If you sustained an injury or illness that prevents you from working, you might be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to help you stay afloat. Dealing with medical issues is often overwhelming, but filing for claims is complicated and time-consuming, making an already traumatic experience more stressful. An experienced lawyer understands how to navigate the system, making them an asset when seeking benefits.
Social Security Disability attorney Jeffrey V. Stripto has successfully advocated for clients for years and helped them receive their entitled benefits. He has years of experience fighting for compensation on behalf of his clients, and he will use his knowledge of the New Jersey Social Security Disability system to help your claim move through the system quickly.
Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program that gives disabled people who cannot work a monthly income. To receive this benefit, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes and pass two work history tests, which will determine if you earned enough wages to be insured by the program.
The first test requires you to have worked a sufficient amount of hours over the last few years based on your age. This is done to determine if you earned enough wages to be insured under the program.
The second work history test is based on the duration of your employment history over your lifetime. For instance:
If you pass both tests, you are deemed insured under the program. To receive financial benefits, you must also have a qualifying mental or medical condition that prohibits your ability to work and earn wages. The condition must be expected to last at least one year or end in death.
Cancer, brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease are eligible conditions. Many other medical conditions may affect your ability to earn a living, but they may not be eligible for SSDI benefits. To qualify, the disability must prevent you from working, even if it is listed as an eligible condition.
Filing a claim for SSDI benefits is frustrating to most people. Up to 70% of applicants are denied, whether from filling out the application incorrectly or not providing enough supporting documentation. It is also possible to be denied if the Social Security Administration (SSA) believes the person can still work in some capacity.
Applicants have the right to appeal denied claims, but this process is also time-consuming and complicated. You will also have a short window of opportunity to file an appeal; you will have 60 days after getting rejected to file an appeal. An experienced NJ lawyer who is knowledgeable about the system can help.
Supplemental Security Income is often confused for Social Security Disability Insurance, but the main difference between the two programs is that SSI is need-based for adults and children. Like SSDI claims, applicants must meet a long list of requirements and have a disability to receive benefits. If approved, you will receive monthly payments through the program.
To qualify for the benefit, you must:
If you are seeking the benefits for your child, their medical conditions can include:
Under SSI, you don’t need to meet a work history requirement, making the program beneficial for low-income families who need assistance.
Social Security Disability lawyers will advocate for you and handle your case with the utmost care. With their vast knowledge of the system, they will help you understand all the nuances of the SSA’s disability benefit rules, which can be challenging for people of all educational backgrounds to comprehend. Not only will they break down the terminology and requirements in ways you can understand, but they will also communicate with the Administration on your behalf.
The attorney also understands that most people who are denied SSDI or SSI claims have not provided what the SSA considers sufficient medical evidence of a disability. With their guidance, the lawyer will explain the type of evidence the Administration will consider valid and help you collect the necessary documents to aid your case.
For an appeals hearing, the attorney will prepare you for the trial. You will be more at ease because you will know what to expect. He or she could also prepare witnesses to speak on your behalf at the trial, which may increase your chances of a successful appeal.
Other reasons to seek a lawyer’s assistance with SSI and SSDI are:
Whether you are discouraged about the filing process for SSDI and SSI or your initial claim for benefits was denied, do not give up. Attorneys who have experience with the disability system can help you with both the application and the appeal.
Jeffrey V. Stripto is an active Social Security Disability lawyer who has spent years advocating for clients in Spring Lake Heights and other towns throughout Monmouth County, New Jersey. He understands the complexity of SSI and SSDI claims, so he walks his clients through the entire process. Attorney Stripto has assisted with countless claims before NJ Administrative Law Judges, and he has been effective at helping people receive their entitled benefits.
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