Social Security Disability Lawyer in Long Island City
At Shulman & Hill, our Social Security Disability lawyers in Long Island City are committed to seeing our clients receive the compensation they rightfully deserve.
Many workers in the United States pay into Social Security, then are granted Social Security benefits when they retire or hit a certain age. However, there are alternative ways to collect Social Security, such as through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you are unable to work because of a physical or mental impairment, then you may be able to collect benefits of this kind. However, not all Social Security Disability claims are accepted.
If you need to file for Social Security Disability, or if your claim has been denied, we can help you determine what the best path is and guide you forward. When you need a legal consultation for a Social Security Disability claim, contact us at 516.613.3196. We are ready to help.
What Is Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability Insurance is intended to benefit people who have worked long enough to pay sufficient Social Security taxes but can no longer work due to a disability. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), to qualify for these benefits, one must:
- Work for a minimum of 10 years
- Have a disability that has lasted or is expected to last for 12 months or result in death
If you meet the above requirements, you should feel comfortable applying for Social Security Disability Insurance. The application for benefits is available online at the Social Security website. While the online application may not seem intimidating, it can pose problems for those applying. Even if you meet all of the requirements, your claim could be denied. However, if this happens, there are ways to appeal the decision.
How a Lawyer Can Help With Your Social Security Disability Claim
Our Social Security Disability attorneys can help you fill out the application in the best way possible the first time. Creating a disability claim can be time-consuming, especially if you have never had to do it before. The Social Security Administration offers a disability checklist to help you complete your application.
In this application, you will be required to provide information related to:
- Your spouse
- Any children you have, including those who are disabled
- Employer details, including if you were ever self-employed
- Military service
- Medical records
- Other times you have earned compensation from a government program
- Job history, including types of jobs worked before your condition
- When your medical condition began to affect your ability to work
- Education background
All of the information in the application will be used to determine whether you qualify for Social Security Disability, so it is imperative that you are thorough and honest.
Application Approval Process
After you fill out the application, the decision is turned over to the Social Security Administration, which will determine whether or not you qualify for Social Security Disability. If your application is denied, do not panic. You have the ability to appeal the decision. We can help you appeal the decision through any of the three steps:
- Reconsideration
- Hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ)
- Review by the Social Security Appeal Council
Whether you are just beginning your application process or have recently had a claim denied and are unsure what to do next, it can be beneficial to seek the guidance of an attorney with experience in Social Security claims. Your attorney can guide you through the process, making sure that all pertinent information is collected to give you the best chance to have your claim accepted in the initial phase.
What to Do if Your Claim Is Denied
Many people have their initial Social Security Disability application denied, even if they work with a legal representative. Though we always strive for our clients to succeed from the beginning, we are prepared to help you with your appeal if you are denied.
Your first step to fight an appeal is a reconsideration. A reconsideration is basically how it sounds. You are asking for your application to be reviewed by another person. During the reconsideration, you may submit additional material to address the reasons for the initial denial.
If your application during reconsideration is denied, you can then request a hearing before an administrative law judge. During this hearing, you will meet face-to-face with a judge and explain why you cannot work. They will review your file and medical records. Working with a Social Security Disability lawyer, you will have someone on your side to provide counsel that you can use at your hearing. Our Social Security Disability attorneys have experience with these hearings and can guide you through them.
On your own, you could become overwhelmed by the situation and regretfully fail to convince the judge that you should receive benefits. There is no benefit to going through this process alone. Having a team behind you can make all the difference.
If you are still denied by the administrative law judge, we are ready to represent you through a review by the Social Security Appeal Council, if necessary.
Who Uses Social Security Disability?
There are many people who qualify for Social Security Disability. Injuries and impairments range from mental impairments to physical ailments. Some people who could qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance include those suffering from:
- Mental illness
- Spinal disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Vision and hearing loss
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Orthopedic disabilities
- Kidney, lung, liver, or blood disorders
However, just because you are suffering from an impairment does not mean that you automatically qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance. Many of the injuries and illnesses that can qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits can range in severity. Mild illnesses or permanent diseases that are under control will not qualify you for disability.
For instance, someone with Type I diabetes that is well-maintained may not qualify for disability. Additionally, if you have a serious illness but you never paid Social Security tax, then you may not be able to collect Social Security Disability benefits.
Social Security Disability Claims Statistics
From the 2019 Annual Statistical Report for SSDI, 9,765,096 people were receiving disability benefits. This included disabled workers, disabled adult children, and disabled widows or widowers. 85.8 percent of the people receiving benefits were disabled workers, while 11.7 percent were disabled adult children.
In New York, 4.3 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 64 received disability payments in 2019. This was 1.7 percent higher than Utah, which had the lowest percentage of people receiving disability insurance, but only half of the percentage in West Virginia, which was the highest state for disability insurance.
Read How Our Clients Feel About Us
No matter what difficulties you are facing, no matter how hard or complicated your case may be, Shulman & Hill can provide you personalized service and strong representation. Our success record has exceeded $300 million dollars awarded to our clients and have proven to be an effective advocate to those in need. Here are just a couple of testimonials from our clients praising our efforts.
“The office of Shulman & Hill exceeded my expectations. They have been there since day one and went above and beyond to ensure I was getting everything 100%. Very satisfied with their work and highly recommend their outstanding service.” – Lasha L.
“Shulman & Hill have been tremendously helpful in resolving my case. They are extremely professional and thorough. I would recommend them to anyone working to resolve a difficult case.” – James M.
Contact the Social Security Disability Lawyers of Shulman & Hill Today
If you are disabled and need Social Security Disability Insurance to provide for your family, time is of the essence. As you go through the draining process of applying for benefits and hoping for approval, you may feel helpless. However, a Social Security Disability lawyer can provide legal counsel and guide you down the road of an SSDI application or appeal. At Shulman & Hill, our clients receiving the compensation they deserve is our top priority.
We want the people of Long Island City to get the benefits they are owed, especially after they spent their entire working career paying into Social Security in order to be able to rely on it if necessary. When you are ready to seek the help of a Social Security Disability lawyer, reach out to Shulman & Hill in Long Island City, New York.
Call 516.613.3196 or schedule your free consultation online today.
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