If you cannot work because of a severe injury or illness, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. There are two types of Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) requires a qualifying disability, sufficient work credits, and income that does not exceed the earnings limit.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not require work credits, but SSI has strict income and asset limitations. A Kennesaw Social Security disability attorney could advocate for you and help you go after the benefits you deserve.
Our Firm’s Services Are Affordable for Everyone
You might wonder how it’s possible to get legal help with your Cobb County disability claim when you are too sick or hurt to work.
We do not charge any upfront legal fees on the Social Security disability cases we handle. We will get a percentage of the award at the end of the matter.
For a free legal consultation with a social security disability lawyer serving Kennesaw, call (404) 888-8888
You do Not Have to Hire a Social Security Disability Lawyer, But Here Is Why You Might Want to
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not force you to work with an attorney on your disability claim, but doing so can be a wise choice. The SSA denies most disability applications, particularly ones that people file without any legal advice. You must jump through many hoops to get your benefits request approved. These rules can be complicated and confusing.
Also, when you are dealing with significant health issues, the last thing you need is a battle with a government bureaucracy. When you work with one of our Kennesaw Social Security disability attorneys, you can get the rest you need while your attorney does the heavy lifting for you.
Kennesaw Social Security Disability Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
What You Need to Know About Qualifying for Social Security Benefits
The SSDI program covers people who pay enough taxes into the Social Security system to qualify for benefits. If you have not worked long enough in jobs that took Social Security taxes out of your paycheck, the SSA will not consider your application, no matter how catastrophic your disease or injury is.
For every three-month block that you work in a job that contributes to Social Security, you can earn one work credit. You can accumulate up to four work credits per year. The total number of work credits you need to qualify for SSDI benefits will depend on your age at the time you became disabled.
If you have enough work credits, the SSA will then ask these five questions:
- Are you working? The earnings limit for 2021 is $1,310 a month. If you earn more than that amount, the SSA will determine that you are not disabled and do not need disability benefits, no matter how severe your medical condition is. People who meet the SSA definition of legally blind have a higher earnings limit. If your earnings do not exceed the limit, the SSA will move on to the next question.
- Is your medical condition severe enough to qualify for SSDI benefits? The SSDI eligibility requirements state that your injury or disease must cause substantial impairment in your ability to perform basic job duties for at least 12 months. For example, if your medical condition limits your ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, or perform other functions, it could meet the severity test.
- Does your condition satisfy the Blue Book requirements? The SSA uses this reference book to see if a given medical condition is severe enough that a typical person wouldn’t be able to perform substantial gainful activity with that disease or injury. If your situation does not meet the Blue Book requirements or is not contained in the Blue Book, the SSA has some workarounds available.
- The last two questions deal with your ability to perform work. Question four asks if you can still perform the job that you had when you became disabled or any previous job. If your medical impairment prevents you from performing any past job to earn a living, the SSA will then ask the final question.
- Could you do any other type of work, even if it would require additional education or job training? You might have transferable skills from a previous job that you could use in a new line of work. The SSA will not always expect an older worker to engage in significant training or education to enter a new career.
A Kennesaw Social Security disability attorney can help you navigate through these five questions to pursue SSDI benefits.
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If You do Not Have Enough Work Credits
If you do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits, but you cannot work because of a medical impairment, you still might be able to pursue Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI typically does not pay as much money as the SSDI program, but if you are unable to work at all, some benefits are better than none.
Also, people who qualify for SSI are often eligible for other government assistance programs. For example, many people on SSI receive Medicaid health insurance, housing, and food assistance.
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What Happens When a Social Security Disability Benefits Application Gets Denied
If the SSA denies your application for Social Security disability benefits, you will need to appeal that decision right away. You have very little time to file your appeal. If you are not already working with an attorney, this is the time to talk to one.
The SSA often rejects applications because the person seeking benefits did not provide enough medical documentation or did not fill out the form correctly or completely.
A lawyer from our firm can read the decision letter from the SSA, determine why the application got rejected, and take the appropriate measures to pursue benefits for you.
Our Lawyers Can Handle Your Kennesaw Social Security Disability Case from Start to Finish
A Kennesaw Social Security disability attorney at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers could help you with your initial benefits application or any stage of the appeals process. You can call us today at (404) 888-8888 for a free consultation with a team member.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form