Social Security Disability
SSD v. SSI
There are two disability programs that you may be entitled to. The first is Social Security Disability, which is based on your earnings record; what you’ve paid into the system through payroll taxes while you’re working. The second is SSI, which is a needs-based program for people that don’t necessarily qualify for Social Security…
Read MoreYou Can and Should Keep Track of the Status of Your Social Security Disability Claim
When you apply for Social Security Disability, your application will go through a few stages before it reaches a person who will either accept or deny your claim. During this process, you can check on the status of your claim to see if there have been any changes or decisions made. You should keep track…
Read MoreHow Does Social Security Disability Back Pay Work?
The application process for Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI) is lengthy and complicated. By the time you have applied for SSD benefits and your application was denied at the initial application level, but approved upon reconsideration, months have gone by. SSDI back pay is a payment of the benefits that the Social Security Administration (SSA)…
Read MoreHow Long is the SSD Application Process?
The answer to how long it takes to apply for Social Security Disability benefits and get approved is, “it’s complicated.” It is complicated because there is not a standard time frame for approval of an SSD application, and there are different levels of approval. As we go into the explanation for average wait times and…
Read MoreCan You File for Unemployment While Waiting for Social Security Disability?
You are facing a dilemma when you have been let go from your job because you can no longer perform that type of work given your disability. Maybe you called out too many times for doctors’ appointments, or you are not able to lift or perform many of the required tasks for your position. You…
Read MoreCan Painful Cysts and Benign Tumors Qualify You For SSD?
If you have a condition such as polycystic kidney disease, which causes painful cysts or benign brain tumors that have symptoms which make it difficult for you to work, whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will depend on the evidence contained in your medical records. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to…
Read More10 Common Mistakes to Avoid on Social Security Disability Applications
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI) can feel a bit intimidating. You are sick or in pain and you are unable to work, and you might feel a bit under pressure to get the application right because you know that the approval rate for SSD is low. Here is an example of 10…
Read MoreOvercoming the Challenges of Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits
When you are ill or injured, and you are unable to work to support yourself and your family, the Social Security Disability benefits program is a safety net that can provide you with the income you need if you meet the requirements for being found disabled. One of the challenges of applying for SSD benefits…
Read MoreSocial Security Disability’s Listings: What Conditions Are Covered?
The Social Security Administration has 14 categories (referred to as the “Listings of Impairments” or simply “Listings”) of different kinds of impairments that are “considered severe enough to prevent an individual from doing any gainful activity.” Each of the listed impairments are permanent or expected to result in death, or the listing includes a specific…
Read MoreWhy You Should Hire a Lawyer Before Filing for Social Security Disability
Many people file an application for Social Security Disability benefits on their own, and only contact an attorney after being denied. As an attorney that handles Social Security Disability claims, I encourage people to hire a lawyer at the beginning of the process, rather than after being denied once or twice. There are numerous benefits…
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