Did you know that 69.1 million people received benefits from programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in 2019! In 2019 alone, 5.7 million people were awarded Social Security benefits and 55% of those beneficiaries were women. The average age of the disabled-worker beneficiary in 2019 was 54.9 years old and 86% of SSI recipients received payments because of a disability or blindness.

14% of SSI recipients on the basis of age and the rest qualified on the basis of disability. 28% of the recipients were age 65 or older. In the SSI program, a disabled recipient is still classified as “disabled” after reaching age 65. In the OASDI program, DI beneficiaries are converted to the retirement program when they attain full retirement age. Remember, to qualify for SSDI/SSI an individual must be disabled and unable to work for a period of at least 12 consecutive months (or have a condition that is expected to end in death) due to a physical and/or mental disability.

We also assist with children’s disability claims. However these cases work much differently than adult cases (most importantly, we are not trying to prove they cannot work). Regarding children’s cases, we tend to look at how they function when compared to their peers. Often we ask ourselves “are they meeting milestones”, “if school age – are they performing at grade level”, etc. The Social Security Administration has a Listing of Impairments (found within the Social Security Act) that outlines impairments that automatically deem someone disabled. Part A was created for adults whereas Part B has separate disability listings for children. If a child’s medical condition does not meet the requirements of a disability listing, the child may still be deemed disabled if it is found that they have functional limitations that are “marked or extreme”. These limitations must severely affect the child’s ability to function on a daily basis and Social Security has 6 domain areas to consider:

(1) Acquiring and using information

(2) Attending and completing tasks

(3) Interacting and relating with others

(4) Moving about and manipulating objects

(5) Caring for yourself

(6) Health and physical well-being

In order to be approved, a child must have 2 domains that are at the “Marked” level of severity or 1 domain area at the “Extreme” level. In addition to medical records, we will often use educational records (including 504 plans, IEP assessments, teacher reports, attendance logs, etc.) to help prove disability within the above domains.

If you have been injured or diagnosed with an illness which stops you going to work and earning a living and you believe you qualify for social security disability benefits, don’t expect your claim to be automatically approved. In fact the majority of claims are denied at the initial level. However, we are well versed in the process for filing timely appeals.

It is important to be proactive about your claim by filing paperwork on time, seeing your doctor on a regular basis, and staying in contact with your disability representative. If you don’t do this your claim may be denied and the appeals claim can be a slow and lengthy process.

Our nationally accredited disability representatives are always prepared to handle any case that is referred to them. We train to be the best so that our claimants receive the best service and best possible result for their claim. Whether you are filing your initial claim, going through the appeal process, or filing and preparing for a hearing, we are ready and willing to assist and get the benefits that you deserve.