The Social Security Disability Insurance1 (SSD) program is designed to help disabled people who have paid into the social security program are deemed “disabled” by the Social Security Administration2 (SSA). In some cases, a people who are clearly disabled have a difficult time establishing that fact to the SSA, resulting in a denial of benefits. When a person is not working, a delay or denial in receiving benefits to which they are legally entitled may mean the difference between food on the table and going hungry. As a result, it is important for anyone who is experiencing difficulty in obtaining benefits to retain legal counsel as soon as possible.
Our Michigan SSD lawyers work hard to ensure that each client we represent obtains the benefits to which they are entitled. To schedule a free consultation, please call our office today at (888) 454-0801.
In order to determine whether a person who is claiming benefits is “disabled” for the purposes of the program, the Social Security Administration asks five questions. These are detailed below.
- Are you currently employed or working? People who are working and earning in excess of $1,090 on average per month generally cannot be considered disabled.
- Is your medical condition “severe?” In order to be eligible for benefits, a person’s medical condition must interfere with basic work-related activities. If it does not, the SSA will not consider the individual disabled.
- Is your condition found on the list of conditions that are automatically considered disabling? The SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that automatically define a person as disabled for the purposes of the program. If a condition is not on this list, the agency will determine if the condition is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list.
- Does your medical condition make it impossible to do the work you did previously? If the medical condition you have is not as severe as a condition on automatically disabling list but is still severe, the agency determines whether you are able to do the work you did prior to the existence of the condition.
- Can you do other types of work? SSD only pays for total disability. The agency will determine whether you can adjust to other types of work, taking into account your age, education, work experience, and transferable skills.
Contact a Michigan social security disability attorney today to discuss your case
For many people seeking social security disability benefits, a denial could have a profound impact on their financial well-being. It is important for claimants to be aware that more than 60 percent of SSD claims are initially denied. Consequently, it is important for anyone who is seeking SSD benefits to retain qualified legal counsel as soon as possible. The Michigan social security disability benefits lawyers of Michigan Injury Lawyers are committed to helping obtain their benefits as quickly and efficiently as possible. Call our office today at (888) 454-0801 to schedule a free consultation.
References:
1 http://www.ssa.gov/disability/
2 http://www.ssa.gov/