There are few things more fulfilling for us than being able to put our knowledge of the law to work for productive citizens who have worked hard for many years and now need help.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It is designed to help aged, blind, disabled people who have little to no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. There are income restrictions with this program, and this is when you may want to apply for SSI.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a payroll tax-funded federal insurance program of the United States government. It is managed by the Social Security Administration and is designed to provide income supplements to individuals who are unable to work because of a disabling condition. If you haven’t worked consistently in the last five years to ten years, you may not be eligible for this program. 

According to Social Security’s definition of disability, you must have been disabled for 12 months, or be expected to be disabled for 12 months.  

Many individuals feel that they are unable to effectively complete an online application for disability benefits. In this case, obtaining help from a disability representative can make the process seem a little less complicated. Please keep in mind that you must provide the necessary information to your representative for the application process. There are two ways to apply for disability. You can complete an online application at www.ssa.gov or you can call your local Social Security office to do an application over the phone.  

If you receive a denial on your disability claim, you have 60 days to complete an appeal. An appeal can also be completed online at www.ssa.gov. If you have obtained the services of a disability representative, you should contact them to start the appeal process. In most cases, your representative also received a copy of the denial. If you do not complete an appeal within the 60 days, you can still file an appeal if you have a good reason for not completing your denial in the 60 day time limit. 

If you are approved for disability benefits, you might be awarded monthly benefits back to the date you became disabled. Payment for our services comes from this “back-pay” or “retroactive” benefits. We receive 25% of any back pay benefits awarded. 

We need medical evidence that proves you are disabled. If you are not receiving treatment for you disabling conditions, the chances of being approved for disability are much lower. There are lots of low cost options for getting treatment. Ask us about those treatment options!

At the time of this information being published, the wait time to get a hearing once it is requested is about 7 months. For more information on the latest wait times, visit SSA's webpage tracking average wait times here.

Yes you can. When your disability claim is approved, you receive retroactive monthly benefits back to the month you stopped working (or the date you became disabled). There is a 5 month waiting period from the date of onset on SSDI cases.

Once your case has been approved for benefits, it takes the Social Security claims representatives approximately one to two months to process your claim.  

A disability representative can assist you with completing the application. You can complete an application for disability benefits online at www.ssa.gov. You can also contact your local Social Security office to apply by phone.  

If you receive a denial of your disability claim, you have 60 days to complete an appeal. You can do an appeal online at www.ssa.gov or contact a disability representative to help you.

The amount of money you receive monthly depends on how much money you have paid into the Social Security program.