Last updated on January 30th, 2025
If you have been seriously injured or battling an illness for an extended period, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, receiving disability benefits may involve extensive paperwork and providing extensive medical records.
Like other government programs, dealing with the Social Security Administration for SSDI claims is time-consuming and challenging. Many applications are initially denied due to paperwork errors and other technicalities. If you have a disabling injury or illness, your physical or mental condition may make it even more challenging to complete the claim process.
A trusted Cincinnati Social Security Disability Lawyer can provide legal support in the claim process to increase your chances of a positive outcome. Consult with Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz today to learn more.
Millions of people in the United States receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits from the Social Security Administration. The recipients of SSDI benefits have eligible physical and mental impairments that prevent them from working.
Even if you have a disability, obtaining these benefits takes work. The SSA denies approximately 70% of SSDI’s initial claims each year and only approves claims that meet the legal definition of being disabled and provide sufficient evidence upfront.
An applicant must submit the necessary and complete medical records to prove their disability. Some of the records required to prove a disability include the following:
The SSA may also deny your application on account of your monthly income. The SSA does not approve SSDI benefits for applicants involved in substantial gainful activity with an income of over $1,550 in 2024.
The SSA may also deny the application based on your lack of willingness to follow up with the claim process. For example, the SSA may decline your application for failure to provide additional documentation following their requests.
If the SSA rejects your application, you can pursue a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The input of an experienced Social Security disability attorney can avoid the lengthy and time-consuming appeal process.
Many people are unclear on the differences between SSI and SSD. Despite their similarities, each program has unique eligibility criteria that each claimant must meet to receive the benefits. Learning about their differences is crucial in understanding the right fit for you.
Those with insufficient work credits and limited income and resources should apply for SSI, and people who’ve worked long enough to accumulate enough credits should apply for Social Security Disability.
You may also apply for SSI and SSDI if you qualify for both programs. Even so, receiving SSDI can reduce your monthly SSI payments or make you eligible for its benefits. Supplemental Security Income has a monthly income cap of $1,971. The SSD income cap is within this range, so if your income plus SSD exceeds $1,971, your SSI application will likely fail.
Suppose the SSA allocates you low amounts of SSD after an injury, particularly when you have low work credits. In that case, SSI may be an additional source of income until you recover and resume work. A Cincinnati disability attorney can advise on your eligibility for all benefit programs.
No medical condition automatically qualifies someone for disability. However, the Social Security Administration has a list of eligible conditions in its “Blue Book” for people applying for disability benefits.
Here are examples of such conditions:
If you have enough work credits to qualify for disability benefits, the SSA evaluates your eligibility using a step-by-step approach involving the following questions.
SSA applies the earnings guidelines to establish if your job provides Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If you’re working in 2024 and your average earnings are more than $1,550 ($2,590 if blind), you are ineligible for disability benefits.
If you’re not working or engaged in SGA, the SSA will forward your application to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. Then, the office decides on your medical condition.
According to SSA guidelines, your condition must limit your ability to perform basic work-related activities, such as standing, walking, remembering, or sitting, for at least 12 months. You might qualify if your condition prevents you from performing the above fundamental roles.
The SSA also maintains a list of medical conditions considered severe enough to prevent an individual from participating in a substantial gainful activity. If your condition is not on the list, SSA decides whether the condition is severe compared to other listed conditions.
The SSA lists conditions for each major organ, including digestive disorders, endocrine disorders, mental disorders, respiratory disorders, and the cardiovascular system.
Examples of immune system disorders listed in the blue book include:
After the above assessment, SSA decides whether your medical condition(s) prevents you from performing a previous job. If the medical condition keeps you from such jobs, the SSA will further assess if you have a qualifying disability.
If you cannot perform a previous job, the administration will evaluate whether you can perform any other role despite your impairment.
While making this assessment, SSA considers the following:
If you cannot perform any other job, SSA will decide if you’ll qualify for disability benefits. If you can do another job, SSA will decide you don’t have a qualifying disability and deny your Social Security claim.
A Social Security Disability benefits appeal can take as little as four weeks up to twelve weeks. Cases that move to the hearing stages take longer, ranging from a year to over 18 months. A massive workload at the Social Security Administration can lead to longer wait times.
Here are the four stages of the appeal process:
You have a right to pursue all stages of the appeal whenever faced with claim denial.
Working with an experienced Social Security disability attorney provides key support while pursuing the benefits your condition deserves. Although you don’t have to hire a Social Security disability attorney, legal assistance can increase your chances of a positive outcome.
Here are specific ways an attorney enhances your chances of success:
The SSDI claim process is complicated, particularly for first-time applicants. Nonetheless, you can change the outlook of your case by working with an experienced attorney who will offer legal support during preparations, filing, and appeals.
An experienced attorney from Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz understands the applicable deadlines, documents, and procedures. Contact us online or at 1937.222.2222 for a free case evaluation.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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