Spanish Fort SSD Law Firm
Disability can happen at any time to anyone. When you’re responsible for your family’s well-being and financial success, a sudden loss of income is a huge stressor. Luckily, there are programs in place to help those with permanent or long-term disabilities. If you have gained enough work credits and can prove the extent of your disability, you may very well be able to tap into Social Security disability benefits and continue to provide for your loved ones.
While the program itself is fairly simple, getting approved isn’t always quite as easy. Working with an SSD attorney in Spanish Fort can help you navigate this process and make the most of your time. Call Thiry & Caddell at 251-478-8880 to set up a consultation now. We serve clients in Spanish Fort, Mobile, and communities throughout Baldwin County and surrounding Alabama counties.
What Does SSD Do?
The Social Security Disability Insurance program exists to support adults who have worked for most of their adult lives and have found themselves unable to work because of disability. The funds come from the same pool as retirement funds, and upon reaching retirement age, your payments automatically convert to your retirement benefits.
The amount you receive monthly is based on how much you have earned throughout your career and how much you have paid into the Social Security fund.
SSD does not pay out benefits for all disabilities. If you find yourself temporarily disabled as a result of an illness or injury, you may need to tap into short-term disability benefits provided by your workplace. The SSDI program serves those whose disabilities are expected to last at least one year or result in their death.
How to Qualify for Benefits
You must meet two sets of qualifications to receive benefits. First, you must have enough work credits. Work credits are earned throughout your career. You earn up to four credits per year, and you receive each credit when you earn a certain amount of money.
In 2022, for example, you get one credit when you earn $1,510. After you have earned four credits, you are maxed out for the year. To receive benefits, you usually need 40 total credits, 20 of which must have been earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. However, younger applicants may need fewer credits.
The other aspect of qualifying for SSDI benefits is your disability. The SSA has a strict definition of disability, and if you’re unable to prove that your diagnosis meets their standards, your application will likely be denied.
Proving Your Disability
There are several ways you can prove that your disability is severe enough to qualify you for SSDI benefits. First, you can take a look at the Listing of Impairments, more commonly known as the Blue Book. The Blue Book lists a wide range of qualifying disabilities, along with the symptoms or diagnostic test results you must have in order to qualify.
The requirements for each diagnosis are fairly demanding, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet every single qualification under your diagnosis—or if your diagnosis isn’t even listed. You may still be able to apply for and receive benefits.
The SSA can also test your residual functional capacity. This process goes through the Disability Determination Bureau. Their goal is to figure out exactly how much you are and are not capable of doing. Depending on the severity of your disability, they will determine if you can engage in sedentary, light, medium, heavy, or very heavy work—or no work at all.
If you qualify for more demanding types of work, you may be less likely to receive benefits. With this evaluation, they will figure out if you are capable of doing the type of work you did prior to your disability. If you are not, they will try to find other types of work you can do. If there are no work options for you, your application may be approved.
What Happens When an Application is Denied?
You know that your disability is severe enough to keep you from working, so why was your application denied? Unfortunately, the majority of SSDI applications are denied the first time around.
This is often due to a general lack of evidence because the SSA wants undeniable proof that your disability will prevent you from working for at least one year. In many cases, you can get approved by simply appealing the original decision. Furthermore, the SSA has multiple levels of appeals you can go through.
While it’s recommended that you work with an attorney every step along the way, it is especially important if you have to go through the appeals process.
How We Can Help
At Thiry & Caddell, we work hard to help our clients submit the strongest application possible, wherever they may be in the process. We know that a sudden loss of income can leave you in a vulnerable position, so we work hard to get your application ready as quickly as possible. However, we don’t sacrifice when it comes to quality.
The quality and quantity of evidence you submit go a long way in determining whether or not your application is approved, so we will do whatever it takes to paint a full picture of your disability for the SSA.
The SSA has high standards for SSDI applications, and if you don’t meet them, you risk a prompt denial. Thanks to our extensive experience in this area of law, we know what the SSA is looking for and what type of evidence they need to take an application seriously. With a thorough review of your medical evidence and documentation, we’ll determine what you need for an even stronger application and help you get it.
If you find yourself facing a denial, we’ll be with you every step of the way. By looking for weak spots in your original application, we will work to build it up to what the SSA is looking for.
Contact Thiry & Caddell Now
Don’t wait any longer to get the help you need as you apply for SSDI benefits. Just contact us online or give us a call at 251-478-8880 to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in Spanish Fort, Mobile, and communities throughout Baldwin County and surrounding Alabama counties.
