Hiring the right SSDI attorney can make all the difference in your case. Currently, some 8.5 million people receive disabled-worker benefits from Social Security. In fact, one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will be disabled by the time he or she turns 67. The Social Security Administration manages the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. This program provides assistance to disabled individuals.
SSDI is intended for disabled people who have worked and paid sufficient Social Security taxes and earned enough work credits. If you don’t have enough work credits for SSDI, you may still qualify for Supplemental Security Income (or “SSI“). You should consult with an SSI attorney to discuss whether you may qualify.
For more information about what SSDI is and whether or not you’ll qualify, refer to the following.
Award Winning SSDI Attorney
At ARM Lawyers, our SSDI attorney is dedicated to helping individuals get the disability benefits they deserve. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we do more than just help our clients understand the law. We will provide you with the confidence you need to find solutions, get back on your feet and start planning for a better financial future.
Attorney Patrick J. Best has represented thousands of disabled individuals who were wrongfully denied Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income. Attorney Best has been named a Super Lawyer Rising Star for his work with the disabled. He is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives (NOSSCR) and the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR). He hosts the YouTube show “Social Security Disability with Patrick J. Best, Esq.“.
What is SSDI?
The SSDI program pays benefits to workers who have disabilities that are severe enough to impair them from working. This program is separate and distinct from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Although there are some similarities between the programs.
The SSDI program functions like an insurance program. Workers pay “premiums” in the form of taxes withheld in their paychecks. To qualify for benefits under this program, you must work long enough and recently enough. The general rule is that you must have worked 5 of the last 10 years prior to becoming disabled. An SSDI attorney can help you calculate your work credits and eligibility. You can also create an account on SSA.gov.
How do I qualify for SSDI?
To meet all the requirements to receive SSDI a claimant must:
- Meet the definition of “disability”
- Meet the program’s earnings record requirements
- File an application
Disabilities Covered by SSDI
In order to qualify, you must have a disability that meets the criteria established by the Social Security Administration:
- Your condition affects your ability to perform work-related activities and has lasted or is expected to last more than one year or result in death;
- Your condition either:
- meets the strict criteria of the Social Security Administration’s listings of impairments; or
- prevents your from performing your past work and from adjusting to other work in the national economy.
In addition to having a qualifying disability, a person will only qualify for SSDI benefits if he or she has contributed to the Social Security fund through taxes. In order to establish eligibility, a person has to pass two separate earnings qualifications.
The first is a recent work test based on the age you were when you became disabled, and the second is based on the amount of years you worked under Social Security and the amount of work credits you earned (you can earn up to four credits per year, and each credit requires a certain amount of income). The recent work and work duration test determine how many years of work you need to qualify.
If you’d like to know more about what conditions qualify for SSD, we cover the topic in more detail here.
What types of SSDI benefits are there?
Depending upon your circumstances, certain members of your family may be eligible to receive your benefits under your Social Security history. For example, you may be able to receive benefits for your child. An SSDI attorney can assist you in determining the right benefits for your situation.
How much money will I get from SSDI?
The amount of money you or your family members will receive is based on your lifetime average earnings as well as the number of family members who qualify. You can use a benefits calculator to estimate the amount of money that you will receive or you can seek the advice of an SSDI attorney.
How can an SSDI lawyer help?
SSDI benefits can greatly affect your quality of life. Our SSDI attorney knows how important your case is, and knows how important the benefits would be. Whether you’re applying for SSDI or appealing a denial of SSDI, we can help.
At ARM Lawyers, we handle disability cases in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York and have offices in each of these states. For more information about the disability process in your state, feel free to click below:
Contact an SSDI attorney today
For more questions regarding your eligibility, the amount of benefits that may be paid to you, what documents you’ll need, and how you can appeal a decision made by the Social Security Administration, contact us today at or e-mail us to speak with an SSDI attorney.
