Could you tell me the prerequisites to receiving disabilty benefits in
the state of Illinois?  Thanks!

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Greetings -

According to the law firm of Wolfe, Elfenbaum & Evers, P.C.:
"Most job-related injuries or diseases are covered by Illinois'
Workers' Compensation Act. An employee is generally entitled to
benefits even if the accident was his or her own fault.

Injuries suffered in employer-sponsored recreational programs
(athletic events, parties, picnics, etc.) are NOT covered unless the
employer ordered the employee to participate. Accidental injuries
sustained while participating in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation
program are not covered.

Under the provisions of the Illinois Act, virtually all workers, with
few exceptions, are entitled to receive compensation for an injury
that was received on the job.

You may file a claim for Workers' Compensation Benefits in Illinois
if:

o You are injured in Illinois, or

o Were hired in Illinois, even though the accident occurred in another
state, or

o Most of your work is in Illinois, even though you may have been
hired or
  injured out of state [for example, Indiana or Wisconsin] or, 

o You were hired in Illinois and were sent to work in another state.

Illinois benefits are substantially greater than those available in
Indiana and many other states."

A comprehensive "Frequently Asked Questions" [FAQ] resource is
available from the law firm here: http://www.ilcomplaw.com/faqs.html


Additional Link(s):
===================
Wolfe, Elfenbaum & Evers, P.C.
Main page
http://www.ilcomplaw.com/

Alliance Library System
Disability Resources
http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/mitbc/DisabilityLinks/Illinois_Disability_Resources.htm


Search Strategy:
================
disability benefits FAQ "+in illinois"


Thank you,

jbf777-ga
GA Researcher

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Request for Answer Clarification by christmas-ga on 08 Jan 2003 15:13 PST

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify my question.  I am seeking
information not regarding workers' compensation or benefits for
work-related accidents but rather for those situations in which an
adult individual is simply too ill to maintain steady employment but
has no disability insurance to cover living expenses.  Is there any
sort of safety net for these people?  Disability benefits, perhaps
through the Social Security Administration?  Thanks for the help!

---

Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 08 Jan 2003 18:40 PST

Hello -

Sorry, I thought you were talking about disability insurance!  If you
need additional information or clarification, please do not hesitate
to ask.

Yes, Social Security has a federal-level Disability Benefits plan. 
Disability under Social Security is based on your inability to do work
*you did before.* It is this program's discretion to decide whether
you can or cannnot adjust to other work because of your medical
condition(s). Your disability also must last or be expected to last
for at least a year or to result in death.  This is a strict
definition of disability the program goes by. "The program assumes
that working families have access to other resources to provide
support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers’
compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must have
worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security. You can
earn up to a maximum of four work credits per year. The amount of
earnings required for a credit increases each year as general wage
levels rise. Family members who qualify for benefits on your work
record do not need work credits.

The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on
your age when you became disabled. Generally you need 20 credits
earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you became disabled.

After helping you complete your application, the Social Security
office will review it to see if you meet the basic requirements for
disability benefits. They will look at whether you have worked long
enough and recently enough, your age and, if you are applying for
benefits as a family member, your relationship to the worker. The
office then will send your application to the Disability Determination
Services (DDS) office in your state. The DDS will decide whether you
are disabled under the Social Security law.

Prerequisites include:

Are you working?
If you are and your earnings average more than $780 a month, you
generally cannot be considered disabled. If you are not working, we go
to the next step.

Is your condition "severe"?
Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for
your claim to be considered. If it does not, we will find that you are
not disabled. If it does, we will go to the next step.
 
Is your condition found in the list of disabling impairments?
We maintain a list of impairments for each of the major body systems
that are so severe they automatically mean you are disabled. If your
condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is of equal
severity to an impairment on the list. If it is, we will find that you
are disabled. If it is not, we go to the next step.

Can you do the work you did previously?
If your condition is severe, but not at the same or equal severity as
an impairment on the list, then we must determine if it interferes
with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does not,
your claim will be denied. If it does, we go to the next step.

Can you do any other type of work?
If you cannot do the work you did in the past, we see if you are able
to adjust to other work. We consider your medical conditions and your
age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you
may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, your claim will be
approved. If you can, your claim will be denied.

The amount of your monthly disability benefit is based on your
lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security. If you would
like an estimate of your disability benefit, you can request a Social
Security Statement that displays your earnings record and provides an
estimate of your disability benefit. It will also include estimates of
retirement and survivors benefits which you and your family may be
eligible to receive now and in the future. The request form is
available by calling or visiting Social Security. You can also visit
http://www.ssa.gov to get the form from our Internet website."


This information was taken directly from
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html.  Please visit this link for
extensive information on the program.

You can also visit http://www.ssa.gov/chicago/illinois.htm for a list
of Illinois Social Security offices.  1-800-637-8856 is a phone number
you can call.

There may be additional benefits available [perhaps on a state-level]
depending on the type of disability in question.  If you'd like to
furnish me with some more specific information, I can do some more
research for you.

Thank you so much for the info; it was very helpful and exactly on point!