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If an injury or illness prevents you from working, you may consider filing an application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) provide monthly payments and other benefits to relieve financial pressures.

Unfortunately, getting the disability benefits that you need and deserve is more difficult than you may think. More than two-thirds of people who apply for SSI and SSDI are denied benefits after the initial determination process. Many of them give up in frustration while others must go through a lengthy and complicated appeal process, but there is an alternative to doing it yourself.

According to the U.S. General Accountability Office, people with representation had a success rate of claims being approved that was three times higher than applicants who did not. Contact Disability Partners, PLLC, for representation by a disability lawyer to fight for the SSI and SSDI benefits you are entitled to receive.

Client-focused assistance with the application

Anyone can fill out an application for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits. The difference that an SSD lawyer makes is avoiding mistakes and omissions that delay the processing of an application or cause the SSA to decline benefits. We use developed knowledge of the law, regulations, and procedures to ensure that your application for benefits is complete and accurate.

We also help you gather the medical records and other evidence that is needed to prove that you meet the qualifying standards to be approved for benefits. If you applied for benefits and received a denial letter, we can help with that as well by challenging the determination through the appeal process.

An experienced disability lawyer aggressively fights for you

The SSI and SSDI programs may look similar and even use the same definition for “disability” for adult applicants, but their nonmedical requirements for eligibility are quite different:

• SSDI: To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have worked at jobs or through self-employment and paid Social Security taxes on the income for a long enough duration to be eligible for the program. How long you must have worked depends on the age at which you became disabled. A younger worker needs a shorter work record than a worker who is older.
• SSI: You can qualify for SSI benefits without ever having worked, but you must meet strict limitations on the income and financial resources that are available to you. For instance, the total value of assets available to you, which the SSA refers to as “resources,” cannot exceed $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple. There are, however, income and resource exclusions that an accomplished SSI lawyer may determine for you.

Working with an experienced SSDI lawyer ensures that you not only meet the disability requirement, but that you also meet the nonmedical requirements. Some people may qualify for benefits through both SSI and SSDI.

Contact Disability Partners today

When you have questions or concerns about SSI and SSDI benefits, speak to a compassionate and accomplished disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim analysis.