If you have a physical or mental condition that keeps you from holding a full-time job you may be eligible to claim disability benefits from the Social Security system. The process of claiming which includes the initial application and the inevitable appeals process is very confusing to the majority of laypeople, this is even more so for those who are disabled. This fact is the primary reason why applicants are advised to seek help from SSDI and SSI disability lawyers in Clinton MS.
Disability basics:
There are different benefits available to disabled workers; one is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the other is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is fully funded through payroll taxes; FICA is taken from the paychecks and is used to provide benefits to those that have paid, via their taxes, into the system. On the other hand SSI is a safety net for low-income claimants as well as those who are visually impaired and children.
For the purposes of claiming either SSDI or SSI disability benefits, you must suffer from a condition acceptable to the SSA, one which stops you from earning a specific income as a full-time employee. As well as this stipulation, you must have had the disability for at least a year or it is expected to last at least a year or result in your death.
The conditions that are acceptable to the SSA are all included in a comprehensive list which is known as the “blue book.” The list is quite exhaustive; it lists mental disorders such as depression, physical impairments such as chronic heart disease along with vision and hearing loss. Even though the list of accepted disabilities is quite long, you may not have a disorder that is listed; this is where SSI disability lawyers in Clinton MS can be of significant help as they can petition the administration on your behalf.
Appealing a claim which is denied:
The sad fact is that less than a third of initial applications for benefits are accepted. If yours is one of those which is denied then there is a four step appeals process available, starting with a request for consideration, then moving on to a hearing in front of an administrative judge, then a review by the Appeals Council and if all else fails you can take the case to Federal Court. The good news is that the greatest majority of hearings with an administrative judge are successful.
