Noteboom The Law Firm

Don't Cheat Yourself Out of Money That You Deserve if You are Disabled

If you have a disability and have not yet considered going to the government for help, you might be missing out on receiving monthly payments. It is not your fault that you cannot work due to a disability, which is why Social Security offers assistance. It might not be a lot of money each month, but it could help keep you current on your bills.

According to The Paramus Post, if you are 20 years old, your chances of becoming disabled during your working life are about three in ten. Consider what you would do if this occurred, especially if no one else in your family could support you financially. In such a case, Social Security could be the only thing keeping your head above water.

Of course, you will have to meet certain stringent requirements before you can get payments, but if you have a significant disability, you should qualify. Your condition must keep you from doing not only the jobs you have performed in the past, but any job. Additionally, you should expect your disability to last at least a year, and end in death.

If you meet these requirements, the Social Security Administration will determine whether you worked long enough to receive benefits. You need a certain amount of work credits to receive Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits (note that there are other requirements that need to be met to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Use the following guidelines to help determine if you will qualify for SSDI based on your age:

• If you are younger than 24, you will need to have worked 1.5 years or longer in the past three years, at least until you discovered your disability
• If you are 24 to 30, you should have worked for half the time between age 21 and when you became disabled
• If you are 31 or older, you need to have worked for five of the past ten years up until you noted your disability

If you feel you would qualify for disability payments, contact a lawyer to find out what to do next. A lawyer can help you apply, and if necessary, appeal a denial.

If you or your loved one are suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The disability lawyers at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.