Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits
Rebecca M. Coufal, Attorney at Law assists Washington and Idaho claimants for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Whether you need assistance with your initial application or need representation for an administrative hearing or appeal after filing, we can help you secure the benefits you deserve. We have significant experience preparing the necessary documentation, gathering supporting materials, and ensuring favorable results for our clients.
The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) offers two disability benefits programs, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While SSI provides benefits based on financial need, SSDI is available to individuals who have worked for a certain period of time and paid Social Security taxes. To qualify for SSDI benefits, applicants must satisfy particular criteria, including a showing of total disability and the requisite duration of employment. The SSA typically pays benefits only when the individual shows total disability, not for partial or short-term disability.
By claiming total disability, you are indicating that you cannot do the work you did before, you cannot work at another job due to your medical condition, and you expect your disability to last at least one year or result in death. For eligibility based on this criteria, visit the SSA's definition of disability. You are also required to have a certain number of work credits, which are based on your total annual earnings or income from self-employment. This requirement depends on how old you were when you became disabled. The SSA website also explains eligibility based on work credits.
You are eligible to apply for SSDI benefits as soon as you suffer the disability-causing incident. Since SSDI applications can take several months to process, it is prudent to file for these benefits as soon as possible. If you are approved to receive SSDI benefits, the amount you will receive depends on your lifetime average earnings covered by the SSA -- visit the benefits calculator to determine this amount.
If the SSA denies your SSDI application, you are not out of options. We can help you file a request for reconsideration, which you must file within 60 days of your initial claim denial. If this request is not successful, we can obtain a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. For this hearing, we will prepare you for testifying before the judge, as well as consulting your doctors for information and documentation that will prove your disability.
Even if the judge denies your claim, we can appeal this decision to the Appeals Council. Decisions of the Appeals Council can also be appealed to a federal district court (such as the Eastern District of Washington). Likewise, you can appeal an unfavorable district court ruling to the circuit court of appeals (such as the Ninth Circuit). While these reviewing courts do not award benefits or make a binding determination as to whether you qualify, they can rule that there was an error at the administrative hearing and send your case back to the judge for another.
Applying for SSDI benefits can be time-consuming and confusing. Experienced legal guidance can make the entire process much more manageable. If you need to determine eligibility and/or apply for SSDI benefits, contact Rebecca M. Coufal, Attorney at Law for a free consultation.
