Social Security Benefits and Supplemental Security IncomeBefore getting into a detailed look at social security benefits in West Virginia, it’s important to understand that there is a difference between social security benefits and supplemental security income benefits. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is that supplemental security income is not derived from social security in any way, and is instead derived from general taxes.
The primary purpose of supplemental security income is to help disabled people that do not normally qualify for social security benefits, or who do not have enough income to cover their basic needs and associated costs. Social security benefits, by contrast, can help a person in their retirement or be accessed as a part of a disability claim to provide resources during a tough time period.
In both cases, there is a rigorous process involved in filing a claim. This is especially true for West Virginia, where the burden of proof is particularly high for claimants. Although both social security disability benefits and supplemental security income don’t often resolve in favor of the claimant on the first evaluation, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all hope is lost. In most cases, an SSDI attorney can move the process along until it reaches a Social Security Administration judge. At this point, the claimant can make their case and prove their need directly in front of the judge, who will either rule in favor or against the claimant in a final appeal.
If you think that you’ve been incorrectly rejected from benefits, or simply need help in moving your claim along, then you should seek out an attorney you trust to help you move through each step of the process.
