Ask a SSI Attorney

With limited federal funding available for Social Security Disability benefits, the approval process is designed to weed people out rather than welcome them in. In addition, social security law is incredibly complex, which makes an experienced social security disability lawyer a very valuable resource for those seeking disability benefits. But just what do social security lawyers do to help people get approved? READ MORE »

Lemoine Law Firm social security disability lawyers work on a “contingency fee” basis. You don’t owe anything unless and until they win your case. If you don’t win, you don’t owe a fee. This is true all the way through the appeal process, no matter how long it takes. You need no money up front to hire Lemoine Law Firm to pursue your case. If you do win, the fee is calculated as a percentage of the total benefit awarded to you. In addition to helping you avoid the stress of out-of-pocket expenses while you’re still seeking benefits, this arrangement reassures many clients that the team working the case will do their best, because the firm doesn’t get paid unless you get approved for benefits.

Most people assume that social security disability insurance (SSDI) is something that only “elderly people” get. This is because, for the most part, social security disability insurance is intended to help supplement the income of elderly and retired people. Sometimes, however, younger people collect social security too. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a fund to help people who are under the age of 65 and who have been injured or disabled and are unable to work. READ MORE »

Most Americans know that there are government Social Security and Disability programs for those unable to work due to injury or illness, but very few people understand what the requirements for social security disability are and just how complicated the approval process can be. READ MORE »

We’ve all heard of social security and disability support. We all know about the checks that get mailed to people who are hurt or who are unable to work because of medical reasons. The monthly stipend isn’t the only reason to apply for social security disability benefits. People who receive financial assistance through SSDI also receive medical benefits. READ MORE »

You should contact a social security attorney before you file for benefits to discuss whether or not it is a good time for you to apply. If you and your attorney determine that you should file for social security benefits, your attorney can, among other things, assist in filling out your paperwork, make arguments on your behalf and obtain medical and other evidence that will increase your chances of being approved quickly.

Disability insurance benefits (DIB) and it is basically like an insurance policy. You are covered when you have paid in enough credits obtained through the payment of Social Security taxes. Unlike Social Security retirement benefits, the credits must generally be paid in during a ten-year period before you become disabled. The second program is the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). This is a needs-based program. You do not have to pay in any credits to qualify. You must, however, establish income and resource (asset) eligibility.

With respect to social security disability you can draw up to approximately $2,600 a month for wage earners and additional amounts for dependents such as children and spouse. The monthly amount payable is subject to cost of living increases, which are provided just about every year.

The monthly SSI benefit is $721 for calendar year 2014 and usually increases annually.
Payments are only made to the disabled individual.

Your spouse’s wages will not affect entitlement to disability insurance benefits (DIB) but could affect entitlement to SSI. Nothing that you own, or a family member or member of the household owns will affect entitlement to DIB. The only income that will directly affect entitlement to SSD is workers’ compensation or some other public disability benefit. SSI benefits on the other hand can be reworked based on income and assets.

As soon as you discontinue work or decrease your work activity to significantly part-time with gross monthly earnings of $1090 or less. The earnings limit is increased almost every year. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be out of work for twelve months before filing for benefits or before becoming entitled to benefits.

Yes, but be sure to consult with your social security lawyer before doing so. If your work is for six months or less and terminates due to your impairments, under certain circumstances it can be classified as an unsuccessful work attempt and will not affect your claim. If the work effort goes beyond six months, it could affect your entitlement or result in a later disability onset date – the date that Social Security finds you became disabled.

This is more difficult to answer. Some Social Security adjudicators hold this against Social Security claimants. Generally speaking, when you file for unemployment benefits, you’re certifying an ability to work, which is why some adjudicators give it prejudicial effect.

Legally, however, the filing for unemployment benefits on its own should not be held against a claimant because there are many different reasons why an individual will file for unemployment benefits, some of which are unrelated to your perceived ability to work.

In addition, you may believe that you’re able to work when you file for unemployment – or at least hold out the hope that you will – but have since realized that you can’t.

Social Security is now making a concerted effort to identify clearly entitled individuals at the outset of the process to avoid needless delays. It could be anywhere from three weeks to eighteen months and usually somewhere in between before the case is resolved.

In some cases an administrative hearing before a Social Security judge is necessary. Social security hearings are relatively informal and usually do not last more than 30-40 minutes and the hearing rooms are much smaller than most courtrooms.

Social security hearings are non-adversarial and exist so the administrative law judge can get as much information about your impairments and how they affect your ability to function as he or she needs.

Sometimes the judge will make a decision at the hearing. In other cases they will take the case under advisement and deliver a decision in anywhere from two to six months. Once they do, the decision is sent to you and the social security disability law firm representing you so that a can review the decision and discuss their findings with you.

Qualification for Social Security disability benefits depends on both the ailment and whether it prevents you from working. You can find a partial list of qualifying conditions here.

Once you receive your social security benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has the right to periodically review your file to determine whether or not you are still disabled. Typically, if your health has not improved, or the disability still keeps you from being able to work, you will continue receiving benefits. However, if your condition has improved or no longer interferes with your ability to work, then the social security disability review may result in a reduction or a complete reversal of your benefits. READ MORE »

While you can’t collect social security benefits while incarcerated, whether benefits are suspended or terminated depends on how long you’re in jail. READ MORE »

When you’re looking for an SSD lawyer, there’s generally no shortage of options – and each one will have different experience and expertise than the rest. What should you keep in mind when evaluating candidates? What questions should you ask? READ MORE »

We can’t begin a discussion on how to get approved for SSI without first understanding that the right approach depends on the many particulars of your case; and because of that, we can only offer general guidelines on how to get approved for SSI here. READ MORE »

First and foremost, contact an experienced social security disability attorney as soon as possible. The earlier you contact them, the more they will be able to help you obtain social security benefits. Defend your claim against the social security administration and get you the benefits you deserve. READ MORE »

A vocational expert is responsible for identifying information about available jobs that you can do, given your limitations, as specified by the Administrative Law Judge or your attorney at the hearing. The job information provided by the VE is responsible for identifying information about available jobs that you can do, given your limitations. It can often be the difference between a favorable and unfavorable decision. READ MORE »

Receiving SSI and inheritance money at the same time may not be allowed, depending on the amount you have inherited. However, receiving an inheritance most likely won’t affect your ability to receive Social Security Disability. READ MORE »

Located in downtown Mobile on Water Street, the Mobile Al Social Security office serves residents of Mobile County, which includes the following areas: READ MORE »