Getting Social Security disability benefits in Sapulpa, OK can be challenging. If you make a mistake on your application or do not submit the required paperwork, your request may be denied. Fortunately, a Sapulpa personal injury lawyer can help you out.
To get the Social Security disability benefits you want, hire an attorney from BDIW Law. Our Sapulpa Social Security disability lawyer is available to review your case. Contact us today to learn more.
How Social Security Works in Sapulpa
In the United States, you may be eligible for benefits if you cannot work due to a disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers these benefits. They are available through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
SSDI pays you, and certain family members benefits if you are “insured.” To receive these benefits, you must have worked long enough or recently enough based on SSA requirements. Also, you must have paid Social Security taxes based on what you have earned.
SSI and SSDI are not the same thing. Under SSI, benefits are available to adults and children who meet SSA’s requirements for a qualifying disability. They are offered to those who have limited income and resources.
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SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYSSDI and SSI Requirements
With SSDI and SSI, the medical requirements are the same. For those who meet the programs’ non-medical requirements, they can receive monthly benefits. These benefits will be paid based on a medical condition that lasts at least one year or can cause a person to die.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have worked a job covered by Social Security and have a medical condition that meets SSA’s definition of disability. Generally, these benefits are paid out to people who cannot work for at least a year due to a disability. SSA may provide benefits for up to 12 months before a person applies for them if they were dealing with a disability during this period and met all other requirements.
Adults and kids can get SSI benefits if they have little to no income and little to no resources. They must also be dealing with a disability, blindness, or age 65 or older. If you want to apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, a Sapulpa Social Security disability attorney can walk you through the process.
Steps to Complete the Disability Application Process
SSA lets you complete your disability application online, over the phone, or in person. It provides an Adult Disability Checklist to help you avoid mistakes during the application process. Here are the steps required to fill out and submit your application for disability benefits:
- You gather and submit the required information, including details about your employment and medical records.
- SSA reviews your application and confirms that you meet the basic requirements for benefits.
- SSA verifies that you have worked the required number of years to qualify for benefits and evaluates your work activities.
- SSA processes your application and forwards it to Oklahoma’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) office, which decides whether to approve your request.
The processing time for an application varies depending on the severity of your disability and other factors. If SSA has concerns or questions about your submission, they will notify you. In some instances, you may be required to provide additional documents before it can process your materials.
Typically, it takes anywhere from three to six months to get an initial decision. If your request for benefits gets declined, a Social Security disability attorney in Sapulpa can take a look. The lawyer may be able to help you appeal the decision.
What It Takes to Appeal a Disability Benefits Rejection
As soon as you find out that your request for benefits has been rejected, get in touch with a Social Security disability lawyer in Sapulpa. You only have 60 days to request an appeal in writing after you get a notice about SSA’s decision. An attorney can help you submit your appeal and explain these four opportunities you have to get your original decision overturned:
1. Reconsideration
You can ask the DDS office to reconsider a decision that you do not accept. The reconsideration can be based on a disability or submitted as a non-medical request. In either scenario, an examiner will review your initial request and application.
2. Hearing
An administrative law judge (ALJ) oversees a hearing. During the proceedings, you get the opportunity to prove that you meet the requirements for benefits. You can provide evidence to support your request, and SSA’s counsel may do the same in the hopes of showing that the judge should not reverse the agency’s decision.
3. Appeals Council Review
If an ALJ upholds your denial, you have up to 60 days to request a review by the Appeals Council. At this point, council members review your case. They can decide on your case or send it back to an ALJ for further review.
4. Federal Court Review
Your lawyer can file a complaint against SSA that prompts a federal court review. The complaint can state that you disagree with the agency’s decision. From here, the court will determine if you were wrongly or falsely denied benefits.
Find a lawyer who can answer frequently asked questions and many others about benefits denials. At BDIW Law, our team can help submit your appeal before you lose the right to do so. For more information, reach out to us.
Why You Need to Hire a Social Security Disability Attorney
Your request for SSDI or SSI can be denied, but you may still be able to get benefits. A Social Security disability lawyer can help you figure out why your request was rejected in the first place. They can come up with a plan to appeal.
A Social Security disability lawyer can also help you if you want to file a claim. They can explain each step in the application process. Your attorney can make sure that you submit the right paperwork in accordance with SSA’s guidelines.
If you want help with appealing an SSA benefits rejection or want to apply for benefits, legal help is available. The team at BDIW Law knows all about the SSDI and SSI programs. To schedule a free consultation, contact us today.
