Social Security Disability

The Law

Social Security Disability Attorney

We are all in danger of becoming disabled at any time, as frightening as it may appear. Whether through illness or injury, disabilities can leave us unable to provide for ourselves and our family.

In such cases, you may face a disability that may impair your ability to earn an income, and therefore try to push for benefits. Nevertheless, obtaining such benefits will require you to subject yourself to a rigorous administrative process in order to qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or SSI (Supplemental Security Insurance). It is also possible that your claim is denied, even with all the necessary documentation provided during this process.

To appeal such decisions, you will definitely need the assistance of an experienced SSDI lawyer in Arizona to guide you through.

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What is a Disability?

The United States government provides financial benefits for those who are disabled through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA has defined a “disability” as:

“The inability to engage in substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable impairment that has lasted or is expected to last a minimum of 12 months or result in death.”

If you or a loved one suffer from a physical or mental disability that has left you unable to work, you may be entitled to receive benefits.

Types of Disability Benefits

Currently, the government offers two main types of benefits:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD)

A benefit that is earned by paying into the system through income tax contributions. Generally speaking, the duration of your payments is measured for this type of benefit, meaning that if you have paid in for a sufficient number of quarters annually, you are eligible regardless of your current financial situation. In addition, legal permanent residents who have paid in for the required length of time can receive this benefit.

Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI)

SSI is available to those with few financial resources who are unable to work because of their disability status. Unlike SSD, anyone can be eligible for this benefit. In general, SSI is paid to disabled individuals who may be disabled, blind, or over the age of 65.

How Our Disability Attorneys Can Help

Receiving SSD or SSI benefits can be very essential to a claimant’s future health and life, as it can also make them eligible for Medicare or other medical coverage.

As these benefits can be hard to obtain, the process you would have to subject yourself to can be tedious and cumbersome. This is where a Social Security Disability attorney can guide you through, and work on your application and subsequent appeal and handle all the aspects of this process.

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Who is Eligible for Disability Benefits?

SSD requires 40 work credits, with twenty credits earned within the last 10 years. As long as you qualify for SSD, you may also be entitled to monetary compensation, with benefits of up to one-half of your disability amount can be paid monthly to your spouse or children.

We can help with the following cases:

  • Appeal Process
  • Disabled Widow Benefits
  • Disability Hearings
  • Filing a Disability Claim
  • Qualifying for SSD and Medicare
  • Qualifying for SSI and Medicaid or Medi-Cal
  • Social Security Disability Insurance
  • Supplemental Security Income
  • SSDI and SSI DenialsWidows and Widowers Benefits

Individuals who are disabled or blind will need to have paid Social Security taxes to be eligible for insurance benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Additionally, to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you will need to have earned the minimum required work credits. Other differences include the payment and medical coverage available from the two programs.

In contrast, you do not need to have earned any work credits or have paid Social Security taxes in order to receive Supplemental Security Income. This means you can qualify for SSI even if you have never worked. In fact, SSI is designed to assist low-income and low-resource individuals who may have never been able to earn wages due to a disability or disabling condition.

To be eligible for Supplemental Security Income, a disabled individual will need to meet different criteria, including (but not limited to):

  • Having limited income
  • Having limited resources
  • Being a United States citizen or national
  • Living in the U.S. or Northern Mariana Islands

With the help of a disability advocate who is also an attorney, you ensure that you have someone representing you who has passed the accrediting requirements to provide adequate representation under the law. He or she will have undergone legal training and will have graduated from law school and passed the Bar exam. Moreover, attorneys are subject to strict ethical requirements and must follow ongoing, continuing education to ensure they are familiar with changes in the law. These are just some of the advantages of hiring an advocate who is a licensed attorney.

Under Social Security laws, individuals are only considered disabled if a medical condition is expected to keep them from working for a minimum of 12 months or is expected to result in death. The disability can either be a physical condition, mental condition, or a combination of both.

You will need to contact the Social Security Administration either online, by phone, or in person to file an application for disability benefits. You should have all of your information available so that you can ensure an application is correctly filed. This includes information regarding medical conditions, medication, treatment, and work history. Contact our firm today to help get you started.

You should file for Social Security disability benefits as soon as possible. Disability applications can take a very long time to be processed, and if you know that you will be out of work for a minimum of a year, you should start right away.

Working with an attorney on your Social Security disability case presents a number of advantages. First, determining whether you are even qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, or both can be complicated. An attorney will be familiar with the law and can help you determine if you are eligible for benefits, as well as which benefits you can seek. Second, correctly filing your application for SSDI or SSI is incredibly important; any mistakes on your application could result in delays or even a denial of your claim. An attorney can ensure that you correctly and fully fill out all applicable information and correctly file your claim. If your claim is denied—which is not at all uncommon—you will definitely want an experienced attorney who can help you appeal the denial.

At Coats & Todd, we have over 60 years of collective experience and have helped thousands of individuals successfully recover their rightful Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income. Our Dallas-Fort Worth Social Security disability lawyers focus solely on this area of law, meaning we are able to dedicate all of our time, efforts, and resources to helping you navigate the Social Security disability process. We understand that every case is unique, which is why we offer compassionate, personalized guidance and client-focused representation every step of the way. By working with an attorney, you improve the chances of a better, faster resolution to your case.



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