To Schedule an Appointment, Call Us Toll Free at 1.877.873.8208 or Email Us for a Prompt Response.
If you have a permanent disability and a previous work history, you and your dependents may be able to claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. These could help to cover some of the costs associated with your lost income and improve your quality of life.
Applying for SSDI benefits in Huntington is not a simple process, and the Social Security Administration is particular about the conditions and circumstances that may qualify someone.
A dedicated SSDI attorney can assist you with each phase of seeking benefits, from the initial application to representing you at hearings or other court appearances that may arise. Call Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, today to schedule your free consultation.
SSDI is sometimes confused with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but these programs are very different.
SSDI benefits are for Huntington workers who have paid into the Social Security system for a long enough time to earn sufficient work credits and are facing a permanent disability that prevents substantial gainful employment. SSDI benefits are designed to help eligible employees and their dependents compensate for the loss of income resulting from permanent disabilities.
An individual can only secure SSDI benefits if he or she has been employed or self-employed in jobs covered by Social Security, and is totally disabled with a qualifying medical condition.
However, with SSI, it is possible to obtain benefits without ever having worked. A person can qualify for SSI if he or she has limited income and resources, and is either blind, disabled, or has reached retirement age.
If a worker has paid into the Social Security system and has a long-term disability lasting at least a year, he or she may be eligible for SSDI. Employees or self-employed individuals accumulate work credits, as many as four per year, by paying into the Social Security system.
While the minimum standard work credit requirement to achieve SSDI benefits is typically 40, with 20 having been earned in the last ten years, some disabled people may be able to receive benefits without meeting this threshold. This is because the SSA breaks down the work credit requirement by age, understanding that younger individuals may not have come close to hitting that standard threshold but still meet the other eligibility criteria for a qualifying disability.
Whether someone in Huntington has a qualifying disability that would render him or her eligible for SSDI benefits will depend on several factors. For one, the disability must be total or permanent, making the applicant unable to work in current or past jobs. If the person is still carrying out substantial gainful employment, that application will not be successful.
In addition, the individual’s disability should either be expected to remain for one year or be fatal. Lastly, the disability must be found on the SSA’s list of qualifying medical conditions, which includes physical conditions and certain mental conditions. A Huntington lawyer can help collect the necessary documentation to prove eligibility for SSDI benefits.
Even if a single supporting element is missing from your application, the SSA could deny your claim for benefits.
A professional Huntington lawyer can advocate tirelessly on your behalf while working to help you get qualified for any SSDI benefits you may be entitled to. To speak with a reliable Social Security attorney about what you could receive in benefits, call our firm today and schedule your free one-on-one consultation.
To Schedule an Appointment, Call Us Toll Free at 1.877.873.8208 or Email Us for a Prompt Response.
Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law