Being disabled and unable to work can feel like an insurmountable issue, leaving you and your family financially compromised and unsure of what you need to do for your future. A disability lawyer from Carmichael Law Group can help you through this difficult time. We are a nationwide Social Security Disability law firm that understands your situation and knows exactly how to help you get your life back on track. Our highly experienced disability lawyers will help you build your story to clearly show the adverse impact your condition has had on your ability to work and engage in the daily tasks of life.
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What Are the Qualifying Conditions for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Applying for SSD benefits can be a daunting prospect. Not only must you qualify under limited resource guidelines, but you must also have paid SS taxes on a specific amount of your wages, and your disability must qualify under SSD rules. Your disability must have lasted a year—or be expected to last for at least a year—or must be a disability that is expected to result in death. Social Security has an online compendium that details all the different conditions and disorders that qualify as a disability.
There is also a program known as Compassionate Allowances under SSD. Cutting-edge technology allows Social Security to identify disabilities that are severe like certain types of cancer, adult brain disorders, and specific rare disorders that affect children. The waiting time for benefits approval is significantly shortened under the Compassionate Allowances program. This results in those who are facing the most serious disabilities receiving assistance much more quickly. The individual qualifying for Compassionate Allowances must still qualify for SSD benefits as far as assets and work credits.
What Is the Process for Obtaining Social Security Disability Benefits?
Receiving disability benefits can be a long, arduous process. In addition to your initial application, there are four levels of appeal should your application for benefits be denied. On average, only about a third of all initial applications are approved. Some are approved on Reconsideration—although the same people that denied your original application are deciding your Reconsideration.
More than thirty percent of applicants are approved at the Review before an Administrative Law Judge, with very small percentages approved at the Appeals Council and Federal Reviews. Having a strong legal advocate in your corner—either from the very beginning or during the appeals process—can truly make a difference in whether you are approved for SSD benefits.
How Are Past Due Disability Benefits Paid Once Approved?
Social Security Disability back pay is figured by the date you first applied for benefits minus a five-month waiting period. Once you are approved for SSD benefits, you will receive your back pay.
Since an SSD claim can be a lengthy process, most people will be entitled to back pay. So, if you filed your initial application on July 1, your initial application was denied and you had to go through an appeal process, the total amount of time might be 14 months.
Take 5 months off that, and you would be entitled to 11 months of back pay at whatever amount you are approved for monthly. If you have an attorney helping you, they will get a portion of your back pay. The limit for back pay is 12 months, so even if you waited two years from the date of your application, the most back pay you would get is 12 months.
How Much Money Will I Get for SSD Benefits?
Your SSD benefits are determined by your past work history, the amount of income you currently receive, and your current household situation. The “average” monthly SSD benefit is $1,236 per month, with about 90 percent of all beneficiaries getting less than $2,000 per month. SSD benefits only replace about half of the worker’s past earnings for most beneficiaries. Generally speaking, you may work no more than 20 hours per week and cannot make more than $1,350 per month while you are receiving disability benefits.
How a Disability Lawyer from the Carmichael Law Group Can Help in Mobile, AL
Your disability may have left you dealing with a wide array of issues—including financial issues due to the lack of a regular monthly paycheck. When you hire a disability lawyer in Mobile from the Carmichael Law Group, we can help you get your SSD application filed as quickly as possible, while ensuring it is complete and has the best chance of success.
If you are contacting us following a denial of your original application, we can ensure your appeal process goes smoothly and as quickly as possible. We know how difficult it can be to wait for the disability benefits you need and deserve. The Carmichael Law Group lawyers are here to answer your questions and ensure you have what you need to understand the process. Don’t wait—contact the Carmichael Law Group, today.
Mobile, AL Social Security Field Office
The Mobile Alabama Social Security Field Office located at 550 Government Street, Suite 100, Mobile, AL 36602 provides services to the disabled living in Mobile County. The direct telephone number for the Mobile Field Office is 1-866-593-1922 and the direct fax number is 1-833-950-3171.