How To Apply For Ssi Disability Benefits

Get A Disability Lawyer

How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits online.

In 2018 the Social Security Administration approved roughly 20% of first-time applicants. This underscores the difficulty of getting approved for disability benefits. Because of this, you are encouraged to consult with a lawyer as soon as possible if you want to receive your benefits sooner.;

An experienced lawyer will improve the chances of you being awarded disability benefits since they know exactly what documents and evidence is needed to satisfy the strict Social Security requirements.;

The good thing about Social Security attorneys is that they only collect a fee if you win your disability claim.

What this means is that you pay nothing out of your pocket for a lawyer to represent you. If you do win, then your lawyer would be paid out of the backpay that you receive from Social Security. The fees that disability lawyers typically charge is 25% of your settlement, however, this amount cannot exceed $6,000.;

Editors note: You can find listings of disability lawyers near you by searching websites like;;Yelp, Justia, Lawyers.Findlaw.com, and Houston Case Managers.;

You Must Already Have 40 Social Security Work Credits And Paid Fica Taxes For 5

Insufficient work history is another one of those disability secrets that confuses many people who receive a technical denial letter. Look at it this way: If youre disabled and cannot work, youre technically asking the SSA for early retirement withdrawals. If youve only worked four years full-time in the last decade, thats technically not enough credits to make you eligible. Or maybe you worked full-time for 22 years, but your employer didnt withhold Social Security taxes from all your paychecks.

Heres another example: Youre a federal employee whose government pension automatically disqualifies you from receiving Social Security disability insurance checks. Your monthly SSDI check also depends on how long you worked as well as your paychecks . In any given year, you can earn a maximum of four Social Security work credits with full-time employment. Plus, the amount you need to earn one work credit increases each year to keep pace with increasing average wages. In 2019, youll get one Social Security work credit for every $1,360 you earn, according to the SSA.

Types Of Disability Policies

There are two types of disability policies.

Short-term policies may pay for up to two years. Most last for a few months to a year.
Long-term policies may pay benefits for a few years or until the disability ends.

Employers who offer coverage may provide short-term coverage, long-term coverage, or both.

If you plan to buy your own policy, shop around and ask:

How is disability defined?

How long do benefits last?

How much money will the policy pay?

Don’t Miss: What Are The Requirements To Collect Social Security Disability

If Youre Not Sure Why You Received A Payment

Contact the authorizing agency directly to find out why they sent the payment. You may be able to find the authorizing agency in the memo line of the check. View this diagram of a sample Treasury check to help you locate the authorizing agency contact information on your own check. Scroll about half way down the page to see the diagram.;

If youre unable to find which;agency authorized the payment, .;They;can help you determine which government agency you need to contact. To find which;RFC;you need to call, look for its city and state at the top;center of the check.;

Use the Treasury Check Verification System to verify that;the check is legitmate and issued by the;;government. ;

Medically Qualifying For Social Security Disability Benefits

How to Get Social Security Disability Benefits

All of the conditions that qualify for disability benefits are listed in the Social Security Administrations Blue Book; however, there is no specific SSA-Blue Book listing for Lyme disease. To medically qualify for disability benefits under a Lyme disease diagnosis, you will need to meet the symptom qualifications for another condition that is listed. Since many of the symptoms found in Lyme patients are seen in other listed conditions, you can still qualify for disability benefits due to Lyme disease.;

Below is a list of conditions that fall into the existing Blue Book categories:

Section 1.00 This applies if you have significant mobility limitations.
Section 4.00 This applies if you have suffered heart damage or developed heart disease from Lyme disease.
Section 12.00 This applies if you have anxiety or cognitive issues from Lyme disease.
Section 14.09 This applies if you have arthritis in the knees or other weight-bearing joints that limits your mobility to a level that is considered disabled.;

Medical records, tests results, treatment plans, and other medical documentation are necessary to support your claim for disability benefits. Your doctor needs to carefully prepare records and letters that will support your disability claim.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Va Disability Rating

How To Apply For Ssi In Michigan

To simplify the application process, its best to verify your eligibility for SSI before you begin. You can do this quickly and easily by checking the requirements provided by the Social Security Administration. You must be blind, disabled, or at least 65 years of age to apply for disability in Michigan. In addition, you must have a limited income, limited resources, and U.S. citizenship.

For the purposes of this application, your income includes:

Earned income such as wages or royalties.
Unearned income such as Social Security benefits, state disability payments, and unemployment benefits.
In-kind income such as food or shelter thats provided free or at a discounted rate.
Deemed income such as income from a spouse or parents that reside with you.

