As April 15 approaches, people in Houston who have begun receiving Social Security disability benefits during 2018 may want to know if their benefits are taxable. They may also wonder if the state of Texas will tax their disability payments. The answer can be simple, but as with many tax questions, the precise answer depends upon the taxpayer's individual income and filing status.
Are SSD benefits subject to federal income tax?
Obtaining SSD benefits for epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disease that is often misunderstood, partly because the symptoms and effects of the illness vary greatly in frequency and intensity. Epilepsy is usually defined as the result of abnormal activity in the brain. Symptoms can include temporary confusion, staring at a point or object, uncontrollable jerking of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness and psychic symptoms such as fear or anxiety. Residents of Houston who suffer from epilepsy are often uncertain if they are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The standards for epilepsy are included in the Social Security Administration's "Listing of Impairments."
When does depression qualify you for Social Security Disability?
Depression is a mental health condition that impacts millions of Americans at some point in their life. There are multiple different forms of depression, ranging from postpartum depression experienced by new mothers after the birth of a child to dysthymia, a chronic, mild depression that can persist for life.
Understanding compassionate allowances and disability decisions
Many people in Houston regard the process of applying for and obtaining Social Security disability benefits laborious and lengthy. While these feelings have some basis in fact, these same people are often unaware of the special Social Security program know by acronym "CAL." The letters stand for "Compassionate Allowance," which is a program that is intended to provide specialized handling for people whose medical condition is especially grave.
The steps required to appeal a denial of SSD benefits
Many applications for Social Security disability benefits filed by Houston residents are denied the first time around, and the applicants are frequently left angry, confused and feeling helpless. Fortunately, the SSD benefit rules provide a multi-step appeal process that provides many applicants with an opportunity to reverse the initial denial.
