Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits people contending with short-term and life-long conditions like asthma, arthritis, and heart failure. Whether you’ve lived with a disability for your entire life or are learning to live with one after an accident, these benefits can help you meet your day-to-day financial needs.
To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must apply for them. Unfortunately, not every claim makes it through. If you think the Social Security Administration wrongfully denied your Social Security Disability benefits application, you can turn to a Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyer with Rand Spear for legal guidance. Our Social Security disability lawyers are well-versed in the law and can help you file so you can get the benefits you deserve.
Breaking Down Social Security
Breaking down Social Security is no easy feat because there are several different programs through which people with disabilities can work to secure a regular income. The most common of these programs include:
- Social Security Disability (SSD)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Disability
Social Security Disability’s financial resources stem from taxes that workers in all industries contribute to on an annual basis. Parties interested in qualifying for SSD must work enough to qualify as insured through the Social Security Administration.
In other words, if you’ve contributed to SSD in the past, you may qualify for its coverage in the wake of a disabling accident.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income, while acronymically similar to SSD and SSDI, is only available to disabled individuals over the age of 65. Recipients receive SSI payments through Medicaid and may have to report their SSI payments as income when filing their taxes. The benefit limits are:
- $914 for a single individual
- $1,371 for an individual with a spouse who is also eligible for SSI
These limits change on a yearly basis, so make sure to reference them before applying for SSI support.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability Insurance allows disabled individuals under the age of 65 to receive financial assistance from the federal government. It is rare for the federal government or state governments to tax this income. The primary difference between SSDI and SSI is that SSI is based on a person’s needs, whereas SSDI eligibility stems from work credits.
SSDI recipients must work enough to earn work credits over the course of a fiscal year. Parties who cannot work enough to receive work credits may not qualify for SSDI. The Social Security Administration updates the value of a work credit annually.
How to File For Social Security Disability Benefits
If you want to file for Social Security Disability Insurance or any of the other related benefits, you can do so online through the Social Security Administration website. You can alternatively call the administration to schedule an appointment to complete your application in person.
You can file your claim on your own or work with our team to complete your application as accurately as possible. Our Social Security Disability attorneys in Philadelphia can sit down with you, assess your circumstances, and ensure that we represent your circumstances accurately when we move your claim forward.
Philadelphia Social Security Disability Lawyer Near Me (215) 985-2424
How to Challenge a Denied Social Security Disability Benefits Claim
When you first apply for Social Security Disability Benefits, you must indicate that you have a qualifying impairment entitling you to support. This means that you can put forward evidence of your:
- Joint damage
- Back injuries
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Asthma
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
- Paranoia or delusions
- Hearing impairments
- Stroke symptoms
That said, a court can deny you your right to support even after you’ve submitted evidence of these conditions. Fortunately, you have the right to respond. You can work with a Social Security Disability lawyer in Philadelphia to appeal your claim’s denial.
Our team can present new evidence to better detail your circumstances and make sure that your claim emphasizes the ways in which you qualify for financial support. During an initial case consultation, you can discuss what modifications you could make to a denied claim.
Why did the Social Security Administration Deny Your Claim?
The Social Security Administration may choose to deny your claim if:
- You were employed when requesting Social Security
- You have the means to work at the moment or in the near future
- Your level of impairment isn’t listed in the Social Security regulations
- You have the opportunity to perform your previous work duties without difficulty
- Neither your age nor impairment nor education prevents you from working
Our team can assess your complaint upon its rejection and challenge the administration’s understanding of your condition. We can then double-check to ensure that we’ve provided the administration with evidence that you qualify for support by specifically addressing each of the aforementioned points.
Working With Rand Spear’s Social Security Disability Lawyers
Rand Spear understands that if you’ve never considered pursuing Social Security before, the application and appeal process may look imposing. Fortunately, we’ve run this gauntlet several times before. We know what steps to take to increase your claim’s chances of moving forward.
Moreover, when you bring your concerns to our office, you can count on Rand Spear to take your condition seriously. We can meet you where you are and provide you with the consummate legal services you need to secure the compensation that will simplify your day-to-day life.
Last but not least, you can count on our team to call on our robust list of medical contacts to help round out your Social Security application.
Talk to a Social Security Disability Attorney in Philadelphia Today
With over 200 years of combined experience, the legal team at Rand Spear understands how to prepare Social Security Disability applications. We collect the necessary medical documentation emphasizing the seriousness of your disability and its effect on your daily life. We also work with a vast network of medical and financial experts to maximize your claim.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