Your resources include your:

Personal property.
Life insurance.

If you believe you may be eligible for SSI benefits, you can apply online, in person, or by phone. Gather all applicable documentation before you begin so you can proceed through the application as smoothly as possible. You may need to have your:

Social security card.
Citizenship status record.
Proof of income including payroll stubs, tax returns, and bank statements.
Proof of resources including the deed for your home, life or disability insurance policy information, and vehicle registrations.
Proof of your living arrangements.
Medical documents pertaining to your blindness or disability.
Work history.

Disability Pension Corrective Payment

If you received a benefit from VAC between 2003 and 2010 and it was under the Pension Act, you may receive a corrective payment because of a discrepancy in our calculations. Most payments are automatic, however, Please contact us at if:

You no longer receive a benefit from VAC, or
You represent the estate of a deceased recipient.

If you are legally entitled to inherit assets from the estate of a deceased recipient, you may apply to receive a corrective payment if you are eligible.

Social Securitys Compassionate Allowance List

Another way to have your disability claim expedited is by having a medical condition that is on the Compassionate Allowance List . Currently, there are about 240 medical conditions on that list.;

Compassionate Allowances Conditions

Editors note: If you do not see your medical condition on the list above you can submit a new condition to the Social Security Administration for consideration.;

The medical conditions on the Compassionate Allowance List are used to quickly identify applicants who clearly meet the standard for disability benefits. If you have a condition on this list be sure to provide medical documents as proof because this will help your case.;

Documents Needed To Apply For Social Security Disability

How to Apply for Social Security Disability

To apply for disability benefits you will need to provide the following documents:;

Birth certificate
Proof of citizenship
Documents related to military service, especially any discharge paperwork if you served in the military before 1968
W-2 forms ore self-employment paperwork for the last year
Workers compensation information, date of injury, claim numbers, etc
Medical records like doctors reports, list of medical conditions, test results, and any evidence to prove your disability
Names and dates of birth of children under 18 and the same information for your spouse
Dates of any marriages and divorces
Direct deposit information
An emergency contact
Medical release form SSA-827

Obtaining disability benefits will not be an easy win. Its not enough to simply say you are disabled, because if its not on paper it does not count. For this reason, you want to provide as much evidence as you can to support your case. Dont just assume that your disability hearing judge will understand and agree with you, convince them through your paperwork. I cannot stress this enough.;

The checklist in this section is just a summary of the documents that you will need. Use the links below to educate yourself more about documents that you will need to apply for benefits:

You are encouraged to refer to the Social Security disability checklist to see specific details about the information mentioned above.;

Don’t Miss: How Long Is Short Term Disability Insurance

Am I Eligible For Ssi

Supplemental Security Income is available to disabled individuals who have never worked or who have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security disability insurance . SSI is also available to children with physical or mental disabilities. Eligibility for SSI is subject to income and asset limits.

Get Disability Benefits Help

Millions of people turn to the Social Security Administration every year to receive financial assistance through Social Security disability benefits. Filling your disability claim can be an overwhelming process, and a daunting one. More than 60% of Americans have their disability claim denied initially. Fortunately, there may be assistance for you or your loved through a Social Security disability attorney or advocate.

To have your disability claim reviewed for free, please fill out our free disability evaluation. A Social Security attorney or advocate will reach out to you to review your options and go over the disability benefits you may be entitled to. Working with an attorney may be able to save you the time of appealing your process, getting you the benefits you’ve earned faster.

Social Security Program

There are two forms of disability benefits available for you: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income . Medically qualifying for each is the same, but technically, SSDI and SSI have their own criteria. SSDI is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, while SSI is for people with a dire financial need. Speak with an attorney to determine if you should apply for SSDI, SSI, or even both. You can learn more on:

Some Publications That Will Give You More Information On Disability Benefits

The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability interview or online application. Kits are available for adults and for children under age 18.

The starter kits provide information about the specific documents and the information that we will request from you.

The kits also provide general information about the disability programs and our decision-making process.

Here are some additional resources with information on disability benefits:

Disability Evaluation Under Social Security – Medical criteria for evaluating Social Security disability claims

A California Disability Lawyer Goes To The Next Level

And that next level is appeals. Social Security denies a majority of first-time SSDI applicants. That doesnt mean your claim for benefits is completely over. You can appeal Social Securitys decision.

