When people with illnesses or serious physical or mental disabilities cannot work because of their conditions, they can find themselves in significant financial distress. Without the capacity to earn, they watch their bills pile up and can even lose their homes. Through social security disability (SSD), the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers those who qualify a range of benefits to support their health and financial well-being.
If you are disabled and pursuing SSD benefits, our social security legal team is ready to help. A knowledgeable Burlington, NJ Social Security disability lawyer will manage your application with efficiency, so you and your household receive the benefits you need.
What Social Security Disability Benefits Include
Applicants approved for SSD gain access to a variety of benefits. These benefits include:
Monthly Payments
Approved applicants receive a monthly check from SSD. The amount varies depending on how long you have worked and paid into Social Security and how much you have earned. The average payment as of January 2023 was $1,423 as reported by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Medicare or Medicaid Insurance
When you are approved for SSD benefits, you enter a 24-month waiting period for receiving Medicare health coverage. During the waiting period, you may keep coverage from your previous employer or may apply for Medicaid.
“Ticket to Work”
Sometimes, disabled individuals who receive SSD want to return to work in a limited capacity but fear re-entering the workforce will cause them to lose their SSD benefits. The SSA supports those who want to work but need to keep their benefits through their free Ticket to Work employment services.
Support for Dependents
If you are part of a family and receive disability benefits, other members of your family may also qualify to collect payments. Members include your spouse, divorced spouse, children, and adult children who became disabled before the age of 22.
Applying for Social Security Disability
People often associate Social Security with old age. But disabling conditions or illnesses can affect people of all ages and often result from unexpected accidents. SSD applicants do not have to be senior citizens to be approved.
That said, the SSA has strict requirements for qualification, and the application process is long and complicated. To ensure your application process moves with efficiency and all documentation is properly prepared and submitted, trust your case to a Burlington, NJ social security disability attorney.
The Application
You can apply for SSD online, via mail, by visiting with a representative at your local SSD office, or by speaking with a representative over the phone. The most efficient mode is the online option. On the application, you will be required to provide information about yourself, including your birth date, social security number, as well as the birthdays and Social Security numbers of your spouse (current and former) and children under 18 years of age.
You will also need to provide extensive information about your condition, including doctor visits, reports, test results, medications, and other relevant documentation. The application also requires details of your work history and other documents potentially including:
- Birth certificate or proof of citizenship
- W-2 forms
- Military discharge forms
- Award letters, pay stubs, settlement agreements, workers’ compensation benefits, or any other financial support or awards
Qualifying Requirements
There are two basic requirements you must meet to be eligible to apply for SSD benefits:
- You have been employed by jobs that paid into SSA
- Your condition meets the SSA’s definition of “disability”
The SSA uses five questions to determine if you meet their definition of disabled. For each affirmative answer, the SSA moves to the next question.
- Are you working? If you are working and earning a designated amount ($1,470 for disabilities other than blindness in 2023), you earn too much to qualify for benefits.
- Is your condition severe? To qualify as “severe” your condition must interfere with your ability to carry out work-related tasks such as walking, sitting, lifting, remembering, or standing for at least 12 months.
- Is your condition on the SSA’s list of disabling conditions? If not, the SSA will have to investigate to determine if the condition qualifies.
- Can you work as you did prior to your disability? If your disability does not prevent you from working in the capacity you did prior to its onset, you will not qualify.
- Can you perform other types of work? The SSA will consider your education, experience, and abilities to see if there are other more suitable employment situations for you. If there are, you will not qualify for SSD
Your Social Security disability lawyer in Burlington, NJ will prepare you to answer these questions thoroughly and truthfully while demonstrating your need for SSD benefits.
Burlington Social Security Disability Lawyer Near Me (215) 985-2424
How a Burlington NJ Social Security Disability Attorney Can Help You
While you and your family adjust to how your condition affects your household overall, you may not be in the best mental, physical, or emotional state to complete this important and lengthy application. To avoid mistakes that could cause denial and to keep the process moving along smoothly, have an empathetic and experienced Social Security disability attorney in Burlington, NJ handle your case.
Your attorney knows what documentation you need and can access most of it for you, or provide guidance to help you secure the information as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the SSA denies many first-time applications for a variety of reasons. Your attorney knows the typical roadblocks and how to avoid them and will help you submit a complete, accurate application.
If you have already received a denial or disagree with the amount of your monthly payments, there is still hope. You have opportunities to appeal the SSA’s decision, and a social security disability lawyer in Burlington NJ will take your case through the appeals process.
Partner with Us Today
Rand Spear and the team and Spear Greenfield know how stressful chronic illness or disability can be, and if you are facing that stress, we are here to help. Financial stability is always a major concern and a Burlington, NJ social security disability attorney from our team will work to secure SSD benefits to help you and your family achieve that stability.
Partner with an attorney who will not let government “red tape” or preventable mistakes prevent you from getting the support you need.
Call or text (215) 985-2424 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form