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Warminster Social Security Disability Benefits Lawyer

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) exists to assist people out who are not able to work because they are disabled. This could be because of a serious injury, medical condition, or already existing disability. No matter the reason for applying, many Americans get the financial support they need from SSDI when they are unable to work and support themselves. However, the process for getting approved for SSDI benefits can be long and complicated, and the program itself is very competitive. In fact, many people get denied SSDI benefits on the first try but are approved later.

To stand the best chance of getting SSDI benefits the first time, it is a good idea to retain legal counsel. An attorney can help make the whole process go by more smoothly and help you out if anything becomes difficult or complicated.

Call (215) 515-2954 and discuss your situation with our SSDI lawyers with Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates today.

Requirements for SSDI Benefits in Warminster

SSDI applicants must meet certain requirements in order to have their applications approved. Namely, you must be “totally disabled,” according to Social Security’s definition of disability; you need to have met work requirements leading up to the time that you became disabled; and you need to be unable to participate in “substantial gainful activity” (SDA). Either you or our SSDI attorneys should track down records of employment, medical conditions, and other items that can help establish that you meet these requirements.

Total Disability

The first thing you must demonstrate on your application is that you are what Social Security considers “totally disabled.” There are a couple of requirements that you must meet to be considered disabled for the purposes of SSDI. First, your disability needs to be listed in the “listing of impairments,” which details all conditions covered by SSDI. There are separate lists for adult applicants and applicants under the age of 18.

Substantial Gainful Activity

You must also show that you are unable to earn what is considered “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) in order to be considered eligible for SSDI. If you earn more than $1,550 per month – or $2,590 if you are blind – in 2024, you are considered to be able to do SGA. “Earnings” come from many sources, not just your main job, so you must be thorough in documenting your sources of income when preparing your application.

Work Requirements

Finally, you need to demonstrate that you have worked for a certain period of time in order to be eligible for SSDI benefits. Credits are given based on the amount of income you get from work and self-employment income each year. As of 2024, you get one credit for every $1,730 in earnings, and you can get a maximum of four credits per year. The total number of credits you need to be eligible for will depend on your age. The older you are, the more credits you will need. For example, someone 23 or younger only needs six credits within three years prior to them becoming disabled, while someone who is at least 31 will need 20 credits within ten years preceding their disability.

SSDI Benefits for Minors and Young People in Warminster

People under the age of 18 can qualify to get disability benefits in different ways than adults can under the program. A minor can qualify for disability benefits if they are dependent on someone with a disability, even if the minor person is not disabled themselves. However, those benefits will stop when the minor turns 18 unless they are still in high school full-time, in which case the benefits stop at age 19. For that person to keep getting SSDI benefits, they would have to qualify as disabled, just like any adult would.

Additionally, adults who became disabled before they turned 22 can get benefits on their parent’s record under some circumstances. If someone becomes disabled before they turn 22 and their parent is either deceased or receiving retirement or disability benefits, the young person can get what would be considered “child’s” benefits, even though they are an adult. Unlike the regular adult requirements, a disabled adult child (DAC) does not need to have a work history if their disability was such that they never had the chance to obtain one. Like with all SSDI claims, DAC claims can be complicated depending on the circumstances, so you should discuss yours with our lawyers.

Veteran SSDI Benefits in Warminster

If you were a disabled member of the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for SSDI and VA benefits. You can apply for and receive benefits from both programs at the same time. However, it is important to know that the requirements for VA benefits are different from SSDI requirements. SSDI requires you to be totally disabled and has work requirements, while VA benefits require your disability to be related to military service. Our attorneys can assist you with navigating these program applications to get you all the benefits you are entitled to.

Surviving Spouse Benefits in Warminster

If your spouse was getting SSDI benefits and passed away, you can keep those benefits if certain criteria are met. First, your spouse needs to have been between the ages of 50 and 60, and they need to have had a qualifying disability. However, you cannot obtain these benefits online. Instead, you must call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. Social Security also recommends filling out an adult disability form to help streamline the process, and our lawyers would be more than happy to assist you with that form.