Applying for SSDI or SSI Disability Claims
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) lawyers or advocates are not always knowledgeable about civil rights legislation including other SSA benefits available to their clients. Without a thorough understanding of current Social Protection disability benefits representatives for the disabled may cause clients to lose-out on benefits they deserve.
Since the demand for Social Safety support for the disabled has substantially increased due to the lagging economy many deserving claims will meet with rigid requirements. In this case advocates for the disabled must be aware of and apply for all Social Security Administration Protections available. This post will outline some of the laws related to disability qualifications.
You can go about the process of applying for benefits yourself or you can get an experienced disability lawyer who can apply instead. Applying for a claim without representation is risky, and since 70% of all first-time claims are rejected by the SSA, due to technicalities, you should use a law firm to file your initial SSDI claim for you.
Disability lawyers who are members of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) should be your primary choice. And since your attorney will only be paid by winning your case, there’s no reason not to use a qualified SSDI advocate law firm. These fees are made up of back payments or past-due benefits that you are entitled to and cannot exceed $6000.
A candidate for Social Protection impairment benefits must have a medical history record reflecting a qualified disability. The disability should have a duration period of at least 12 months and can be work related or otherwise.
There are two types of Social Security Disability benefits. They are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
1. SSDI exists for people who have worked and paid taxes in their lifetime that went in part to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
2. SSI is related to SSDI, but differs, in that SSI benefits depend on a person’s financial needs. SSI benefits are not dependent on money paid into the SSA via past employment.
Consequently, a meeting with a potential client about details needs to establish:
- Whether that person suffered a trauma at the work environment.
- Whether his company terminated him as an outcome of experiencing the trauma after the company was informed that it was a job-related injury.
- Whether the injury, job-related or not, still allowed him to work for his employer with an affordable accommodation by the employer.
- Whether the employer declined to make the practical accommodation and rather laid off or terminated the employee.
- Whether the employee, who previously did not have any efficiency issues, suddenly obtained write-ups after the injury.
- Whether the company had realized that the staff member was experiencing bodily or psychological issues, and rather than help him handle those issues, cancelled him, laid him off, or removed his position.
- Whether the worker had available to him short and/or long-term handicap perks, some kind of retirement handicap or union benefits for which he can apply.
June 10, 2014