Every now and then, we have a set of parents come into the office looking to get SSI benefits for their minor children. They don’t know if children are eligible for these benefits. Nor do they know if their own child can take advantage of the program. Their hope is that an SSI lawyer in Greenville will be able to show them the ropes and answer any questions they may have. And, while we are certainly willing to do that, we also do not want to get anybody’s hopes up unfairly.
The SSA, which is the agency that oversees SSI benefits, is very strict when it comes to new applicants. One of the main reasons for this is that once somebody is approved for SSI, it seems as if they make very little effort to get off of SSI. Why would somebody willingly put themselves in a position to lose free governmental assistance? It’s one thing if you paid into it. It’s quite another if you’re looking for benefits for a child of yours who couldn’t possibly how contributed to the SSA’s assistance funds.
Here, we will explain how the SSA handles claims from people all ages- from zero to 100. We will also explain what strict rules the SSA has when they review new applications. If you still have questions about your own SSI case, feel free to contact our office directly. You can sit down with one of our Greenville SSI attorneys and use them as a sounding board to help determine how you should best proceed. We do offer new clients a free, initial consultation, so there’s really no reason to not take advantage of this opportunity.
Not Everybody Who Applies for SSI Will Be Approved for Benefits
One thing we like to warn new clients about is the very low acceptance rate the SSA has when it comes to new applicants. Decades ago, before it became common for people to apply for Social Security benefits at an early age, the agency was more forgiving. However, what they found was that many people come to rely on the SSA almost as a source of income rather than a government assistance program. In a way, the SSA has created a self- fulfilling prophecy.
If people continue to receive assistance on the basis that they’re not able to work due to a medical condition, they have very little incentive to work toward improving their situation. This means that every year there are more people receiving SSI benefits than the year before. At a certain point, one of two things was bound to happen. Either benefits were going to be terminated for some or all recipients, or the SSA was going to introduce very strict guidelines. The combination of the two things have taken place over the last 15 or 20 years.
Most SSI Recipients are Adults
Not surprisingly, most SSI recipients are grownups. Usually, it isn’t until a person gets injured on the job that they find themselves in need of assistance. Or they may have lost their job due to a medical condition. If they are unable to find a new job and have no other source of income, they apply for SSI benefits. All they have to do is find a doctor who is willing to stipulate that they can no longer do the same kind of work they did before and that their medical condition will last at least one year. Ideally, all doctors would operate pm the only up and up. Sadly, this is not what happens. Unfortunately, the system has turned into a rubber stamp where anybody who’s looking for SSI benefits seems to have no problem getting their application in on time.
Social Security Administration Has 3 Strict Rules No Matter Your Age
It may sound cruel, but the SSA has strict rules that apply to both adults and children who are applying for benefits. And there are a good number of children who apply for benefits through their parents. However, if the applicant does not meet the following three criteria, they will have zero chance of being approved for benefits:
- The applicant must have documentation from a medical professional stating that they no longer do the work they used to do
- The SSA will then determine whether they feel there is other comparable work you could do despite the fact that you can no longer practice in your old career
- You must have verifiable proof that whatever medical condition is keeping you from working will continue for at least a period of one year
When it comes to a child applicant, obviously the first and second criteria do not apply.
Does it Help if You Have a SSI Lawyer in Greenville?
As with most processes, it’s in your best interest to hire an SSI lawyer in Greenville before you apply for benefits. Even if you think you meet all the requirements, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your claim will be approved. In fact, what most people don’t realize, is that more than 70% of first-time applicants are denied benefits. As explained above, the Social Security Administration is very strict when it comes to approving new applicants. The last thing they want to do is provide assistance to somebody who plans to collect checks for the rest of their lives. They would much rather look at this as a short-term solution to what could be a long-term problem.
If you’re having trouble being approved for SSI benefits, or are afraid to apply in the first place, then you should reach out to a Greenville SSI lawyer sooner rather than later. If any attorney tells you that they have an inside connection with the SSA, don’t believe them. There’s no guarantee that anybody will be approved for benefits under the SSA. So be wary of any law firm that tells you that, for a small fee, they can guarantee you approval. It simply doesn’t work that way and it shouldn’t work that way.
We suggest that you contact our office and ask if you can schedule your free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to ask any questions you may have. It also gives our Greenville SSI lawyers a chance to see if your claim has merit.
