What Neck Injuries Qualify for Disability?

Neck injuries and conditions that may qualify for disability are:

• A herniated disc
• Nerve damage
• Infection
• Whiplash
• Degenerative diseases

These injuries are just a few of many potentially eligible neck conditions. Our team can advise you about whether your neck condition qualifies you for disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides an extensive list of eligible conditions.

What Types of Compensation are Available to You?

There are generally two ways to obtain disability compensation. They are:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Your specific circumstances will determine which program suits your needs.

Who Qualifies for SSDI?

Per the SSA, you may be eligible for SSDI if:

• You have paid a sufficient amount into the Social Security “trust fund.”
• You are disabled.

Our team can determine if you are eligible for SSDI.

Who Qualifies for SSI?

You may be eligible for SSI if:

• You are disabled.
• You have limited financial resources.

Specific states may provide SSI suppliements in addition to federal disability benefits. We can seek any SSI compensation that you are entitled to.

What are Other Differences Between SSI and SSDI?

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) explains that:

• Typically, SSI recipients qualify for Medicaid, and SSDI recipients qualify for Medicare.
• SSDI has a higher maximum compensation amount than SSI.
• There are different rules for applying for SSI and SSDI.
• SSDI has a higher average monthly benefit than SSI.

These are important differences. We consider such differences when providing you disability-related advice.

What Does Disability Compensation Cover?

SSI and SSDI provide financial compensation. You can use this compensation as you see fit. The compensation is based on the severity of your disabilities. You may also consider enrollment in Medicare or Medicaid as a form of compensation.

Can Our Firm Help with Your Disability Claim?

Yes. We have experience handling both SSDI and SSI claims. You may hire our firm because:

• You are currently dealing with a neck injury.
• You are unfamiliar with the process of applying for SSDI or SSI.
• You would prefer to have our firm handle your claim for any reason.

Our team will do the following things as we assist with your claim:

Determine Which Type of Claim Suits You

The success of your claim could depend on the worthiness of your application. We review your circumstances to determine if you should:

• Apply for SSDI
• Apply for SSI
• Apply for both

Review Your Application

SSDI and SSI applications can be complex and confusing. Our team understands:

• The general application process
• Specific language within SSD and SSDI applications
• Common errors made during the application process

We will review your application and bring any errors, potential red flags, or other areas of concern to your attention. We may also make suggestions based on your specific application.

Represent You During Certain Stages of the SSD Application Process

Our firm may represent you during hearings with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). These judges make decisions about your entitlement to disability benefits.

Meetings with ALJs may occur:

• In person
• Over video
• On the phone

We can represent you in any of these instances.

Advise You Throughout the Stages of a Disability Claim

The SSD application process is not as simple as filing your claim. Your claim may move through multiple stages, including:

• Application
• Appeal
• Reconsideration
• Hearing

Different cases may require fewer (or more) stages. Our team can explain these stages and what you can expect to experience during each.

How to Prove Eligibility for Your Claim

A claim’s success relies directly on your eligibility for benefits. It is critical that you know what it takes to prove your eligibility for SSD compensation. Our firm may be able to help you with certain aspects of your claim and can advise you about how to prove eligibility.

Proving Entitlement

You must show that you are not engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) due to your disability. SGA is a threshold for your income. You must be earning less than that threshold in order to qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits.

Income is a crucial piece of your SSD claim.

Proving Your Disability

You can prove your disability by:

• medical records
• test results
• a doctor’s written account of your disability

The more evidence of your injury or disability that you can provide, the better.

Call Berger and Green Today for a Free Consultation

The team at Berger and Green will answer your questions. We will provide a preliminary review of your claim and explain how we can help.

Call Berger and Green today at (412) 661-1400 for a free consultation.