Social Security Disability benefits are meant to help those who can no longer work due to a disabling condition. However, it’s not always that easy. If you’re having trouble getting the benefits you deserve in Milledgeville, the right lawyer can help. You’ll want to contact a Milledgeville Social Security Disability (SSD) lawyer as soon as possible.
Not all lawyers have the expertise to properly assist with Social Security claims. You’ll need to speak with an attorney who is familiar with the struggles of SSD applicants. At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping applicants get approved for the benefits they desperately need for more than 20 years.
It’s also risk-free to work with us because we don’t charge a fee unless we win your case. So, give us a call today for a FREE consultation to discuss the details. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with your FREE consultation.
How Social Security Disability Benefits Can Help You
Social Security Disability, or SSD, is a government program that most workers have paid into for all of their working life. When a worker becomes disabled and unable to continue working, SSD is meant to provide regular income to help the worker and their family. The benefits from SSD are not high, but they are necessary for many families to help them pay their bills and survive.
The right to these benefits is guaranteed under the Social Security Act of 1935. They should act as a safety net for those who have worked hard and now need assistance. It doesn’t matter how the individual became disabled and whether or not it was caused by a work accident—any disabling illness or condition counts.
Benefits You Can Get Through Social Security Disability
If you get approved for SSD, the program will provide monthly income benefits based on your average lifetime earnings. You can expect the benefits to be paid for the sixth full month following the day your disability started.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to get approved for Social Security Disability benefits, even if you know you qualify. Many applicants find themselves getting turned down and wondering where to turn next. That’s where a Social Security Disability lawyer can help. They can review your case, determine why your application was denied, and help you appeal.
Qualifications for Social Security Disability in Milledgeville
To have a chance of approval for SSD, you will need to meet two main criteria:
- Have a condition that meets the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s definition of disability and
- Have earned enough work credits through Social Security
Definition of Disability
The SSA defines “disability” differently than other types of programs. You can be considered disabled under Social Security if, because of your medical condition:
- You’re unable to do work you could before
- You cannot adjust to doing other types of work and
- The condition has lasted or is expected to last for one year or more (or result in death)
Unlike other programs, Social Security only pays for total disabilities. Partially or temporary disabilities will not qualify. The assumption is that other resources can help provide for workers and their families during temporary disability periods.
Work Credits
Besides meeting the definition of disability, you’ll also need to have worked and paid enough into the Social Security system. Most of the time, Social Security taxes are paid through a portion of each paycheck—so if you have earned much at all in the past 10 years, it’s likely that you’ve worked enough.
The SSA determines whether or not you’ve paid into Social Security enough (and recently enough) through work credits. Work credits are based on your total yearly earnings. In 2020, every $1,410 in wages or self-employment income will earn you one work credit. This amount changes from year to year.
You can earn up to four work credits per year. Most people will need a total of 40 work credits with 20 of those earned in the last 10 years before your disability to qualify. However, workers below the age of 62 will require fewer work credits to qualify.
Disabling Conditions that Qualify for SSD
To help show which conditions may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, the SSA maintains a list of disabling conditions. These conditions have been recognized by the Administration as serious enough to be disabling.
The disabling conditions list includes conditions that fall into categories like:
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Musculoskeletal issues
- respiratory illnesses
- Sensory and speech issues
- Immune system disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Kidney disease
- Digestive tract disorders and
- Mental disorders
It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will or will not qualify if you do or do not have a condition on the list. The list is simply meant to show conditions that may be recognized as able to cause disability. If you have a condition that is not on the list, the SSA will compare it to a similar condition on the list and consider whether or not it’s disabling.
There are certain conditions that may be approved sooner through the Compassionate Allowances program. This program was set up to identify conditions and diseases that clearly meet the Social Security criteria for disabilities. These conditions include adult brain disorders, some cancers, and rare childhood disorders.
Applicants often wonder if mental health conditions can also qualify for Social Security Disability. If they meet the qualifications for SSD and you provide enough documentation to support your claim, disabling mental health conditions can qualify.
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Talk to a Social Security Disability (SSD) Lawyer in Milledgeville, GA for Free Today
If you cannot work because of a disabling condition, you should receive the benefits you deserve. At John Foy & Associates, we can look at your case and determine what needs to be improved. Our SSD lawyers in Milledgeville can give you the best chance at approval.
Contact us today and we’ll schedule a FREE, no-risk consultation to discuss your case and how we can help. Call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online today to get started for free.
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