The federal government realized that situations such as this had to be fixed in 1956 when the Social Security Act was expanded to include a new insurance program for U.S. workers suffering from severe disabilities. This program, known as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), offers relief to qualified workers who can no longer earn a living by providing them with a monthly benefit for living expenses.
SSDI is an insurance program managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It works like an insurance policy, and nearly every worker in the U.S. pays the premiums through federal payroll taxes. If you have worked the required number of years in the given timeframe and are no longer able to support yourself, you may qualify for SSDI benefits.
Approval for SSDI is based on three primary qualifications:
- You must work the minimum number of years. The exact amount of time needed for SSDI is based on the age when you became disabled.
- You must have a recent work history, and the timeframe in which you must have worked is also based on your age. For example, if you are 24 or younger, you only need 1.5 years of work in the last three years, and if you are 31 or older, you must have completed five years of work in the last 10.
- You must be living with a severe, long-term disability that keeps you from performing the work you did in the past and prevents you from switching to other work. A doctor must expect this disability to last for one year or longer or end with your death.
Social Security Disability in Justin, TX
SSDI can be of great help to disabled workers, but applying for benefits through this program can be difficult, stressful and time consuming. Residents of Justin, TX, may apply online or at the local SSA office in Denton, but you will first need to prepare a large amount of supporting documentation, including proof of your birth, residence, identity and disability, which means you have to request medical records from your doctors.
If you make errors in your application or miss deadlines for submitting your documents, your review could be delayed beyond the two to three months it usually takes. In addition, 67 percent of applications are denied even when everything appears to be in order. If you are denied after your first review, you will have to file an appeal and will probably have to schedule a hearing with an administrative law judge.
Getting Help From an Attorney
To improve your odds of getting approved expeditiously for SSDI, you may want to hire experienced disability law professional. A knowledgeable expert from Chermol & Fishman, LLC will help complete your application as accurately as possible, and speak with your doctors to ensure that your medical records show what the SSA wants to see.
If your application is denied and you have to attend a hearing, we will do all of the hard work so that you have the time you need to stay focused on your personal situation. For more information on whether you are a candidate for SSDI, contact us today for a free consultation.
