Manhattan Social Security Disability Lawyer

People with disabilities face barriers that can make the tasks of daily living—such as bathing, cooking, and shopping—challenging or even impossible. Many people find themselves unable to work and earn an income, which can be hard to accept for people accustomed to supporting themselves. Some people are too proud to apply for the government benefits they need and deserve, even as they struggle to get by because their disability prevents them from working.

If you are an adult who can no longer work because of your disability, you may be entitled to financial assistance from Social Security disability. This assistance is not a handout. If you previously worked, you paid into the Social Security disability program and have a right to seek support from it. The Social Security Disability lawyers in Manhattan, NY with Shulman & Hill are ready to help, so contact us today.

What Does It Mean to Be Disabled?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a disability as a physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory (such as hearing or vision) impairment that prevents someone from fully and effectively participating in society on an equal basis with others. Some people have disabilities that are obvious. For example, someone with paralysis may require a wheelchair. Other disabilities, such as hearing impairment, are invisible but still create a barrier to full engagement with society.

People with disabilities do not only face the challenges associated with their specific condition. They are also more likely to face other health challenges. For example, in New York, the CDC reports that adults with disabilities are more likely to smoke and have heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. These disparities can reduce a person’s lifespan and quality of life.

The impacts of a disability are far-reaching. People with disabilities may also lack access to proper healthcare, nutritious food, and other resources that affect their overall health.

What Is the Purpose of Social Security Disability?

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), its main purpose is to help families and individuals meet their material needs through various programs. Many people know that Social Security provides a retirement income for millions of Americans, but that is not the only support available. Social Security also provides income and Medicare insurance for individuals who are too disabled to work.

Disability support is one of Social Security’s many programs, and its purpose is to protect people with disabilities from using all their savings to pay for disability-related expenses. People with disabilities often face large medical bills for medical equipment and visits to multiple healthcare practitioners, yet they may not be able to work or earn an income because of their disability. Social Security disability gives them the financial cushion they need.

Who Can Receive Support From Social Security Disability?

People who worked long enough and recently enough to contribute to Social Security but are now disabled and can no longer work may qualify for disability benefits. The SSA states that to qualify for disability, you must have a medical condition that will last at least one year or end in death. The amount of time you must have worked depends on your age, but the minimum is a 10-year work history.

Your medical condition must limit your ability to work. For example, it must make it difficult or prevent you from standing, sitting, walking, lifting, or remembering for at least 12 months. The SSA maintains a list of approved conditions, but it will also evaluate your disability on an individual basis and determine if your disability prevents you from gainful activity. Special rules apply to people who are blind.

Common Types of Social Security Disability Cases

According to the United States Census Bureau, 6.9% of New York City residents under age 65 have a disability that affects their hearing, vision, cognition, self-care, ability to ambulate, or otherwise lowers their ability to live independently. Based on this statistic, thousands of Manhattan residents have a disability that prevents them from fully engaging and participating in society.

In New York and elsewhere, many chronic conditions lead to disability. Some of the most common chronic conditions are:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• High blood cholesterol
• History of heart attack
• History of stroke

Eye disease and visual impairment also cause many people to need disability assistance. These conditions can make it difficult for New Yorkers to work and care for themselves. Some types of eye disease and visual impairment that often disable people include cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability Support

You can apply for Social Security disability support online, in person, or over the phone. This may sound simple enough—but applying is often a complex process that involves extensive paperwork and documentation concerning your work history, medical history, current disability, and anticipated future prognosis.

Gathering these documents and filling out the disability application can be exhausting, especially when you are already facing a challenging disability. Our legal team wants to help you apply for the benefits you deserve.

We can gather all the information you need to complete your application, including:

• The names and contact information for the doctors, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics that provided you with treatment and examinations
• The names and dates of your medical tests
• The names of the professionals who referred you for medical tests
• A complete record of your employment history
• A record of your education and job training
• A list of jobs you had in the 15 years before you became unable to work
• Information about the duties you performed in the longest job you had
• The names of any medications you take, your reasons for taking them, and the name of the prescriber
• Information about any vocational rehabilitation services, workers’ compensation, or public welfare you have received
• Information about any jail time or prison sentences you have served

What to Do if Social Security Denies You for Disability

In 2021, the SSA approved less than 32% of applications for Social Security disability benefits—so the odds are not in your favor, especially when you handle the application on your own. However, if the SSA denies your application, you have the right to appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision. You can file an appeal yourself or search for a Social Security disability lawyer near me in Manhattan for legal assistance.

Our Manhattan Social Security disability lawyers can help apply for reconsideration and represent you in front of an administrative law judge or the Appeals Council if it comes to that.

Contact Shulman & Hill for Legal Assistance with Social Security Disability

If you became disabled through an accident, injury, serious illness, or other medical reason, you may be entitled to disability support from Social Security. The Manhattan Social Security disability attorneys at Shulman & Hill are eager to help with the application process, so contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

If we accept your case, we will fight for you to receive the benefits you deserve to preserve your health and independence.