Can my 63-year-old brother with bipolar qualify for SSDI while receiving firefighter pension?

Yes, your brother could potentially qualify for SSDI, even with his pension. The key factors will be: 1) He needs to have enough recent work credits (worked 5 out of last 10 years) 2) His condition must meet SSA's definition of disability (unable to perform substantial work for at least 12 months) 3) His firefighter pension won't disqualify him, but might reduce benefits if it's a non-covered pension (WEP/GPO rules) At almost 63, he's close to his FRA (Full Retirement Age), so an approved SSDI claim would essentially convert to retirement benefits when he reaches that age. His children should gather his medical records documenting the bipolar diagnosis and work limitations, and apply as soon as possible. The 5-month waiting period for SSDI payments begins from disability onset, not application date.

my uncle had a similar situation with schizophrenia and ss disability. took forever to get approved but backpay was good when it came through. does your brother have an actual diagnosis on file before the hospitalization? that makes a huge difference

The application process for SSDI with mental health conditions can be challenging but definitely possible. His children should look into becoming his representative payees if he's unable to manage his finances. They'll need: - Form SSA-1696 (Appointment of Representative) - Medical evidence showing severity of bipolar disorder - Work history for the past 15 years - Statement from doctors about work limitations Regarding the pension, if it's from a job where he paid Social Security taxes, there's no reduction. If it's from a non-covered job (some government positions), then the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) might reduce SSDI benefits. The biggest challenge is proving the disability meets SSA's criteria. Bipolar disorder is evaluated under Listing 12.04, which requires specific documented limitations.

i went thru this with my mom (diff condition) and getting SSDI was a NIGHTMARE!!! took almost 2 years and we had to get a lawyer. tell them to start collecting EVERYTHING now - medical records, work history, even statements from coworkers about episodes at work. they'll need it all!!

To answer the question about whether his children can apply for him - yes, they can start the process while he's hospitalized. They would apply as a "third party" through the SSA website or by calling the SSA. However, eventually your brother will need to participate in the process. Given his age (almost 63), it's worth considering whether applying for early retirement benefits might be more practical than SSDI. While SSDI would provide full benefits, the approval process could take 1-2+ years. Early retirement could start much faster, though with reduced benefits. If SSDI is later approved, SSA would adjust to the higher benefit rate. Also, make sure his children contact the hospital social worker - they often have experience with these situations and can help coordinate with SSA.

YOUR BROTHERS CHILDREN NEED TO GET POWER OF ATTORNEY ASAP!!!! My sister had similar situation and we couldn't do ANYTHING without it. The hospital should have social workers who can help with this. Without POA, social security won't even TALK to them about his case!!! This needs to be step #1 before anything else!!

just wondering, has he paid into SS while working as firefighter? some government jobs dont pay into SS system, and if thats the case he might not qualify for SSDI at all... friend of mine had this exact problem

I'm going through almost exactly the same situation with my sister who has bipolar! It's so overwhelming. We finally got through to Social Security after weeks of trying, and they told us to bring a doctor's statement about her inability to manage her own benefits, along with her medical records. The SSA-3368 (Disability Report) and SSA-827 (Medical Release) forms are key. We're also looking at the Ticket to Work program for when/if she's able to work again part-time.

My brother went through something similar. Started with SSDI application then switched to early retirement at 63 because we couldn't wait. Big mistake! Benefits were like $600 less per month than what he would've gotten with SSDI. If your brother's condition is really serious, it might be worth waiting for SSDI approval and just dealing with financial hardship short-term.

One more important thing to note: If your brother is approved for SSDI, he'll automatically be enrolled in Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits, regardless of his age. This is an important consideration when weighing SSDI vs. early retirement. With early retirement, he'd have to wait until 65 for Medicare eligibility. Given his serious mental health condition, having guaranteed healthcare coverage could be very valuable. Just another factor for his children to consider when making these decisions.

To answer your question about applying for both SSDI and early retirement simultaneously - yes, this is possible and sometimes recommended. It's called "concurrent filing." Here's how it works: 1. File for both SSDI and reduced early retirement benefits 2. Collect the reduced retirement benefits while waiting for SSDI decision 3. If SSDI is approved, benefits will be adjusted to the higher SSDI rate The advantage is getting some income during the potentially long SSDI determination process. The main downside is paperwork complexity. Also, if the SSDI claim is eventually denied, he'll be permanently locked into the reduced early retirement benefit rate. Given his documented bipolar diagnosis and current hospitalization, he likely has a stronger SSDI case than many applicants, but approval is never guaranteed.

When I called Claimyr to get connected to Social Security for my situation, the agent I spoke to mentioned that hospital social workers can help file something called a "dire need" request to expedite SSDI processing. Has anyone done this successfully? Might be worth asking about given the hospitalization.