Social Security Disability Attorneys
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It isn’t easy to file or appeal on your own. Get help from a Kentucky SSD law firm. Use the following links to navigate this page:
9 Things That Qualify You For Social Security Benefits
How To Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
How To Prove That You Should Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits
Top Ten Ways To Qualify for Social Security
How Long Do I Have To Wait After My Application Is Submitted?
What is the Minimum age to Receive Disability Benefits?
Can My Family Receive Social Security Disability Benefits?
Who Actually Decides if I am Disabled?
Why Do I Need A Social Security Disability Attorney?
For disabled veterans, people injured on the job or in car accidents, people who develop diseases and conditions that limit their abilities, and millions of others, Social Security benefits provide a means to live a dignified existence. Isaacs & Isaacs helps people in Louisville, Kentucky and the surrounding areas with their Social Security Disability (SSD or SSDI) claims. We can assist when you:
- First file for disability
- Need to understand what to expect
- Receive a denial of your disability claim
- Need to quickly get claim approval
- Are frustrated and overwhelmed by paperwork and the SSDI claims process
- Want to maximize your benefits
Social Security provides much needed assistance for the most vulnerable.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits for total (not partial or short-term) disability. SSA considers you disabled if the following are all true:
- You cannot do work that you did before
- We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s)
- Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death
According to SSA “This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers’ compensation, insurance, savings and investments.” SSA lists the types of disabilities that may be covered under SSD.
You need a lawyer to help you navigate the SSD rules.
SSD rules can be very confusing. SSA will deny benefits if these rules are not closely followed. A lawyer with experience with Social Security Disability claims can save time, avoid frustrations, limit appeals, and get you benefits much sooner than if you attempt to file on your own. The attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs, PSC have helped people in Louisville and throughout Kentucky get much needed benefits. And, they can help those who do not qualify under the SSD rules, apply for and obtain other benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Don’t be overwhelmed by the paperwork or the process. Let us take care of it for you!
At Isaacs & Isaacs, PSC, our experienced Social Security Disability attorneys take the time to understand your disability. We let you know what to expect and keep you informed throughout the application and appeals processes. Just bring in all your paperwork and we will take care of it on your behalf.
Many legitimate Social Security Disability claims and appeals are denied.
For many disabled people, dealing with day-to-day challenges can be hard to manage on a good day. Dealing with Social Security, paperwork, filing deadlines, and appeals adds unnecessary complications. Without the proper approach, claims may be denied.
Sometimes a claim may be denied because someone does not appear to be disabled because some disabilities are more apparent than others. For example, people with multiple sclerosis, limited vision, brain trauma, or back injuries can look perfectly fine, but their disability can make it impossible for them to stand, sit, or concentrate for more than a moment – making full-time employment nearly impossible.
If SSA denies your claim, call us immediately. Contact us now. Don’t delay.
When your claim is denied by SSA, if you don’t file an appeal within 60 days, you will need to start again with a new application. If you think you have a disability claim, contact us as soon as possible. We can help you find the right options for your situation. It can take up to eight months for a claim to be processed and more than a year when a claim is appealed. The attorneys at Isaacs & Isaacs, PCS can help move you through the claim process and/or any appeals quickly and efficiently.
According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security disability can be granted if you have worked long enough and have become disabled due to a medical condition that prevents you from working. Determining if you can qualify for Social Security benefits can be a very difficult process, but can be a lifesaver for those dealing with chronic disabilities.
Part of the main reason that Social Security exists is to be a resource for disabled individuals. If you have been hurt to the point where it is difficult to work, it is important for you to apply for disability benefits. The process to obtain benefits can be a very long and drawn out process, so it is important to apply as soon as possible after you have determined that you can no longer work.
According to the AARP, the Social Security Disability Insurance program pays over $9 billion dollars per month for an average benefit of $1,110. While this may seem like a significant amount of money, it does not discount the fact that it can sometimes be quite difficult to be awarded disability benefits.
9 Things That Qualify You For Social Security Benefits
The Social Security Administration’s Impairment Listing Manual, called the “Blue Book”, lists a number of impairments, both physical and mental, that will automatically qualify an individual for social security disability benefits or supplemental security income. If you don’t find yourself in this list of nine things that automatically qualify you for social security disability, this does not mean you don’t qualify at all. This is why it is important to call us, or fill out our Free Case Evaluation Form online, for us to look at other factors in your individual case to see if we can get you the social security benefits you deserve. The nine things that automatically qualify you are:
- Musculoskeletal problems, such as back conditions
- Cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
- Senses and speech issues such as vision and hearing loss
- Respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma
- Neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy
- Mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism or retardation
- Immune system disorders like HIV/AIDS, Lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Digestive tract problems, like liver disease or IBD
- Kidney disease
Again, just because you are not on this list does not mean that there are not other factors that qualify you for social security benefits. Call our office today, and we’ll get started getting you the benefits you deserve.
