Pittsburgh SSDI Lawyer

If you have a disabling condition, then you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or another disability benefits program. You may have difficulty filing your initial claim or filing a request for reconsideration of a denied claim. A Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Insurance lawyer can help you complete an application, a reconsideration request, and represent you at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

Our social security disability lawyers will assist you with numerous aspects of the SSDI claims process so that you can spare yourself the time, effort, and headaches. Call Berger and Green today for more details about how our team will help you seek fair disability compensation.

Eligibility for SSDI and SSI Benefits

There are two types of benefits that you may claim from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Per the  SSA, the two categories of benefits are:

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

You may use the SSA’s Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) in order to gauge your eligibility for benefits based on specific criteria. Factors that may have an impact on your eligibility for benefits are:

• What your medical condition is
• Whether your disability is complete or partial
• Your age
• Whether you are single, married, or widowed
• Whether you have dependents
• How long you participated in the workforce before becoming disabled

A Pittsburgh, PA, lawyer from our firm can provide more information about whether you are likely to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income and what step you must take next, such as filing an application for benefits or appealing a denial.

Social Security Disability Insurance Eligibility Requirements

SSDI and SSI are two different programs with their own requirements. For SSDI, the following must apply:

• Your previous jobs were covered by Social Security and you paid taxes
• You meet the disability requirements set by the SSA

While not every job is covered by Social Security, many are. When you work qualifying jobs, you earn work credits each year based on your income. Typically, you can seek SSDI benefits when you have a minimum of 20 work credits. However, the number of credits required to qualify for SSDI also changes based on your age, and you may still be able to apply for benefits even if you do not have the minimum credits.

You can use your my Social Security account to see how many credits you’ve earned. If anything looks wrong, you can also correct Social Security records. You can also reach out to our disability attorneys for help and issues with your application.

The SSDI and SSI Applicant Network Is Large

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) provides several statistics showing how vast and complex the applicant network for SSDI and SSI is. According to CBPP findings:

• 7.4 million people receive disability-related benefits funded by Social Security as of October 2023
• An additional 1.1 million children and 89,000 spouses of disability benefits may also be serviced by Social Security-funded compensation
• Approximately $143 billion were paid in SSDI benefits in 2022

These statistics show that the number of recipients of SSDI alone is massive, and the number of applicants is as well. The number of applications that SSA employees must process heightens the importance of ensuring your initial application is error-free and sent to the proper locale.

If you submit an initial application with errors, then you may be forced to file a request for reconsideration. This may also mean more time passing before you can collect any benefits to which you are entitled.

A Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Insurance lawyer will help you in several ways, including by completing your application for benefits without errors that could cause you to be denied. Call Berger and Green today to find out more about how our Social Security Disability lawyers can help with your initial SSDI claim or appeal your denial.

Responding to a Denied SSDI Claim

It is possible that your initial claim for SSDI will be denied, in which case you may and should file a request for reconsideration of your claim. Filing a reconsideration request may be the first means that you try when seeking a different outcome regarding your application.

During the claim reconsideration process, somebody who did not issue your initial claim denial will re-review your claim for benefits. The legal team at Berger and Green can take your case if you need to apply or if your initial application is denied.  Your lawyer will handle the appeals process. The levels of appeal include:

• A Request for Reconsideration
• A hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
• A review of your claim by the Appeals Council
• A lawsuit filed in Federal Court

There may be several reasons to have your claim reviewed. Some include that:

• The appeals process is overseen by parties that did not participate in your initial claim review, and may be inclined to provide a different outcome
• You may not have included all available evidence in your initial claim, and may do so upon secondary review of your claim
• You may have the opportunity to answer and clarify questions and concerns from those who are in charge of approving or denying your claim, which may grant you a greater opportunity to plead your case

Going without disability benefits can put a lot of strain on you and your family, and an appeal could result in you receiving the disability benefits that you need. Let our law firm help you with the application process and the appeals process so you can focus on your needs.

A Lawyer Will Help You Seek SSDI Benefits

Hiring a Pittsburgh, PA lawyer can help take the stress of the disability benefits application and appeals process off of you. We have evaluated thousands of disability cases over the years, and we would be honored to speak with you. Our team can assist you in several ways, including:

• Advising you on what you will need to file an initial benefits claim or an appeal
• Helping you gather medical evidence
• Handling the administrative aspects of your claim or appeal
• Helping you file your claim or appeal
• Handling communications with officials of the Social Security Administration
• Ensuring that your claim or appeal is completed within strict deadlines
• Defending your rights and providing legal advice relevant to your benefits claim or appeal

Dealing with the ins and outs of the Social Security Administration can be time-consuming and stressful, but our lawyers aim to make this process as easy as possible for you. Your health is of the utmost importance; you focus on rest and recovery; our disability attorneys will focus on the legal process.

Call Berger and Green Today for Help With SSDI Benefits in Pittsburgh

The team at Berger and Green will fight to prove that you are eligible for disability benefits. We handle the steps necessary to file your application or appeal a denial. Call Berger and Green today for more details on how a Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Insurance lawyer can help fight for the benefits you are entitled to.