When you begin a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your claim status may stay top of mind while you wait. When you are not working and are dealing with a disability, you need assistance to receive medical help for your condition. The time spent waiting for approval--or for a denial--can make a huge difference for you and your family.
If you are denied, you may feel hopeless. But did you know that almost 60% of initial claims for SSDI/SSI are denied? With the help of the right legal team, you can stay abreast of the status of your claim, be assured that you’ve submitted complete and proper paperwork and that you’re on the road to approval.
Without consulting an attorney, you can either check the status of your claim by creating an online account or you can call your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office. However, with an SSDI lawyer in your corner, you can not only have them check the status of your claim for you, but you can also ask them to provide additional assistance, information, and advice for you along the way.
Fast Facts About Social Security Disability Claims:
- Social Security Disability Insurance is a benefit that workers earn. By having worked full-time all their lives and paying into Social Security, disabled workers have earned the right for them and their dependents to receive benefits when they need them.
- The SSA observes a particular set of strict parameters for evaluating whether a case qualifies for benefits. To qualify for benefits, your case must show a significant medical history that not only proves your disability but also fits into the SSA’s definition of what a disability is. At times, this can defy what you might think is a logical response.
- Disability can happen to anyone. In fact, one in four 20-year olds today will become disabled before reaching the age of retirement.
- Disability payments are modest but reliable. Benefits average $1,234 per month. Although this amount is relatively small, it can make a big difference in the life of a disabled worker and their family. Medical benefits that come with SSDI/SSI are absolutely critical in sustaining a healthy lifestyle for people that are unable to work for medical reasons.
- Currently, nine million American citizens receive SSDI/SSI benefits. This is only a small percentage of the people dealing with disabilities in the United States of America.
The full-time frame for a disability claim can vary quite a bit. A claim for Social Security Disability can take as few as 90 days, which is very fast for the SSA, or it can take years to be approved. And although you should receive back benefits if your case is approved, statistics show that claims are often approved much more quickly, on average, with the help of the right legal team fighting to increase the chances that you will receive your benefits in a timely manner.
How Can Hiring an Attorney Help My Case?
The right attorney for your SSDI/SSI claim can save you a lot of time. By having the right information at hand to help you at every step of the way, you can ensure that your claim has fewer holdups. You’ll make fewer mistakes when you have the right advice to help with filling out complicated forms, booklets, and paperwork that you are required to complete.
The right attorney can also bring experience to your claim that will help you navigate the complexities of the system. At Affleck & Gordon, we have over 45 years of experience in Georgia helping people with disabilities obtain the benefits that they are entitled to.
The right attorney knows the law. As laws are changed by legislation, your attorney will be up-to-date on how these changes might affect you. They will keep your case on track as you navigate potential denials and appeals. When your claim gets complicated, remember that your attorney can handle at times complex questions that might arise during the process.
The right attorney is a skilled communicator. The right legal professional can not only explain the meticulous details and the process of your case, they are there to listen and address your specific concerns about the whole affair. With compassion and empathy, they can help you with understanding and peace of mind as your claim is processed. If your case is denied, they can handle your appeal. The right attorney is with you every step of the way.
Who Are We?
We’re Affleck & Gordon, and we’re a firm dedicated to assisting disabled and injured people in Georgia. Tens of thousands of our clients receive Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with our team on their side. The only areas of law we practice are disability and injury-related, By specializing in this area, we can better serve our clients with expertise and attention to detail. We want to help you and your family earn the benefits that can improve your quality of life and take care of basic needs every day. We’ve been fighting for the rights of the disabled and have assisted more than 25,000 people over our 45 years in practice, and we can help you too.