1. You need an SSD lawyer to help you understand what disability benefits you could be entitled to.
The process of applying for disability benefits is complicated right from the start, as there are two different benefits programs offered through the Social Security Administration (the SSA). Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that is intended for people with low income and limited resources. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is not based on need but is intended for people who have worked and paid into the system. Determining whether you qualify for SSI or SSDI can be a complex process and it can also be hard to figure out which of the two options would provide you with the broadest types of benefits. In some cases, a person may qualify for both SSI and SSDI.
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2. You need a lawyer to help ensure your application is thorough and complete.
When you apply for SSD benefits, you need to prove that you meet the SSA’s narrow definition of “disabled.” This means that you must show that you have a severe medically determinable impairment that has lasted, or can be expected to last, at least twelve months.
Not only does your application need to show that you are seriously medically impaired, but you also need to make sure that you have completed all documentation in full and that all of your medical records and information come from a licensed specialist who is treating you.
An SSD lawyer can explain exactly what information you need and help you make sure the SSA gets that information. An attorney can assist in all steps of completing and filing your application to give you the best chance of approval.
3. You need an SSD lawyer to keep your application moving forward
There is a very long wait to receive disability benefits, with the average claimant waiting between four and six months to hear whether the initial claim for benefits is approved. If a claim is denied, as most are, the process can take much longer.
The last thing you want to do is make your claim take even longer by failing to submit required documents or not responding promptly to requests for information from the SSA. An SSD lawyer can make sure this doesn’t happen by helping you deal with the SSA. An SSD attorney can also help you deal with problems such as physicians who are slow to send records.
4. You need an SSD lawyer to help you to get full benefits and to avoid jeopardizing your claim.
An SSD attorney can make sure that you get the full benefits available to you based on when your disability began. For SSDI, you could actually receive benefits for some of the time before you filed your application for benefits. Proving exactly when your disability started can be challenging, but an attorney can help you so you do not lose out on any money you are entitled to.
An attorney can also help you avoid mistakes that could hurt your claim. There are a lot of things that could put your Social Security disability claim at risk. For example, if you fail to meet deadlines for filing a claim, submitting information or filing appeals, then your claim may be closed and you could lose your chance at getting benefits or have to start your claim over.
5. You need an SSD lawyer because most benefits claims are denied.
More than half of all initial claims for Social Security disability benefits are initially denied. A Social Security disability lawyer can work to help you avoid a denial and fight for your rights if your claim is initially denied.
If your claim has already been denied, then it is more important than ever to consult with an experienced SSD lawyer. There is an appeals process that may include a request for the SSA to reconsider its decision, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, an appeal of the decision made at the hearing to a review board and an appeal to a federal court.
During the appeals process, the SSA may use its own experts to represent its interests. You should have your own knowledgeable advocate arguing on your behalf, proving your right to benefits and fighting for you. Your attorney will not only help you to meet the deadlines and fulfill the procedural requirements of the appeals process but will also work to make a very strong case to help you get you the benefits you deserve.
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Making a claim for SSD benefits and appealing an initial denial are all done within the administrative Social Security system. This means that these types of claims are very different from typical personal injury lawsuits and require an understanding of the inner workings of the Social Security Administration.
At the Ginarte Law Firm, our experienced SSD attorneys have represented many clients at all stages of applying for SSD benefits, appealing denials and fighting for benefits to continue when problems arise. Let us put our legal experience to work for you.
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