Apply for an increase in disability benefits?

[SS]

Interviewer: My husband gets Social Security disability benefits for his diabetes. Last month his leg was amputated due to diabetes. Can we apply for an increase in his benefits since his condition has gotten worse?

Ken Hess: You know, this question is one of those questions that someone should call right to our 1-800-772-1213 number, because if it's on your mind and you think you might be eligible for something, ask the question. There's no harm in asking.

Our agency does not charge a fee for phone calls. We don’t charge a fee for replacing Social Security cards or Medicare cards. So, for a question like this, we will give you an answer that we're not the VA. We're not an insurance company that pays 10% disabilities or 20% disabilities.

When a client is a 100% disabled, they will receive Social Security and if their condition gets worse, it doesn’t change it. There's either on or they're not.

Now we do need to know if they get better. So, if a person is released to return to work, or their condition goes into remission, they need to report that to us. Those reports can be done right to our 1-800 number system, and then that will get right to their case worker at their local office.