If you live in Columbus, Ohio, and have a serious, long-term disability that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD). This could include either SSD program, Social Security Disability Insurance, or Supplemental Security Income. If you have questions or need help applying for either of these programs, the Columbus social security disability lawyers from Berger and Green are here to help.
Our team can help you prepare your claim, help you file for benefits, or handle your appeal, if necessary. Call 412-661-1400 for a free case review.
Berger and Green Can Help You Understand the Two Types of SSD Benefits
SSD includes two programs that offer disability benefits to those who suffer qualifying impairments and cannot work because of these impairments. We can help you understand how each of these programs works and which one might work best for you. Alternatively, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers an online Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool.
The two SSD programs include:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is a program to help workers whose health prevents them from working until they reach full retirement age. This program requires you to:
- Have enough work credits earned by working at least part-time
- Have recent work credits earned from work over the last few years
- Have an earned income that falls below the current limit
SSDI only considers your earned income to ensure you cannot work and earn a living. You can have unearned income—such as investment income and other sources—with no limit.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI helps those who do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI but have an extremely low income and few assets. SSI has strict income limits and almost all types of income count.
Proving You Have a Qualifying Disability Based on SSA Rules
In addition to meeting the basic qualifications of each program, known as technical qualifications, you will also need to have medical evidence to prove you suffer from a qualifying disability. You do not have to collect this evidence on your own. Instead, you will list contact information for your physicians on your application and the disability examiner assigned to your case will request your medical records.
The type of medical evidence you need will vary greatly based on your impairment and other factors. Some common types of medical evidence include:
- Medical imaging such as CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays
- Lab testing results
- Notes about procedures, treatments, and outcomes
- Other relevant clinical notes
- Any information about the severity of your condition and prognosis
In general, there are two ways the disability examiner who handles your case will use this information to determine if you qualify for benefits:
- Comparing it to an impairment listing in the Blue Book; or
- Evaluating your residual functional capacity to determine if you can work any job
If either of these tests finds you cannot work and you meet all the technical qualifications, you will likely qualify for SSD benefits.
Columbus, Ohio, SSD Lawyers Can Help You Fight for Disability Benefits
If you live in or around Columbus, OH, the disability attorneys from Berger and Green can help you pursue the SSD benefits you need. We can help you understand your options, double-check your claim, and help you apply for benefits. We will even make sure you got all the correct contact information for your health care providers because we understand how imperative it is for the disability examiner to have this information.
We know how the process works to determine if you are eligible for benefits and how to navigate the appeal process if they deny your claim. We will go through the entire disability claims process with you. Call 412-661-1400 today to get started. You pay us nothing until you get the benefits you deserve.
You Could Qualify to Recover Additional Compensation
If you suffer from a disability following a personal injury accident, the attorneys from Berger and Green may be able to help you hold the at-fault party financially responsible. Backed by founding attorney Laurence B. Green who has more than 40 years of experience handling personal injury cases, our team may be able to attempt to negotiate an out-of-court settlement or litigate your case.
Berger and Green Can Help with Your Columbus, Ohio SSD Appeal
The SSA denies a large portion of the claims they receive and many well-qualified applicants have to rely on the appeal process to get the disability benefits they deserve. If you receive a notice of denial, reach out to us right away. We can help you request reconsideration and navigate the appeals process if there is sufficient time to do so.
The appeal process continues even if they deny your claim again during reconsideration. If you enlist our help, we will represent you and be with you every step of the way. The full appeal process includes:
- Reconsideration
- An appeal hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge
- A review by the Appeals Council
- Filing a lawsuit in U.S. district court
As a part of this process, you may be able to recover back pay back to the date when you initially filed your claim for disability. You may also be eligible for additional pay if you waited to file your additional claim. We can help you understand how much you may qualify for based on the facts of your claim.
Talk to a Social Security Disability (SSD) Lawyer
At Berger and Green, our social security disability lawyers can help you file your claim and go after the benefits you deserve. Our team will help you navigate the entire process, from understanding the best program to apply through the appeal process, if necessary.
Call or text us today at 412-661-1400 for your free case evaluation with a member of our team.
