Have you recently acquired a disability that’s placed you out of work? You have options and rights for supplemental incomes and assistance, including through the Social Security Administration. A Social Security Disability Insurance lawyer in Greenville, SC, can help you review your claim and discover what you can receive in monthly assistance.
If you have a disability, you might have heard of the SSDI benefits you can receive. While this is a helpful resource for individuals and families, it’s not an easy process to go by. First, you must qualify for monthly assistance by meeting the SSA’s strict requirements.
Wondering if you qualify for social security disability? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Social Security Disability?
Both SSA programs, Supplement Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), help individuals and families with disabilities. These programs send out a monthly payment as income and follow the same basic medical requirements in order to qualify. The only stark difference is that SSDI looks at a person’s work history for eligibility.
Social Security Disability helps those who have obtained a disability through an accident rather than were born with one. The accident that led to the disability can be an illness, work accident, or another type of incident that has now caused the person to have a severe impact to the quality of life and not have the ability to work.
SSDI look at a person’s work credits to determine if they can receive compensation through this program. Work credits are earned yearly if a person works at a job that is “insured” by paying Social Security taxes. If you are self-employed or do not have a job with this qualification, you will not be eligible for SSDI.
Work credits are earned yearly and capped out when an individual acquires 4 per year. You accrue 1 work credit for every $1,510 earned, which means a person needs to make at least $6,040 a year to reach the 4 annual work credits.
The SSA will look at how many work credits an individual has at the time of filing, and it’s their main requirement for an individual to have at least 40 credits at the time of filing, especially since most SSDI applicants are older individuals just shy of retirement. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible for a younger person to fall victim to a disability and need this assistance.
Younger workers will obviously not have spent enough time in the workforce to have acquired 40 credits by the time of filing, so the SSA has other requirements based on credits and age:
| Ages | Work Credits Requirement |
| 24 & Younger | Must have 6 work credits earned within a 3-year period before disability started |
| 24-31 | Must have credits from working half the time from age 21 to when disability started |
| 31 & Up | Must have at least 20 credits earned within a 10-year time period before disability started |
It can be confusing to understand the work credits, their requirements, and know how many you have. An SSDI lawyer in Greenville, SC, can help you collect this information by reviewing your previous work history.
Other SSDI Eligibility Requirements
Work credits are not the only eligibility requirements to obtain SSDI monthly benefits. Here are other qualifications a person must have in order to be approved by the SSA to receive disability benefits:
- You must have a disability that’s placed you out of work for at least a year or is expected to result in death
- The disability must not be partial or short-term
- The disability must meet the SSA’s definition of a disability
- You must be younger than the full retirement age
The biggest indicator for your approval is having an acceptable disability. It is crucial that you have medical records explicitly stating your disability and showing proof that it not only matches the SSA’s disability definition but also has placed you out of work for a long period of time or permanently.
The Application Process & an Attorney’s Help
While applying for SSDI benefits is simple in nature, it’s more complex than it seems. On average, 63% of applicants are denied for numerous reasons. Most of the time, it is due to inaccurate information or applications not being thorough enough to meet SSA standards.
Luckily, the right SSDI attorney can make sure this doesn’t happen and that your chances of being approved the first time are much higher.
An attorney who specializes in the SSA processes understands what the application is like and how to tailor your application’s information for your benefit. They will answer all questions on the form and make sure you follow the SSA’s guidelines if anything is asked of you, like revisiting a doctor or showing more proof of your disability.
Ideally, this is what the application process is like:
- You fill out the online disability form
- Complete the medical release form
- Wait for a response
A lot of people submit applications to the SSA for SSDI benefits, and applications are reviewed thoroughly. It will take a few months for you to hear a response, so if you are in dire need of assistance, it’s important to apply as soon as possible.
If your application is denied, your attorney can help you a step further with the appeal process.
I Need More Assistance – What Else Can I Get?
If you are approved for Social Security Disability benefits, your monthly assistance will be between $800-$1,260, which really is not a whole lot. While it’s something, your attorney can help you seek extra assistance elsewhere through a few programs and possibilities such as the following:
- Worker’s compensation
- State disability insurance
- Home Energy Assistance Program
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- More
Speak to a Greenville, SC Social Security Disability Lawyer Today
If you would like assistance filing for SSDI and other benefits, an SSDI lawyer in Greenville, SC, can help. Robert Surface Law is a firm of dedicated attorneys with extensive knowledge in the SSA process to help those unable to work due to a disability receive the help they need.
Our background in this area has led us to know how complex this process can be, which is why we’re the right people to help. We know how to correctly fill out the application and help with appeals should your case go through this step.
Instead of feeling stuck and unsure of how to proceed, let us help. Start talking to one of our attorneys today by calling (864) 300-4994 to schedule your free consultation.
