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How to File for Disability Benefits in New Jersey

Filing for disability benefits can give you the financial support you need when you can no longer work because of a qualifying condition, injury, or illness in New Jersey.

We can help you prepare and file your disability application with the Social Security Administration (SSA) online or in person. Generally, submitting online applications is best, as we can periodically add to and update your application until it is ready to submit. Before filing your application, we will confirm the disability benefits you are eligible for. Typically, those with newly diagnosed injuries, illnesses, or disabilities qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). After confirming this, we can prepare the necessary information and documentation for your application. If you stopped being able to work because of a medical condition, explore your SSDI eligibility immediately and prioritize initiating your claim. The SSA takes time to process and approve cases, so do not delay yours unnecessarily in New Jersey.

For a free and confidential case review from Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates, call our New Jersey disability lawyers at (215) 515-2954.

How to File Your Disability Application in New Jersey

The Social Security Administration offers a few submission methods to claimants in New Jersey. Filing for benefits online is often the easiest way to achieve your goal.

The SSA’s secure online portal for disability claim submissions lets claimants work on their applications over time. We can store documents and information in your account and use the account to track the status of your claim.

Claimants can also submit applications over the phone or in person during an interview. Whichever method you choose, you might have to submit to a follow-up interview with an SSA representative. During the interview, the agent might ask you for more detailed documents or clarification on certain matters, like your exact prognosis and physical limitations.

You should not file your disability application too hastily. Any minor mistakes in your application could lead to a claim denial. When preparing your application for benefits, our lawyers can ensure the information you provide is accurate and thorough to reduce unnecessary processing delays with your claim or lengthy follow-up interviews.

How to Know Which Disability Benefits to File for in New Jersey

Not all Social Security disability benefits are the same, and you may only be eligible for a specific type. Our attorneys can gauge your eligibility and help you apply for the correct type of financial support in New Jersey.

When people become injured or ill after being in the workforce, they may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Unlike Supplemental Security Income, assessed by disability and financial need, SSDI is given to those with work histories and newly diagnosed medical conditions.

For example, suppose you have been in the workforce for two decades and have recently been diagnosed with a qualifying condition that makes you unable to work. During those two decades, you paid taxes toward Social Security, and your employer would have regularly taken the taxes out of your paychecks. That work history and your qualifying condition would make you eligible for SSDI.

Since SSDI is for those who have been part of the workforce but cannot work anymore, you need work credits to qualify. You earn a work credit for every $1,730 in wages and can get up to four credits annually. Those without enough credits to get SSDI and are not eligible for any other disability benefits might get SSDI through one of their parent’s work histories. You must meet certain criteria to qualify this way, and we can assess if you can get SSDI based on a parent’s work credits.

If you file for the wrong type of Social Security disability benefits, your claim might get denied, forcing you to restart the process entirely. This can delay a claimant’s access to financial support, so confirming your eligibility before filing in New Jersey is crucial.

Documents You Need to File for Disability Benefits in New Jersey

To file for disability in New Jersey, you must submit many documents proving your identity and eligibility for supplemental income. When preparing your claim, our attorneys can gather the necessary documents and records to support it.

Personal Documents

Disability applicants must give the SSA copies of several personal documents, like their birth certificates. You may also need to bring a copy of your Social Security card or, at the very least, give your Social Security number. Applicants must also prove their citizenship or residency status in the United States. You might need to provide similar information about your spouse and dependents.

Employment and Wage Information

In addition to your personal records, you must give previous tax returns when applying for disability. The SSA typically requires W-2 or self-employment tax documents from the past year. If you received any compensation or awards from your employer or other benefits, like Workers’ Compensation, you may need to provide such information when filing your disability claim.

Medical Records

When deciding your eligibility for disability, the SSA will review your medical records. Provide copies of all treatments pertaining to your condition and the results of any tests or care. You might need to go far back in your medical record to pinpoint the start of your complications. The SSA sometimes rejects claims lacking sufficient medical evidence, so ensuring your application is thorough from the get-go is important. The SSA will use your medical records to determine the onset date of your disability, which will then dictate how soon, after claim approval, you get your first benefit check.

Banking Information

You must also give the SSA your banking information when applying for benefits in New Jersey. Many recipients opt for direct deposit, as getting checks in the mail could lead to delays or other issues. If you change your banking information at any point while on disability, update the Social Security Administration immediately.

