Milton, FL SSD Lawyer
Throughout the entirety of your career, you’ve paid into the Social Security system. That could benefit you now that you have become disabled and are unable to work. If you have enough work credits and are able to prove the extent of your disability, you could be entitled to monthly payments that help you cover your bills, daily expenses, and other obligations.
Unfortunately, getting approved for SSDI benefits in Milton, FL is often much harder than applicants expect. However, with the help of an SSDI benefits attorney, you can submit the strongest application possible and pursue the benefits you deserve. Call Quin Baker, SSD Lawyer at 850-433-0888 to set up a consultation with our team now.
How the SSD Program Works
The Social Security Administration oversees the SSDI program. This program provides monthly assistance and benefits to people who have enough work history and are able to prove the extent and severity of their disabilities.
Unlike SSI, which is funded by taxpayers, SSDI is paid for by the general Social Security fund—the same one that applicants have paid into for decades. Additionally, while SSI is based on need, SSDI is not. Even if you have sizable assets or other income streams, you can still receive SSDI benefits if you meet the work and disability requirements.
Certain family members can also receive benefits if you qualify. Those who qualify can receive up to half of the same amount you receive each month, although there is a monthly cap for families.
Before you get to the more in-depth work of proving your disability, you’ll want to ensure that you have the proper amount of work credits for SSDI benefits. Per the SSA, most applicants must have 40 work credits. As long as you work and you are paying Social Security taxes, you are likely earning credits.
Note, though, that there is a cap on work credits. Each year, you can only earn four credits. The amount of money you must earn for a credit changes each year; in 2023, that amount is $1,640. This means that once you have earned $6,560 in 2023, you have earned your max credits for the year.
While most applicants need 40 credits to receive disability benefits, this isn’t the case for younger workers. For example, a worker who becomes disabled before the age of 24 must have earned six credits in the three-year period prior to their disability. Those aged 24 to 31 must have credits for working half of the time between age 21 and the onset of their disability. Applicants 31 or older should have earned at least 20 credits in the ten years prior to their disability.
Proving Your Disability
Proving your disability to the extent that the SSA requires is a huge part of applying for benefits. It’s for this reason that so many applications are initially denied, even though the applicant is disabled enough to warrant benefits. There is a huge gap between what most people think constitutes enough proof and what the SSA actually considers to be enough proof. You may find it helpful to imagine that the person reading your application has minimal to no understanding of your disability, and your job is to paint a clear picture of how your disability affects your day-to-day life.
For many applicants, the Listing of Impairments is a helpful resource. The Listing of Impairments, better known as the Blue Book, is an in-depth guide to many of the disabilities for which the SSA pays benefits. Under each listing, you’ll find a list of qualifications that allow you to receive benefits.
As an example, consider 2.04, a loss of visual efficiency or visual impairment in the better eye. The Blue Book indicates that either a visual efficiency percentage of 20 or less after best correction or a visual impairment value equal to or greater than 1.00 after best correction allows you to receive benefits. This makes it much easier for applicants to know which evidence to submit.
Perhaps your impairment is not listed in the Blue Book, or maybe it’s listed but you don’t meet all of the listed requirements. That doesn’t mean you don’t qualify for benefits. The Blue Book is more of a starting point for many applicants.
If your disability is severe enough to prevent you from working or doing any substantial gainful activity, you may still receive benefits if you prove your case to the SSA. In this situation, though, the application process is often more challenging.
How Quin Baker, SSD Lawyer Can Help
If this is your first time applying for Social Security benefits, you may wonder why you need an attorney or why Quin Baker, SSD Lawyer can help you. No matter how simple the requirements for an SSDI approval may seem, the majority of applicants are denied the first time they apply. This is enough to deter many applicants, who often feel demoralized by the denial and give up.
Remember, though, that you know your disability better than the SSA does. If they denied you and you’re certain that you are unable to work as a result of your disability, it’s often just a matter of working harder to prove your case to them.
That’s where Quin Baker, SSD Lawyer can step in to help. If you’re applying for benefits for the first time, give yourself an advantage. We know how the SSA works, what roadblocks you’re likely to encounter, and what standards you’ll need to meet to get your application approved.
If your application has already been denied, that makes this the ideal time to start working with Quin Baker. We know how frustrating a denied application be, especially if you are falling behind on bills and struggling to support your family. Through an in-depth review of your application, we will identify weak spots and help you improve them.
Contact Us Today
The sooner you contact Quin Baker, SSD Lawyer, the sooner we can begin working on your Milton SSDI case. Set up a consultation now by calling us at 805-433-0888 or sending us a message online.
