When To Speak With An Attorney About SSDI!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
First, let’s start by defining what we’re talking about. What is SSDI?
SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance is a payroll tax-funded federal insurance program that was put in place by the United States, it’s managed by the Social Security Administration and the sole purpose is to provide supplemental income to people who are not physically able to work or be gainfully employed due to injury/injuries.
With that said, there are many different factors that come into play with SSDI benefits, and how they’re obtained. In order to properly receive benefits, you must have either a physical or mental impairment.
Furthermore, the disability in question, whether mental or physical needs to have lasted, or needs to be expected to last at least 12 months.
What Qualifies as Gainful Employment?
The United States Social Security Administration defines gainful employment as anything in which pays $1,300/month or more.
In addition to your compensation, your age, your education, your work training, and your work experience will all be considered when this determination is made. Additionally, the ability to learn new job skills in the future are also looked at, as well as if any jobs in your area are available, more so seeing if you’ll be qualified for those going forward.
How Do I Know if My Disability Will Be Lasting?
As soon as you’ve become injured, it’s important to seek out your primary care physician so that you can have a doctor-described symptom, your doctor or any specialty doctors you see will easily be able to project the longevity of your situation.
Something to keep in mind is that if your prognosis was initially projected to last for the required 12 months, and you start receiving benefits, Social Security can ask for their money back if you’re injury heals before the time period is complete.
How Do I Know if I Qualify? What Can I Do?
To help understand if you’re qualified further, the Social Security Administration put together a step-by-step process. We’ve taken those five questions and paraphrased them below for your convenience.
One: Are You Actively Working?
Two: Is Your Condition Severe?
Three: Is Your Disability Able To Be Located In The List of Disabling Conditions?
Four: Can You Do Work That You Previously Did?
Five: Can You Do Other Types Of Work?
If you’d like to go through the process on your own, you can click here.
Five Tips for Getting Approved Quickly!
Here are five tips that we’ve put together on how you can get your SSDI benefits approved quickly!
- Make Sure to Provide Every Piece of Medical Evidence: The longer you wait to provide your medical information, or by providing them to the examiner piece-by-piece, it will work against you and jam up your process. The best thing to do is to provide all of your documents at the same time you submit your application!
- Add All Doctors You Saw To Your Initial Application: When submitting your application, it’s best to include the contact information for all of the doctors you’ve seen. This would include their name/occupation, their address, the day of your appointment, and so on. It will help the person examining your records to be able to easily contact these doctors on your behalf.
- Have Your Primary Care Physician Write A Letter On Your Behalf: If possible, obtain a letter from any doctors you’ve seen as well, where they can speak on your behalf and further explaining exactly how debilitating your situation is.
- Keep Track of Your Claims Process: Monitor the process, stay on top of everything, and provide any additional information needed.
- Consider Hiring An Attorney To Help You! Marcari, Russotto, Spencer, and Balaban will proudly represent any individuals that need help. You can give us a call today at (855) 435-7247 and schedule a free consultation with an attorney!
When Should I Reach Out to an Attorney?
Four words – the sooner, the better.
If at any point you’ve thought about or sheepishly approached filing for disability, you should reach out to an attorney for help.
An attorney will be able to help you evaluate your situation and the overall strength of your application. The truth is, you will most likely have an easier time getting approved if you have an attorney on your side!
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Written By Donald Marcari
Don is the Senior Managing Partner at Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban. He gained national attention when his exploits as a defense attorney with the U.S. Navy JAG Corps became the basis for “A Few Good Men.”
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