In South Carolina, if you have a qualifying disability that has left you unable to work, you may be entitled to receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits. Receiving approval for these benefits can be difficult because the process is confusing for many applicants. The bureaucratic red tape makes it challenging for many people to apply for SSDI benefits, often necessitating a South Carolina SSI & Social Security disability lawyer to help navigate the legal complexities.
Contacting a Denny Terrace Social Security Disability attorney can help you get the assistance you need to obtain SSDI benefits. The experienced team at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can help you apply for SSDI benefits for the first time, or they can help you appeal your claim if you have been denied.
Who Is Eligible for Social Security Benefits
You may be eligible for SSDI benefits if you can prove that you are totally disabled and have certain disabilities, as specified by the SSA. You are considered disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that causes severe functional limitations that are expected to cause death or have lasted for more than one year.
The SSA indicates that the impairments that may qualify adults and children to receive SSDI benefits include:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular System Disorders
- Congenital Disorders
- Digestive System Disorders
- Endocrine Disorders
- Genitourinary Disorders
- Hematological Disorders
- Immune System Disorders
- Low Birth Weight and Failure to Thrive in Children Under 18
- Mental Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Neurological Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Skin Disorders
- Special Senses and Speech Disorders
To be eligible for SSDI benefits, your disability must also prohibit you from earning more than $1,000 per month. Further, you must have worked consistently for enough years to have earned a certain number of work credits and paid Social Security taxes during that time.
How the Application Process Works in Denny Terrace
The application process to receive SSDI benefits is complex. The experienced lawyers at Shelly Leeke Law Firm can help you navigate the long and overwhelming process. You must complete numerous forms and provide medical, employment, and financial records.
The SSA looks at your application information, your work history, and your current work activities to determine whether you qualify for SSDI benefits. It also reviews your medical records for an indication that your condition renders you completely disabled.
Once you apply for benefits, you may wait up to six months for a determination from the SSA. A Denny Terrace Social Security disability lawyer can help you accurately complete your claim forms and gather the required documentation to help speed up the process.
Social Security Disability Benefits
If the SSA determines that you are eligible for SSDI benefits, your benefit amount is calculated using a complex formula that factors your age, the length of time you have worked, and a percentage of your average monthly wages over a period of time. The average monthly benefit amount is around $1,483. If you are blind, that amount will likely be higher.
How Long the Benefits Last
If you are approved for SSDI benefits, those benefits will last as long as you are disabled and unable to work. The SSA will review your circumstances periodically to determine if you are still eligible for the benefits.
A Social Security Disability lawyer in Denny Terrace can review your employment and medical history to determine if you are eligible to receive SSDI benefits.
What to Do if Your Application Is Denied
Once the SSA has made a decision regarding your application for benefits, it will mail you a letter with its determination. It is common for your application to initially be denied. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), over 67% of disability claims are denied.
Many applications for SSDI benefits are denied for the following reasons:
- Your disability will likely last less than one year.
- Your impairment is not severe.
- You are able to perform your job duties.
- You are able to perform a different type of work.
- Your disability is a result of a drug or alcohol addiction.
- You did not provide sufficient medical evidence of your impairment.
- You have not followed the treatment recommended by your medical providers.
If your claim for SSDI benefits has been denied, you should contact a Social Security disability attorney in Denny Terrace to file an appeal on your behalf.
How the Appeal Process Works
If you receive a denial letter on your SSDI claim, Shelly Leeke Law Firm can appeal the SSA’s decision. They know what is required to increase the chances of getting your claim approved.
There are four levels of appeals Shelly Leeke and her team of experienced Social Security Disability lawyers can help you with:
- Reconsideration: A secondary review of your file by a different SSA agent
- Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): The review of all your evidence and questioning of your medical providers about your disability
- Appeals Council Review: The review of your file by the SSA’s appeal council and the decision of whether to deny or approve your case or send it back to the ALJ
- District Court Review: The review of your evidence and testimony by a South Carolina federal district court judge
While you are not required to have an attorney represent you in your SSDI benefits appeal, it is smart to do so. The attorneys at Shelly Leeke Law Firm are experienced in the appeals process and are ready to fight for the benefits you deserve.
How to Get Help Receiving SSDI Benefits
The SSA does not make it easy to receive benefits when you are unable to work due to a disability. The majority of claims for SSDI benefits are initially denied.
To increase your chances of having your SSDI claim accepted and your request for benefits approved, contact Shelly Leeke and her team. They are ready to help you gather the necessary information and documentation, complete and submit your claim, and appeal a potential denial. The last thing you need to worry about after a disability is how you will make a living when you cannot work.
Contact us today, and let us fight the SSA on your behalf.