When to File for Disability Benefits in New Jersey

Being diagnosed with a life-altering condition takes time to accept. While that is understandable, the longer you delay filing for disability, the more financial difficulties you might face.

You can file for disability if you are diagnosed with a condition that aligns with the SSA’s listing of impairments and cannot work because of it. Remember, your earning record will also matter, so our Passaic, NJ disability lawyers will review your work credits and ensure you have accumulated enough to qualify.

If the medical professionals treating you explain that you cannot and should not return to work, heed their advice. Pushing yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally could worsen your condition, and attempting to go back to work might undermine your future claim if you realize you cannot support yourself because of your condition.

Our attorneys can start preparing your disability claim immediately after your diagnosis. Because SSDI applications require significant information, records, and documentation, prepping a case immediately is important. If you face any hurdles in getting your medical records or other information, our team can help speed up the process so that your claim is not unnecessarily delayed.

Working on and submitting your application as soon as possible is important for several reasons. The first is that the SSA takes time to review claims. On average, claimants wait several months before hearing a decision from the SSA. Processing times might be longer when the SSA needs additional materials or requests an interview with a claimant. Most claimants cannot get benefits until the sixth month of disability. However, that does not mean you should delay your claim, as you will may have to deal with lengthy processing times. Furthermore, the SSA might contest your asserted disability onset date, which could push back when you get your first check.

Can You Work and File for Disability Benefits in New Jersey?

Working while being on disability is a tricky thing. While you can have a small income and get SSDI in New Jersey, keep tabs on how much you earn, as that could hurt your continued SSDI eligibility.

Disability benefits are for people who cannot work or support themselves financially because of an active disability. That said, working a part-time job is allowed, provided an applicant earns less than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. SGA limits vary, depending on a person’s disability. For example, the 2024 SGA limit for blind recipients is $2,590. For non-blind recipients, the SGA threshold is $1,150.

Even after applying and being approved for disability, you must be aware of SGA limits. Furthermore, you must tell the SSA about any outside income you earn besides disability benefits. If you earn over the SGA limit, you will not get your SSDI check for that month.

There’s a lower threshold to know of as well. Trial work periods (TWPs) get triggered when SSDI recipients earn more than $1,110 monthly. Trial work periods are complicated but act as a way for SSDI recipients to test if they can return to work without fear of losing their benefits. However, if you trigger a TWP without realizing it, the SSA could revoke your benefits once the grace period ends. By carefully tracking your additional income, if you have any, you can stay below the SGA and TWP limits and keep your SSDI benefits in New Jersey.

How to File for a Disability Appeal in New Jersey

You can file an appeal if the Social Security Administration rejects your initial claim in New Jersey. Approaching an appeal the right way can make all the difference and might convince the SSA to revise its decision and give you disability benefits.

Review the Denial Letter

If the SSA denies your application, it will send a letter informing you of the denial and explaining why it denied your case. Denials typically happen because of a lack of medical evidence, leaving the SSA unsure if a claimant meets its definition of disabled. Other times, denials happen because of minor application mistakes or slightly contradicting information. By reviewing the SSA’s reasons for denying your claim, our Trenton, NJ disability lawyers can make a plan for the appeal.

SSA Reconsideration

The next step is to start an official appeal. You must do this within 60 days of receiving notice of the denial from the Social Security Administration. Like your original application, we can send the appeal request online through the SSA’s website. The reconsideration process is relatively informal. We can present additional documents or records to round out your case during this time.

Administrative Law Judge Hearing

If the Social Security Administration does not change its decision on your claim, you can request an appeal a second time. During the second round of appeals, claimants can get hearings with administrative law judges. Again, we will have 60 days from the SSA’s reconsideration decision to petition for another appeal. Between appeals, you should continue getting medical attention so we can provide updated records confirming your disability and medical condition.

Appeals Council Review

The third chance to appeal a denied disability claim is with the SSA’s Appeals Council. Again, this will allow you to present new information about your medical condition. During this point of the appeals process, getting experts to testify or give statements about your disability may be necessary to convince the Appeals Council of your eligibility.

Federal District Court Action

Your last opportunity to appeal will be filing a federal district court action. Generally, when claimants address the original reasons for denial cited by the SSA, they can get disability benefits through the appeals process in New Jersey.