Did you know that if you’ve been diagnosed with a medical disability and cannot work, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits? But are social security disability benefits really that easy to qualify for? How will working with a knowledgeable Jackson Mississippi lawyer help expedite the process? Let’s look at how this article discusses social security disability compensation.
What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
The Disability Benefits under Social Security is funded and handled by the United States Social Security Administration, which is a government agency (SSA). You and certain family members may get disability payments from Social Security if you have worked for a certain number of years and have a physical condition that keeps you from working for at least twelve months or results in your death.
According to statistics, a 20-year-old worker has a one-in-four chance of being handicapped before reaching full retirement age.
So, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a covered disability, it’s important to consult with an attorney who handles Social Security claims from the first filing through the appeal, if necessary.
What qualifies as a disability?
Other programs’ definitions of disability vary from Social Security’s. Only complete disability is covered by Social Security. Partial and short-term disabilities are not covered.
If all of the following are true, you have a qualifying disability under Social Security standards.
- Your medical condition stops you from working or engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA).
- Your medical condition prevents you from doing past employment or adapting to new work.
- Your disorder has lasted or will last at least a year, or you have died.
This is a specific disability definition. The Social Security laws presuppose that working families have access to additional resources such as workers’ compensation, insurance, savings, and investments.
List of conditions to consider while claiming for disability benefits.
Among them are the following:
- Musculoskeletal problems (e.g., bone, joint injuries, skeletal spine injuries)
- Speech and special senses (e.g., visual disorders, blindness)
- Respiratory problems (e.g., chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma)
- Disorders of the cardiovascular system (e.g., chronic heart failure)
- Disorders of the digestive system (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, liver dysfunction)
- Genitourinary problems (illnesses involving the urinary and genital organs)
- Disorders of the blood (illnesses of the blood, blood-forming organs)
- Skin conditions (e.g., dermatitis, burns, chronic skin infections)
- Endocrine problems (e.g., pituitary gland disorders, thyroid gland disorders)
- Congenital diseases affect many bodily systems
- Psychiatric disorders (e.g., epilepsy, benign brain tumors)
- Mental illnesses (e.g., bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression)
- Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)
- Immune system dysfunction (e.g., HIV infection, lupus, inflammatory arthritis)
What Is the Process for Applying for Social Security Benefits?
Step 1: Confirm your interest
Make sure you apply at the proper time. This is a life-altering choice.
Step 2. Make sure you qualify.
Age 61 and 9 months to apply for Social Security benefits. Worked at least ten years in occupations earning Social Security credits.
Social Security covers 96% of all American employees.
Step 3 Collect documentation.
This phase is the most difficult but also the simplest.
When it comes time to apply for Social Security, you will want to collect the necessary information and documentation. These are:
- Your birthdate and location
- Your Social Security Number
- You will need your permanent residency card number if you are not an American.
- Names of current and former spouses (if you were married for more than ten years or if the marriage ended in death). Social Security Administration will assist you in determining whether applying for their benefits will provide you with a better income than filing on your own
- Social Security number, birth date, and marriage start and end dates (s)
- Names and birth dates of any impaired children under the age of 22 (and unmarried).
- Names and birthdates of children aged 18–19 who are still in full-time secondary school.
- Employer data for current and previous jobs. Your online Social Security statement has this information. You will also need your employers’ names and dates of employment.
- If you are or were self-employed in the previous two years, you must record your company type and total net income.
- If you choose direct deposit of your Social Security payments, you will also need your bank account type and number, as well as your routing number, your bank’s country, bank name, bank code, currency type, and branch or transit number (if your bank isn’t in the US).
Step 4: Finish the application
You should be able to finish your application using the provided information.
Step 5. Status checks
If the Social Security Administration has any questions about your application, they will contact you. You may also check your application status online.
When to File for Social security?
As noted before, you may apply for Social Security retirement benefits at 61 and 9 months. You may start receiving benefits at age 62.
But, just because you can, doesn’t mean you must.
The longer you wait to get benefits, the higher your monthly income. As a matter of fact, for many individuals, the difference in lifetime income between beginning at 62 and waiting until the maximum retirement age is over $100,000.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers starting payments at 62 “early.” Depending on your birth year, you reach “full retirement age” between 66 and 67.
Takeaway: The old saying is true: It’s never too early to talk to a lawyer.
How Our Mississippi Social Security Attorney Could Help You Apply for Disability Benefits
It may take time to prove your impairment, but you don’t have to do it alone. You may choose a representative who can:
- Appeal to SSA on your behalf
- Access and obtain your medical records for benefit applications
- Fill out the form for you
- Accompany you to any mandatory interviews or hearings.
If you’re disabled, the Social Security Administration can help with the cost of living. Depending on the severity of your disability, your medical needs, and how much income you are able to earn, you could be eligible for monthly disability benefits.
To learn more about your options, we encourage you to contact us. We offer a free case assessment and can assist you with any concerns that you may have regarding your disability. Call our social security attorney at The Rollins Firm to know more about social security disability compensation.
Connect with Us