What is SSDI?
Nearly 30 million people are currently disabled in the United States, and to help keep them on their feet, the federal government has established a disability insurance program for U.S. workers known as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Those who qualify for SSDI will be awarded a monthly benefit to help pay for the necessities of life.
Because SSDI is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), it is often confused with another program for the disabled called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, SSI is an income-based social program while SSDI is an insurance policy. Workers in the U.S. pay the premiums on this policy though automated payroll deductions, so many are unaware that they are covered.
To qualify for SSDI, several criteria must be met, including two work-related criteria and a strict disability requirement. One of the work requirements is based on how long you have worked, which ensures that applicants have sufficiently paid into the program. The other requirement looks at how recently you have worked because the insurance program is meant to be for workers.
Once you meet the work criteria, you will also have to prove that your disability is severe enough to prevent you from performing your former work duties and adjusting to new forms of work. When reviewing your application, the SSA will compare your disabilities to a list of qualifying physical conditions and psychological impairments that are expected to last at least one year or result in your death.
Social Security Disability Lawyers in Grapevine, TX
To apply for SSDI in Grapevine, TX, you can either go to the SSA office in Grand Prairie or complete the online application. However, your application could be delayed or rejected if it is not filled out correctly, which includes understanding all of the medical terms regarding your disability. It is also necessary to include your medical records and a few other pieces of evidence to verify who you are and where you live.
Because so many people are applying for SSDI, there are more than 1 million applications waiting to be processed at any given time. You will have to wait several months before your initial judgment is returned. Only about 35 percent of applications are approved after the first review, so most people must go through the appeals process for approval.
There are four levels of appeals to go through before your application is considered dead. The first is to ask for reconsideration, and if that fails, you will have to ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Getting Help from an Grapevine SSD Attorney
To alleviate the stress of applying for SSDI in Grapevine, TX, and to ensure all of the steps are taken correctly and in the right order, it helps to hire an experienced disability representative. Our experienced team at Chermol & Fishman, LLC can complete the application on your behalf and will know all of the legal and medical terms to prove your disability to the SSA.
If you have already submitted an application and been denied, we can take your case through all four levels of appeals should it need to go that far. We will be at your side at the hearing and will always have your best interests in mind. Contact a Texas us right away for further information on SSDI.
