If you’re an American who has worked hard, SSDI is supposed to be your right – but that doesn’t mean you’ll get approved. The government makes it very complicated to apply for SSDI, and frequently turns people down for frivolous reasons. To maximize your chances of success you should ask a lawyer to help you.
At John Foy & Associates, we offer some of the most experienced SSDI lawyers in the country. Our firm has been working for more than 20 years to help disabled workers, and we have developed a reputation for success.
We get so many clients’ SSDI claims approved because we know the process inside and out, we listen to our clients, and we care about your outcome.
If you have questions after an accident, our Gainesville personal injury lawyer is here to help.
How Much does an SSDI Lawyer Cost?
Most lawyers who handle Social Security disability benefits work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means they don’t make anything unless you get compensation. Contingency fees will come out of your settlement and will be a percentage of your past-due benefits.
Because of that, the cost of hiring your SSDI lawyer in Gainesville will depend on the amount of money that you receive from your initial claim. That being said, federal law dictates that lawyers cannot charge more than 25% of your past-due benefits or $6,000, whichever is less.
When you hire one of our Social Security disability attorneys, they will come to an agreement with you as to how much they will make from your case. After that, they’ll get to work to make sure you get as much compensation as you can.
How do I Choose a Social Security Disability Attorney?
When it comes to gathering benefits that you need to provide for yourself and your family, you want a lawyer that you can rely on.
That’s not necessarily easy–there are a lot of lawyers out there who want you to pay them your hard-earned money. You should know what to look for in an attorney.
When choosing an SSDI lawyer, you should look for:
Skill
Social Security disability cases can be tricky. Gathering materials can be complicated, and if your initial application is denied, it can be very difficult to navigate the appeals process.
That’s why you should look for a Gainesville Social Security disability lawyer who knows what they’re doing and has the skill necessary to help.
Compassion
Some lawyers truly care about their clients and want them to be able to live without worrying about supporting themselves financially. Other lawyers just want to make money. You deserve someone on your side who has your interests at heart and wants to help you.
Experience
Not every lawyer has experience with SSDI claims. Many will offer to do this kind of work, but they may not be familiar with the appeals process, the reasons people are turned down, or the tactics the government uses to weed out as many applicants as possible.
However, some firms like John Foy & Associates have been working to get people compensation for over 20 years. Experience matters in a lawyer. You need an experienced Social Security disability attorney in Gainesville with the knowledge necessary to get you the compensation you need.
How does Social Security Disability Work in Gainesville, GA?
SSDI has been a safety net for workers since the Social Security Act of 1935. It works similarly to an insurance policy, one where any worker who finds themselves disabled gets a regular cash payment to help them pay living expenses. In a sense, SSDI is a replacement income for disabled workers.
Any sort of disability can qualify you for Social Security disability benefits. The disability does not have to be related to an injury on the job.
Many people qualify for SSDI after a car accident, a stroke, or being diagnosed with a serious illness, among other causes. SSDI is supposed to help every worker who needs it, regardless of cause.
That doesn’t mean the government will make it easy. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the entity in charge of SSDI claims. This agency is known for being tough nationwide and has a particularly stern reputation in Gainesville.
They may deny your claim on the basis of incomplete paperwork, clerical errors, or a subjective judgment that your disability doesn’t “count” without more evidence. Just because you get denied once doesn’t mean you don’t qualify.
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Who Qualifies for Social Security Disability?
Generally speaking, any former worker qualifies if they cannot work because of a disability. It’s as simple as that. If you cannot do your job anymore because of a health condition, you qualify. But you need to prove this to the SSA.
They want to know whether you have enough of a work history to be in the Social Security system and whether your disability is legitimate.
Here are the specific criteria the SSA uses to decide if you qualify:
- Did you work enough, as measured by the number of work credits (hours worked) in the past?
- Did you work recently enough before you became disabled (20+ work credits in the past 10 years)?
- If you don’t meet the requirements above, do you have a low income?
- Have you been diagnosed with a medical condition, with supporting documentation from your doctor?
- Is this medical condition considered terminal?
- If it isn’t terminal, is it likely to last a full year or longer?
- Are you unable to work your previous job because of your condition?
- Are you unable to adapt to a new line of work because of your condition?
If you’re applying for SSDI, you can likely answer “yes” to all of the questions above. But the SSA will still want proof. A Social Security disability lawyer in Gainesville will be able to help you gather that proof, significantly increasing your chances of having a successful claim.
What Kinds of Conditions Count as Disabilities?
Your condition doesn’t have to be on any specific list to count. If it prevents you from working, it counts as a disability for SSDI, period. However, some conditions are easier to get approved than others. For example, some conditions are listed as “disabling conditions.”
This means the SSA has already agreed that your condition can potentially cause a disability that could prevent you from working. If your condition is on this list you will have an easier time making your case.
Examples of approved disabling conditions include:
- Severe back problems
- Heart conditions
- Low vision or loss of hearing
- Neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis
- Mental health conditions like anxiety disorders or major depression
- Irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders
- Severe asthma
- Life-threatening illnesses like cancer
The SSA Blue Book offers a full list of disabling conditions. Usually, you will still have to prove that you are unable to work. There is an exception: a group of particularly serious conditions that qualify for “compassionate allowance,” which includes things like liver cancer and end-stage renal disease.
In these cases, you are considered to have a disability simply because you were diagnosed. But your condition doesn’t have to be on any of these lists to qualify. If you aren’t sure, you should talk to a Gainesville Social Security disability attorney.
What If My Social Security Disability Claim Was Already Denied?
Don’t panic. This is sadly common for workers in the City of Gainesville, and you may still qualify. The SSA offers an appeals process that gives you a second chance at SSDI. However, you should not file your appeal until you’ve spoken to a lawyer.
If your original application was rejected, it means that the SSA thinks there is something wrong with your claim. You need to identify the problem and fix it in the appeal, or you will just get turned down again. If you run out of appeals you could lose your chance at disability benefits altogether.
Speak to a Social Security Disability Attorney in Gainesville for Free
You’re counting on your SSDI benefits to come through. If you can’t work, your income may depend on them. The Gainesville Social Security disability lawyers at John Foy & Associates want to help you get approved—and we want to make it as low risk for you as possible.
When you call us, we will sit down with you for an initial consultation to help you decide the best way to tackle your claim. Call us or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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