DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
You need to apply for SSD and SSI benefits if have a severe medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months. Disability benefits replace your income and pay your bills when you cannot work.
Under Social Security rules, if you are unable to work full time because of a physical or mental condition, then you deserve SSDI and SSI benefits.
Cannon Disability Law has over 30 years of legal experience winning benefits for our clients. We can help you win benefits. Most importantly, you won’t pay a Social Security Disability Attorney fee until we win your benefits.
The Social Security Administration will consider you disabled if:
- You cannot do work that you did before;
- You cannot adjust to other work because of your severe illness; and
- Your condition is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
- Additionally, in order to qualify for SSD benefits, workers over the age of 30 must have worked at least 20 work credits within the ten year period just prior to the start of their disability. The Social Security Administration often calls this rule the “20/40 rule.” Find out more about the definition of work and substantial gainful activity here.
- Please note that if you do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSD benefits, then you can apply for SSI benefits. However, we cannot fix the problem of you not having enough work credits. The only way to fix that problem is for you to go back to work.
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS
Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI) are different from Social Security Disability benefits. SSI benefits are a monthly payment of benefits that are added onto to a low monthly SSD benefit.
SSI is also for people who have not worked enough to be covered under the quarters of coverage rule to obtain SSD benefits. Likewise, it is for those who have never worked. Also, SSI is for children.
In order to be paid SSI benefits, you must meet the medical rules found in the SSA’s blue book. However, you must also meet SSA’s income and asset rules. Typically, you will need an attorney to help you prove you should receive SSI benefits. People who hire an SSI attorney are 3 times more likely to win benefits.
SSI benefits also come with Medicaid benefits to pay for health costs. Medicaid is also an insurance benefit that pays for visits to the doctor and other health needs. Find more information about Medicaid here.
DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR SSD OR SSI BENEFITS?
If you have a severe illness that is going to keep your from working for over a year, then you may be able to get monthly payments called SSD benefits. This is also true if you have a medical illness that is going to result in death. If you can no longer work, then you need to apply for benefits.
You may not know how to do that. Fortunately, we do. We have spent over 30 years helping clients apply for and win SSD benefits. During that time, we have won over 20,000 SSD and SSI cases.
Applying for benefits with our help is simple. We will help you file your application for benefits online at the Social Security website. If you receive SSD benefits, then within 24 months of your onset date of disability, you will also receive Medicare benefits. Medicare benefits are a form of health insurance that pays for your medical bills. Find out more about Medicare benefits here.
Make sure to apply for SSD and SSI benefits as soon as you know that you are not going to return to work due to your medical condition. SSI benefits only pay out from the date of your application. Additionally, benefits do not pay if you are found disabled after your date last insured. Learn more about the date last insured here.
With SSD benefits, you can receive past due benefits one year prior to the date of your application. The opposite is true with SSI benefits. SSI benefits begin the day you apply and they do not go back prior to that date. If you do not apply quickly, you are losing benefits. Learn more about past due disability benefits here.
DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR PRESUMPTIVE DISABILITY BENEFITS?
If you believe you have a condition that will automatically qualify you for disability benefits, then read here about presumptive disability benefits. The SSA also has a list of physical and mental conditions that they consider to be compassionate allowances. Learn more about what qualifies for compassionate allowance here.
In addition to helping you apply for SSD benefits, we can help you appeal. We will appeal any denial you receive from the SSA. Chances are high that you will receive a denial of your Social Security claim at the initial level.
You may also receive a denial at the next level. If so, then you need to appeal that denial within 60 days. SSA will make you start your application over again if you do not appeal within the 60 day time limit. So, don’t miss it.
If you are nearing the age of early retirement, which is 62 years old, you may have a health condition that prevents you from working. Before you retire early, consider filing for SSD benefits instead. Monthly SSD benefits are higher than early retirement benefits. Find out more about choosing between early retirement and disability benefits here.
WHERE CAN YOU GET HELP WITH YOUR APPLICATION?
You can apply for benefits online at the SSA website no matter where you live. If you live in Utah, you can find out about Utah SSD benefits here. You will need medical records to support your SSD and SSI application. If you don’t have health insurance, this website lists resources for you. Read here on our website to find free and low cost medical care in Utah.
If you live in Las Vegas, Henderson, or Reno, then we have Nevada SSDI benefit information here. Go here if you need help filing for disability benefits in Nevada. We have similar information about California SSD benefits here.
Likewise, if you need more information about Colorado SSD benefits, read here. Finally, Idaho SSDI and SSI benefit information is here.
CONTACT US AND WE WILL TELL YOU IF YOU QUALIFY FOR SSD BENEFITS
To learn about your legal options, call Cannon Disability Law at 801-322-2121 or call toll-free at 800-732-2323. Speak to one of our attorneys and our intake staff today. You can also contact us online and we will call you.
Our attorneys practice in Utah, California, and Nevada. We also represent clients in Idaho, Arizona, Washington, and other states. Information about how to apply for Idaho disability benefits is here. Find out more information about Utah disability benefits here.
Our main office is in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, there are also hearing offices in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Oakland. Our office represents clients in court in all of those places.
We are also familiar with the Social Security benefit laws where you live. Understanding the medical evidence that the judge needs to see will help you win your case. It also helps us present the best arguments in court.
If we accept your case, we will drive or fly to the SSA office nearest you when you have a hearing. Therefore, we can help you no matter where you live. If you need to apply for disability benefits, contact us today.
CANNON DISABILITY WANTS TO HELP YOU IF YOU NEED TO APPLY
The eligibility rules for disability benefits are favorable for people who are over 50 years old. Qualifying disabilities can be both physical disability and mental disability. Or, they can be a combination of both.
You may have a disabling back impairment. Perhaps you have Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, or Fibromyalgia. Additionally, you could have heart disease that prevents you from working. These are only some examples of physical conditions. As you know, physical conditions can easily prevent you from working.
You may have mental conditions that keep you from working. For example, you may have Depression. Depression has a host of symptoms that can interfere with work. For example, if you cannot concentrate, you can’t do work tasks.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS
Another example of a mental disorder that can stop you from working is Anxiety. If you have a panic attack at work, then you cannot talk to the public or deal with your fellow workers. Schizophrenia is also a severe mental impairment. For example, it is very difficult to follow instructions if you are hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there. Another mental disorder that creates problems at work is Traumatic Brain Injury. A TBI can impair your ability to concentrate and it can also impair your memory.
You could also have an intellectual disability. Find out more about intellectual disability or IQ issues here. If you have a mental condition, you will need medical records that prove how severe it is. Read here to learn more about how to use SSA’s Part B criteria to prove you meet a mental listing. These are examples of mental conditions that cause you to be unable to work a forty hour work week.
Sometimes, physical conditions can get worse over time. Even mental illness, for example, can become worse. You may have worked for years, but as your disease became worse, you became unable to work. If you have a severe illness and lost your job, then call us.
Likewise, if you cannot work due to your physical or mental illness, then call us. It doesn’t cost anything to ask us questions. The lawyers, staff, and paralegals at Cannon Disability want to help you. Especially, if you need to apply for SSD and SSI benefits. Contact us today. Put our legal experience to work for you.
