Many people in Texas automatically think about retirement and welfare when they hear about Social Security, but few realize that the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) also manages a disability insurance program for workers in the U.S. called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Eligible workers who are no longer able to earn a living may be able to receive a monthly monetary benefit to help with the hardships of being disabled.
What Is SSDI?
SSDI is an insurance program, but many workers don’t realize they are covered by it because the premiums are paid through automatic payroll deductions. This insurance plan was established in 1956, and today, about 9.5 million people receive SSDI benefits.
Another Social Security program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI) that covers some disabled residents is often confused with SSDI, but SSI is very different because benefits are determined based on economic need. To receive SSDI, you must meet other requirements, including suffering from a long-term disability and earning the minimum number of work credits.
Your age at the time the disability occurred determines how many work credits you need to qualify:
- Ages 21 to 24 – Six credits in the previous three years
- Ages 24 to 31 – Credits equal to those earned for working half the time since turning 21 years of age
- Ages 32 to 42 – Twenty credits within the last 10 years
- Ages 43 and up – Twenty-two to 40 credits depending on age with 20 earned in the past 10 years
In addition to the work requirement, you must also meet the disability requirement, which is more strictly defined for SSDI than it is for other government programs. According to the SSA, a disability must prevent you from performing the work you did before becoming disabled, and you must be unable to perform other types of work. A doctor must also declare that the disability will last at least one year or result in death.
Following are a few of the common physical and psychology conditions that may qualify individuals for SSDI:
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart disease
- Depression
Social Security Disability Lawyers in Texas
Applying for SSDI in Texas is complex and time consuming, and it is exceptionally difficult when you are dealing with the stress and other ramifications of a new disability. All of the facts in this article are only guidelines. The actual qualification requirements are much more complicated.
If you are filing for SSDI on your own behalf, you will be expected to prove to the SSA that your medical condition meets the requirements, which include understanding all of the technical and medical terms in your health records. To make matters worse, the majority of applications are rejected even though many of them are completed correctly and show that the conditions have been met.
Fortunately, there is a four-step appeals process that can be used to have rejections overturned, but the problem is that an appeal is usually much more complicated than the application.
Getting Help From Texas Social Security Office
Whether you need to complete a new application or your application has been rejected, an experienced representative from Chermol & Fishman, LLC can be extremely helpful. We will help prepare your application for you, and assist with gathering all of the medical records and other evidence to submit with it.
One of our experienced team members will represent you should you have to go to a formal hearing. We will ensure you understand what is happening at each step along the way, providing you with some invaluable peace of mind. For further information on SSDI in Texas, contact us today.
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