We’ve heard it countless times: people who have been injured or gotten sick and are unable to work seek Social Security benefits (SSD and/or SSI) trusting that the system is there to help them in their time of need. We have seen their hopes for help turn to discouragement and finally despair. Many people turn to attorneys for help with obtaining Social Security benefits. Working with an attorney who understands the process can help you through the stressful wait for benefits.
Injured on the Job or Does your Injury Prevent you from Working?
When you can’t work because of a disability, you are essentially forced into early retirement which usually is not the sort of retirement you may have envisioned. At Daniels Associates, we can help you with your claim for Social Security Disability, which is, more or less, an early retirement. Social Security Disability (SSD) insurance pays monthly cash benefits to people who have already paid enough FICA taxes to qualify and are now unable to work for a year or more because of a disabling condition.
I am disabled, but I have never worked. Do I Qualify for Supplemental Security Income?
If you haven’t paid enough FICA taxes to qualify for SSD benefits, we may be able to help you with a claim for Supplemental Security Income. The amount of SSI you will receive is based on household assets and income.
Children’s Disability Claims
The needs of your children are important to you. At Daniels Associates, your children are important to us as well. When your child has been born with, or sustained, a serious condition that forever alters their ability to function like other children of the same age, Daniels Associates can help you with a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim.
If you are thinking about applying for disability benefits, contact us at Daniels Associates, because we will handle your SSD/SSI claim for you from the very beginning, and through every stage of the claim.
What is the Process Social Security uses to determine if I am disabled or not?
First, you much fill out an application which is then reviewed by a disability examiner at the Disability Determination agency in your area. This examiner, along with a medical doctor, makes the initial decision on your claim. If your claim is denied at the initial level, you may file a request for reconsideration. Your file is then sent to a different disability examiner, and another decision on your claim is made. If your claim is denied at the reconsideration level, you may then request a hearing. At the hearing level, the claim is decided by an Administrative Law Judge who is employed by the Social Security Administration, but he or she is required to make an independent decision on the claim. We recommended finding counsel at the initial application stage as this can improve your chances of an early approval.
How much money will I get if I am approved for Social Security benefits?
Disability benefits (SSD) is based on how much you have worked and earned in the past. You can contact your local Social Security Office for an estimation of that amount. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is an asset/income-sensitive figure. If you are awarded SSI benefits, you will need to follow up with your local office to determine what you would be entitled to.
How can I afford an attorney if I don’t have any money?
The Social Security Administration must approve all attorney’s fees and may withhold a portion of your back benefits to pay the attorney’s fee. You will not need to pay attorney fees upfront.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
