Our firm proudly handles Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases for our clients, with experience, skill and expertise, in pursuit of the benefits that our clients deserve. Despite popular belief, social security benefits are not only intended for those individuals who are age 62 or 66 and they are similarly not only intended for those who are retired.
Social Security Disability benefits may be sought when an individual is younger than retirement age (62 or 66) and has become disabled and unable to work for over twelve consecutive months. In order to qualify for SSD, an individual must have worked and paid taxes to the IRS. The number of years in which the individual was required to pay taxes depends upon an individual’s age at the time of his/her disability. SSI is an option for individuals who have not worked enough to qualify for SSD, who are disabled and who can prove financial need.
Procedurally, once an application is filed for either SSD or SSI, the Social Security Administration may approve or deny the claim. If this application is denied, which happens more often than not in an effort to discourage applicants, our firm will request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. At that time, we will use our extensive knowledge and legal expertise to formulate the best possible case for our clients and satisfy the required burden of proof. Our firm prides itself on the individual care and concern that we demonstrate for each disability case and for the quality of our legal services that are clearly recognized by the Social Security Administration and the Administrative Law Judges.
The types of conditions that may make an individual disabled and eligible for these benefits vary from injuries to physical and mental illness. According to the law, we must prove that an individual suffers from severe impairment(s). Severe impairments include injuries involving the spine, knees, shoulders, and the like, or medical illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, lung disease, etc. Other severe impairments include mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc, as well as vision impairments.
After proving a severe impairment, we must next show that our client’s are unable to perform their previous work (past relevant work). In most instances we must next demonstrate and prove that our clients are unable to perform alternative work in the national economy based upon our clients’ age, education, past experience and whether those clients have transferrable skills that would enable such person to perform alternative work.
Our firm knows and respects each and every client’s needs, and takes the time to listen and assess each client who has been affected by a disability. We are fully aware how important your case is and, as such, we fully explain the process and perform all of procedural and legal work so that our clients may concentrate on what is most important – his/her health and getting better.