How To Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
There are several ways to apply for disability benefits. You can either apply at your local Social Security office or online at www.socialsecurity.gov. Applying online is likely the fastest way and allows you to complete various questionnaires online. This is also a better choice if you have trouble traveling to your local Social Security office.
How To Prove That You Should Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits
Proving that you should quality for disability benefits can be very difficult. As more and more people are struggling to find work and becoming disabled, the system has been forced to turn away people that likely should qualify for disability. At a minimum to qualify you must meet the following criteria:
- Your illness or disability prevents you from doing your current job or performing the skills necessary to complete other jobs in the workforce
- Your illness or disability should be expected to last at least 1 year if not longer
- You must have worked for a certain period of time and paid into the Social Security system. The length of time which you have worked and paid into the system before becoming eligible depends on your age
Top Ten Ways To Qualify for Social Security
If you want to know if you qualify for social security, here are the top ten ways to do so. As I read this list, however, keep in mind even if you feel you don’t qualify, there may be exceptions in your case and you will still want to call us to determine if we can help you qualify.
Here are the top ten ways people generally qualify:
1. You have worked long enough under social security.
2. You have worked recent enough under social security.
3. You have earned enough work credits.
4. You are unable to perform the work you did before.
5. You are unable to adjust to other work due to your medical condition.
6. Your medical condition has lasted, or is expected to last, at least one year.
7. You have earned less monthly income than social security limits within the current year to be considered disabled.
These are seven things that will need to be met to qualify, but there are three remaining things that will automatically qualify you, such as:
1. If you are found on the disabling conditions list by social security.
2. There are also compassionate allowances. This is for those who have been diagnosed with a severe disease.
3. There are special provisions- these are those with low vision, widows or widowers, disabled children and wounded warriors.
As you can see, there are several factors that go into qualifying for social security. If you feel you qualify, or even, if you are uncertain whether you qualify, call our office today. We will do everything we can to get you the social security disability that you deserve.
How Long Do I Have To Wait After My Application Is Submitted?
There is a five month waiting period after you have applied for Social Security Disability benefits. This is required even if your application has been approved. This allows the agency sufficient time to properly check your records to ensure that you are indeed disabled. This waiting period can often be seen as cruel, but the Social Security Administration views it as necessary due to the large number of applications that they receive each and every day.
What is the Minimum age to Receive Disability Benefits?
According to the Social Security Administration, there is no minimum age required for benefits. However, you must have worked long enough to have accrued sufficient credits to receive money through the disability program. If you have not contributed through Social Security then you likely will not be eligible for benefits. The rules for the amount of time you must work to achieve Social Security Disability benefits are listed below:
- Age 24 and younger – If you are applying for benefits you must have 6 credits earned in the last 3 years before your disability began
- Ages 24-21 – You can qualify if you worked roughly half the time between your current age and when you were 21
- Ages 31 or older – To qualify for Social Security Disability, you need to have the work credits shown in the chart below
|
Became Disabled at Age |
Number of Credits Needed |
|
31 through 42 |
20 |
|
44 |
22 |
|
46 |
24 |
|
48 |
26 |
|
50 |
28 |
|
52 |
30 |
|
54 |
32 |
|
56 |
34 |
|
58 |
36 |
|
60 |
38 |
|
62 or older |
40 |
Source: Social Security Administration
Can My Family Receive Social Security Disability Benefits?
Under certain circumstances, your family is entitled to disability benefits. Your family is entitled to benefits if they meet the following scenarios:
- Your spouse if he or she is 62 or older
- Your spouse if he or she is taking care of your child who is younger than 16 or disabled
- Your unmarried child, if he or she has been disabled since before age 22
- Your unmarried child, if they are under the age of 19 and in school full time
Who Actually Decides if I am Disabled?
The Social Security Administration ultimately decides whether or not you will be deemed disabled. After the SSA has determined that you qualify based on your work experience, they enlist the help of the Disability Determination Services office in your state.
This state agency ultimately decides whether or not you will be approved for Social Security Disability benefits. Doctors and specialists that work for the agency will talk with your personal doctors to determine if you are indeed disabled. They will ask the doctors questions about whether you are capable of working and what your medical tests have shown. This gives them a better idea of your condition and whether you should receive disability benefits.
Why Do I Need A Social Security Disability Attorney?
While it is possible to be awarded disability without the help of an attorney, it is much more difficult. A disability attorney is well versed in disability law and can help you state your case to the necessary agencies to prove that you are disabled. Without an attorney’s help your claim may be denied time and time again.
If you are disabled, but have been turned down for Social Security Disability benefits, give the experts at Isaacs and Isaacs a call today. We can help you resubmit the necessary paperwork to get you the benefits that you deserve. Give our office a call today at (800) 529-0000 and we will be happy to start on your case as soon as possible!