When a serious injury or illness prevents you from working and earning an income, it becomes a struggle to make ends meet. More than 12 million people in a comparable situation currently receive benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs through the Social Security Administration (SSA), but it is not such an easy process.
More than two-thirds of initial applications for disability benefits are denied, which can be frustrating considering the time and effort that an applicant puts into it. Instead of dealing with complicated federal regulations and confusing procedures, a better way to get disability benefits is by relying on the knowledge and experience of a disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC.
The challenge applicants face when applying for SSI or SSDI benefits on their own without assistance from an SSDI lawyer is the difficulty of avoiding mistakes that delay the process or lead to a denial of benefits. For example, relying on the SSA to obtain your medical records needed to prove that you are disabled typically delays the process as the claim examiner at Disability Determination Services (DDS) waits for your medical providers to respond to the request.
An SSI lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, knows the medical evidence DDS needs to have to approve a claim for SSI or SSDI benefits. Instead of relying on the DDS to request medical records, a Disability Partners disability lawyer takes the initiative to ensure that proof of a disabling physical or mental impairment is available.
When you first speak to a disability lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, you receive an assessment of your claim, so you immediately know whether you meet the requirements to qualify for benefits through the SSA. For example, if you have a work history at jobs or through self-employment where you paid Social Security taxes on the income, you may be eligible for SSDI.
Your work record must be long enough to qualify for the SSDI program based on the age when you became disabled. If you are eligible for SSDI, we then look at your medical records to determine whether you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. The impairments must be severe, so they must be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death.
Unlike the requirements for SSDI, you do not need a work record to apply for SSI. You must, however, have limited financial resources and income and be an adult or child who is blind or disabled, or you must be at least 65 years of age.
Whether you are filing an initial application or challenging a denial of benefits through the appeal process, a disability lawyer from Disability Partners, PLLC, makes a difference. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim assessment.