Have you lost your health, income, insurance, or home due to disability? The Social Security Disability attorneys at Grizzly Law are here to help.
Talk to An Attorney NowWhat Is a Social Security Disability?
:: the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Disability
The social security administration has a listing of impairments that include such things as: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Degenerative Disc Disease, Bipolar Disorder, Cancer, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Congestive heart failure, Chronic heart failure, Anxiety disability, Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, HIV AIDS, Hepatitis C, Schizophrenia, and Crohn’s disease.
If you provide evidence that you meet the criteria for one of the listed conditions you may qualify for disability. Even if you don’t meet a listing, you may still qualify if you have a combination of medical and psychological conditions that add up to the severity of a listed condition.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE:
SSD insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you have worked long enough, paid SS taxes, and meet the criteria for disability.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME:
Supplemental Security Income is available to individuals who have not worked long enough to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance but do meet the Social Security requirements for financial eligibility.
Yes and no. There is no minimum age requirement to qualify, but the older you are, the easier it gets to meet the requirements.
Yes, but there are certain restrictions. Going back to work is an easy way to lose your benefits if you don’t know the rules. It is a good idea to talk to an attorney about your particular case.
A claimant can receive benefits until full retirement age or until the disability improves enough for the individual to return to work on a full-time basis or for a period of more than nine months.
As long as an individual is not earning money from employment, other sources of income (property rentals, stocks, bonds, trust payments, etc.) are not limited, and the claimant can still receive Social Security pay. There are certain requirements for individuals applying for Social Security Insurance.
If an application is initially denied, it can almost certainly be appealed. However, in these cases, an individual should definitely consider hiring a Social Security Disability lawyer. Claims which are initially rejected are often later approved on appeal or after a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
The amount of a claimant’s Social Security disability benefit will be based on an average of their lifetime earnings. Payments can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month. If a claimant had a history of low paying jobs, their benefit amount will be different than if the claimant had a history of high paying jobs.
Depending on the specifics of the case, a typical process can take anywhere from six to eighteen months. Applications requiring a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge take longer to process.
The law is strict. A representative is entitled to up to 25% of your past due benefits, for a maximum of $6,000. There are some exceptions, but that is the general rule.
A Grizzly Law Social Security Disability lawyer can: help complete the application and other forms; ensure appeals are filed on time; help collect and organize medical records; work with treating doctor(s) to prove disability; help prepare for the claimant’s Social Security hearing; and argue the claimant’s case to the Judge.
SSD insurance benefits can reach back a maximum of one year before the date the application depending on how long you have been disabled. However, benefits don’t start until after 5 months from the date you became disabled.