However, this means you might potentially have to go through all four levels of appeal:

Request for Reconsideration
Appeals Council
United States District Court

If the application process looks difficult, the appeals process is even worse. When you apply for SSDI by yourself, you stand alone as you start the first step. You can hire an attorney at this point. However, your attorney is starting at a disadvantage.

Generally, its better to have a California disability lawyer work on your case from the very start. Applying for benefits on your own could actually delay your claim if you have to appeal a denial of benefits.

Recommended Reading: How Much Does Disability Pay For Bipolar

What Will You Need When You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits

While SSDI and SSI are separate, both are managed by the SSA, and both programs require a long, complicated, and sometimes-baffling application process.

You will need a lawyers help. When you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, you will need to attach the:

names of physicians, hospitals, and clinics that have examined or treated you

dates of your treatments and any hospitalizations

names of any medications you have been prescribed

printouts of your physical exam and medical test results

names and contact details for your most recent employers, and the employment dates

contact details for your health insurance or workers compensation carrier

emergency contact details for a trusted friend or family member

How To Stop Social Security Check Payments

The SSA can not pay benefits for the month of a recipients death. That means if the person died in July, the check received in August must be returned. Find out how to return a check to the SSA.

If the payment is by direct deposit, notify the financial institution as soon as possible so it can return any payments received after death. For more about the requirement to return benefits for the month of a beneficiarys death, see the top of page 11 of this SSA publication.

Family members may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits when a person getting benefits dies. Visit the SSAs Survivors Benefits page to learn more.

You May Qualify For Legal Assistance

Want to know more disability secrets that could help your case? Having a lawyer file your claim makes you 2x more likely to get benefits on your first try. We can match you with a local Social Security attorney that knows disability secrets that can help your case. For example: There may be state-run disability programs you qualify for that pay cash benefits while the SSA reviews your application.;Still, talking to a lawyer is the only way to learn which disability secrets may help you win benefits.

All disability attorneys work on contingency, so youll pay pay nothing for legal advice by phone. If the SSA wont approve your claim, you owe $0 for legal assistance. And if you win, then youll only pay a small, one-time fee.

Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to start your free online benefits evaluation now!

Do I Need A Lawyer To Represent Me

How to Apply for Social Security Disability and SSI Online

You do not need a lawyer to represent you in your appeals, but its better if you can have a lawyer. There are many complicated issues and regulations to be dealt with. Statistics show that there is a better rate of success if you have someone assisting you. Unlike many attorneys, disability lawyers do not charge up-front fees or require a retainer to work on a Social Security disability case. Most disability attorneys and advocates will be paid a fee only if they win the case

Your representative does not have to be a lawyer. Paralegals and other non-lawyers are allowed to represent you in an appeal, but be careful who you have as a representative. Make sure they are qualified and experienced.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Disability For Bipolar Disorder

Social Security Disability Basics

Learn what our survey results showed about your chances of being approved, how long the process takes, whether a lawyer helps, and how much lawyers charge.

View More Articlesarrow_drop_down

Question: I was laid off and havent been able to find work since then due to a bad back, diabetes, bursitis of the knee, and carpal tunnel in both wrists. Can I apply for Social Security disability while collecting unemployment benefits?

What Should You Know About Social Security Disability Benefits

To ensure that you dont make any mistakes that could delay your benefits or even disqualify you for benefits, have a California disability attorney guide you through the application process.

Here is what you need to know when you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits:

Apply for your benefits promptly. There are strict deadlines, and each day that you wait is a day that you are losing benefits.

Your first application for SSDI or SSI benefits will almost always be denied. Appeal the denial immediately with an attorneys help.

A note from your doctor saying that youre disabled probably will not be sufficient to obtain SSDI or SSI benefits. You must have the advice and services of the right Costa Mesa Social Security disability lawyer.

Take your disability seriously. Adhere to your doctors recommendations and do not miss your follow-up medical appointments. Missing appointments could damage your case for why you need disability benefits.

Do not presume that a good attorney will be too costly. Most California disability lawyers represent clients on a contingent fee basis, so your attorney is paid only after you begin receiving benefits.

A Costa Mesa disability benefits attorney will guide you through each stage of the disability application process so that you may receive your SSDI or SSI benefits as swiftly as possible.

Also Check: Is Fibromyalgia A Long Term Disability

How Do You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits

In southern California, if you have been disabled, you cant work, and you require disability benefits, you will also need some sound legal advice. Before you fill out any benefit form or application, discuss your circumstances with a Costa Mesa Social Security disability attorney.

When you seek disability benefits from the Social Security Administration , whether you are applying for Supplemental Security Income or for Social Security Disability Insurance , you will face a challenging task.