McKinney, Texas, is a large city located north of Dallas in Collin County. For several years in the early 2000s, it was the fastest-growing city in the nation, and today, it is estimated to support about 161,000 people. Many of those who live in McKinney work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or at Raytheon, the city’s largest employer, and they are counting on each paycheck to maintain their current lifestyles. However, one in four U.S. workers becomes disabled before retirement, and when a disability prevents you from working, you have to find a means of support.
In 1956, the federal government recognized the need to help disabled workers, so Congress amended the Social Security Act to include an insurance program called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Qualified workers who apply for SSDI receive a monthly benefit that can help them maintain a standard of living above the poverty level.
What Is SSDI?
SSDI is a government-sponsored insurance policy that is funded through Social Security payroll deductions, and those who have suffered a qualifying disability and have the minimum number of work credits within the allotted timeframe will be awarded a monthly benefit in an amount based on past earnings.
To have your SSDI application approved, you must show that you have a severe disability that your doctor believes will eventually result in your death or last for a minimum of one year. In addition, your condition must prevent you from performing the work you did in the past and make it impossible to adjust to different work.
As for the work requirements, you must have the minimum amount of work credits, and the work had to have been performed in recent years. The specific amount of work and the timeframe depend on the age when you became disabled. For instance, workers under the age of 24 need only 18 months of work performed within the last three years. Those who are 24 to 31 years of age must have worked half of the time since their 21st birthday. If you are 32 or older, then you need five years of work in the last 10 years.
While SSDI is available for all qualifying U.S. workers, the program has one major disadvantage: It is administered by the government. Most people find the application process to be very taxing, and about two-thirds of applications are rejected upon the initial review. Another drawback is the time it takes for processing. If you have to appeal the case, it can take up to two years for a hearing to be held.
The SSDI application process can be done online or at the SSA office in McKinney. Your application must be accompanied by supporting documentation, including all of your medical records, and you must be able to explain your condition using proper medical terminology.
Getting Help From SSD Attorney in McKinney
Applying for SSDI and appealing decisions can be extremely taxing when you are trying to adjust to life with a disability, and most people simply abandon the process after the first step. However, you have a right to be represented by an experienced professional from the very beginning. An experienced member of the team at Chermol & Fishman LLC will help complete your application quickly and accurately and will discuss your condition with doctors to ensure the documentation is adequate. In addition, if you have to appeal, we will be at your side when it is time to appear at a formal hearing.
