Cherry Hill, NJ Disability (SSDI) Lawyers

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) helps many people who need financial assistance but cannot work due to a disability. However, applying for SSDI can be a tricky, long, and complicated process. You may get rejected the first time you apply, only to be accepted later, and there are many forms and papers that need to be submitted and filled out for an SSDI application.

If you are having difficulty with or considering applying for SSDI, our lawyers can help. We have helped people apply to and be accepted for SSDI in the past, and we are ready to help you. The sooner you get started on the SSDI process, the better.

For help with your case, call our disability lawyers with Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates at the number (609) 557-3081.

What is SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a federal program that helps people who cannot work because they are disabled. The program gives monthly payments to people with disabilities and their families so that they can support themselves and live fulfilling lives. For most individuals who receive Social Security Disability Insurance, it is the sole source of income for them.

SSDI Requirements in New Jersey

In order to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance, you need to meet certain eligibility requirements. These requirements are available to see on the SSDI website. When you sit down with our disability lawyers, we can determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements and the best course of action for your situation.

Work Requirements

Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), another Federal program, Social Security Disability Insurance requires that you have a work history to be eligible. You need to have earned a certain number of work credits to be able to get SSDI benefits. For SSDI, you need to have at least 40 credits.

Work credits are earned based on your total income and wages for the year. This includes wages as well as self-employment income. Wages means income that is paid to you as an employee, while self-employment income is the net income or profit from goods or services you provide to others.

Each individual credit is based on a certain amount of income. That amount will change each year, but there is a table that displays what the amount has been in the past. As of 2023, one credit requires $1,640 in earnings. So for the maximum earnable four credits in a year, you would need to have earned $6,560.

As previously stated, you need 40 credits to be eligible for SSDI. Twenty of those credits need to be in the last 10 years, with the last year being the year that you became disabled. If you are a younger individual, you may be eligible for SSDI with less than 40 credits. If you are younger than 24 years old, you need six credits leading up to when you became disabled. If you are between the ages of 24 and 31, you need credits for working for half of the time between when you turned 21 and when you became disabled. For example, if you became disabled at the age of 29, you would need 16 credits from four years of work between when you were 21 and 28. Finally, if you are 31 or older, the standard 20 credits in the past 10 years will apply.

Disability Requirements

The other main requirement for Social Security Disability Insurance is that you are disabled. To be considered disabled for the purposes of SSDI, you have to be so disabled that you cannot work. SSDI has a strict definition of what qualifies as a disability.

First, you need to be unable to either work or participate in “substantial gainful activity.” This basically means that you are not able to support yourself on your own (to a particular level chosen by the Social Security Administration). Not only must you not be able to do the job you used to do, but it must also be impossible for you to switch to another type of work. Second, your disability needs to have lasted or be expected to last for at least one year.

Finally, there is a list of medical conditions called the “listing of impairments.” If your condition is on this list and severe enough, it will qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance.

Filing an SSDI Application in New Jersey

When you apply for SSDI, you need to fill out various forms and answer questions on them so that it can be determined whether you are eligible for SSDI benefits. There is also an application that our lawyer can assist you with filling out.

Social Security disability insurance applications are notoriously difficult to get approved. In fact, many deserving applicants are initially denied benefits, only to get them later when they appeal the decision. You can appeal if your application is denied, and if that appeal is yet again rejected, you can request an administrative hearing as a final chance to get SSDI benefits. The good news is that many applicants represented by counsel at hearings have a high chance of getting their SSDI benefits.

To have a strong application that gives you a good chance of getting approved, you should clearly explain your condition and how it limits you from working or doing basic activities. You can do this by providing medical records, but evaluators may ask you for more information. You should also include any information you have about your work history as well as evidence of your status as a United States citizen. If you have any difficulty finding or obtaining this information, our lawyers can help track it down and compile your application for you.

Call Our New Jersey Disability Lawyers Today

Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates can be reached at (609) 557-3081 for a free case review with our disability lawyers.