability Checklist.
2. Complete the Disability Benefit Application Online here.

Documents needed:

•     The date of your injury or illness;
•     The amount and effective date of your current payment and all increases or decreases within the last 17 months or, if later, since payments began;
•     if receiving workers' compensation, the type of payment (i.e., temporary partial, temporary total, permanent partial, permanent total, a lump sum or an annuity;
•     The frequency of your payments (e.g. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.) or the period covered by a lump sum;
•     If benefits have already ended, the last day you were entitled to a payment and your last payment amount (if different than your regular payment amount);
•     Your employer's name and address; and
•     If other than your employer, the name and address of the insurance carrier making the payments.

Information needed:

 Information About You

•     Your date and place of birth and Social Security number
•     The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. You should also know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate)
•     Names and dates of birth of your minor children
•     Your bank or other financial institution's Routing Transit Number [more info] and the account number, if you want the benefits electronically deposited

Information About Your Medical Condition

•     Name, address and phone number of someone we can contact who knows about your medical conditions and can help with your application
•     Detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries or conditions: Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals and clinics;
•     Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them; and
•     Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them.

Information About Your Work

•     The amount of money earned last year and this year
•     The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year
•     A copy of your Social Security Statement
•     The beginning and ending dates of any active U.S. military service you had before 1968
•     A list of the jobs (up to 5) that you had in the 15 years before you became unable to work and the dates you worked at those jobs
•     Information about any workers' compensation, black lung, and/or similar benefits you filed, or intend to file for. These benefits can:

        - Be temporary or permanent in nature;
        - Include annuities and lump sum payments that you received in the past;
        - Be paid by your employer or your employer's insurance carrier, private agencies, or Federal,     State or other government or public agencies; and
        Be referred to as:
           - Workers' Compensation;
           - Black Lung Benefits;
           - Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation;
           - Civil Service (Disability) Retirement;
           - Federal Employees' Retirement;
           - Federal Employees' Compensation;
           - State or local government disability insurance benefits; or
           - Disability benefits from the military (This includes military retirement pensions based on disability but not Veterans' Administration (VA) benefits.)

Once they receive your online application, they will:

•     Provide confirmation of your application- either electronically or by mail.
•     Review the application.
•     Contact you if we need more information or documentation.
•     Inform you if other family members may be able to receive benefits on your record, or if you may be able to receive benefits on another person’s record, such as your spouse or your parent.
•     Process your application.
•     Mail their decision to you.

Aetna will buyout rival health insurer Humana for $37 billion

Health insurance company Aetna Inc is said to have struck a deal to purchase Humana Inc for about $37 billion, or roughly $230 per Humana share, in a cash-and-stock deal.

Humana shareholders will get $125 in cash and 0.8375 Aetna shares for each share held, an about 23% premium to the stock's closing price on Thursday. Following the deal, Aetna's shareholders would own about 74% of the combined company.

Once done the new company will boast more than 33 million members, and bring in estimated revenue of about $115 billion per year. 56% of the revenue will be from government-sponsored programs like Medicare.