Sacramento SSDI Lawyer

Sacramento SSDI Attorney

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an important form of financial protection for those who cannot work because of a disability. The application process can be time-consuming and complex, so it is crucial to understand the program and the eligibility criteria to ensure success. With the help of an experienced Sacramento SSDI lawyer, you can gather evidence to support your claim and get through the application process with ease.

Choosing Walker Disability Law can give you the chance to work with a dedicated attorney who is committed to assisting clients with their disability claims. Jared Walker has the knowledge and skill to handle your disability claim, whether you’re seeking Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. He can give your case the attention it needs so that you can obtain the financial support you deserve.

Importance of Legal Representation for SSDI Claims

The application and appeals process for SSDI claims can be complex, and it requires assistance from a legal professional who has experience handling such matters. Working with a lawyer with extensive knowledge of SSDI can significantly increase your chances of receiving benefits. Consider these reasons for hiring an SSDI lawyer:

• An SSDI lawyer can ensure your application is complete and accurate. They understand the rules and regulations that govern SSDI claims and can make sure you don’t miss anything.
• Your lawyer can aid in gathering and presenting all evidence that effectively supports your disability claim, whether it’s employment documentation, medical records, or anything else that will help your case.
• A lawyer can guide you through each step of applying for disability benefits, from completing and filing the initial application on time to appealing any denials you might receive. This can reduce your stress and uncertainty.
• When appealing an SSDI decision, your case may proceed to a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ). A lawyer can make sure you are prepared for this and present a strong case to the judge. If you hire Jared Walker, he can also help you file for a review with the United States District Court if necessary.
• Not only can a lawyer make sure you get the maximum disability benefits you are entitled to, but they can also help you explore other options for supplemental income that you may be eligible for.

Work with an SSDI lawyer like Jared Walker to see the substantial difference he can make in the success of your claim. With such a skilled attorney in your corner, you can be confident in his ability to advocate aggressively on your behalf and secure your benefits.

Understanding Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program that is managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The program gives monthly financial assistance to individuals who have a disability or impairment that prevents them from performing any substantial work, which may keep them from working in general. This assistance is not meant to completely replace the income one earns from working. In fact, the amount each person receives is based on past income and taxes.

You must meet specific eligibility criteria in order to receive disability benefits through this federal program, including being unable to take part in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Even if you’re eligible for benefits from another program, you may not qualify for SSDI. Generally, if you earned a large sum during your career, your benefit amount will be high as well. By that same standard, you will receive a lower amount if your earnings were low.

If you are receiving SSDI benefits, certain members of your family, such as your spouse or children, may also be eligible to receive monthly benefits. Furthermore, if you continue to receive the benefits for a specified period of time, you become eligible for the Medicare health coverage program, no matter your age.

Trial Work Period

If you want to try to return to work, it’s possible to do a trial work period. The trial period is offered to determine if you’re able to work. It’s triggered by the money you earn or the hours you work in a month. If you earn or work a certain amount, that month will be part of your trial work period. During this time, you’ll still be considered disabled and receive your disability benefits. The trial period ends when you have performed services for a certain number of months in a specific time period.

Importantly, your right to a trial work period is established by statute, 42 U.S.C. § 422, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not have authority to adopt rules or regulations that restrict your rights in this area. But to ensure SSA does not improperly revoke your eligibility or disability benefits based on a trial work period, you need a lawyer who knows the law and how to apply it in practice.

Once the trial work period is completed, you will enter an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). If you are still disabled, your benefits may continue during the EPE and after, as long as the money you earn and the amount of work services you perform each month are below the SGA level.

If you work above the SGA level at any point, your disability benefits will cease. However, they can be restarted without reapplying if you fall below SGA again during the EPE.

Qualifying for SSDI Benefits in Sacramento

It’s important to fully understand the requirements to qualify for SSDI so that you can succeed in securing assistance. The criteria that must be met have been set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and include the following key components:

• Work History – You must have a sufficient work history to be eligible. This includes having worked for a specific amount of time and having a recent work history in the last few years. Younger working people may not need to have as much work experience as older workers.
• Paid Taxes – You must have paid Social Security taxes on all income earned from working over the years.
• Disability – You must have a qualifying disability and meet the SSA’s definition of being disabled. This means your disability must be severe enough that it is expected to prevent you, or has prevented you, from working or engaging in SGA for a specific amount of time, or it is expected to result in death.

It can be difficult to navigate these requirements and ensure you meet all of them, but doing so is vital to ensuring your application gets approved.

Common Reasons for Denial of SSDI Benefits

Knowing the various reasons an SSDI application may be denied can help you be better prepared when filling out your application or in the event that you need to effectively appeal a denial. Here are a few common reasons many applications are denied:

• Lack of Adequate Medical Evidence. To support your disability claim, your application should have sufficient medical records and documentation. This evidence must prove you have one of the qualifying mental or physical impairments listed by the SSA or prove your condition meets the definition of disability. If you do not have a qualifying impairment, you will be denied disability benefits.
• Failure to Meet Disability Definition. To be approved for SSDI, your disability must meet the strict definition of a disability set by the SSA, which requires that you are unable to engage in SGA for a minimum amount of time or that your condition is so severe that it will end in death.
• Working and Earning Too Much. Generally, disability benefits are given to disabled individuals who can’t work. If this is the case for you, you must prove that you are unable to work. Applicants who are working at the time that they apply for SSDI may still receive benefits if their earnings are less than the limit that is considered SGA. If you exceed the SGA limit, the SSA may determine that your disability is not severe enough and deny you benefits.
• Failure to Adhere to Medical Advice. If you fail to follow medical advice or a treatment plan given by your doctor, you can be denied benefits. When Social Security reviews your application, they will check to see if you were given a treatment plan and if you are following it. Following doctor’s orders and having your progression documented is how the SSA determines if your condition is likely to improve and how soon.
• Refusing to Cooperate. You must provide all required documentation with your application in order for it to be complete. Refusing to provide requested documents, such as medical records or financial documents, can result in a denial. If the SSA needs more information regarding your impairment, they may require you to attend consultative examinations. These examinations are also scheduled if you don’t have a doctor of your own. If you do not attend, your claim will likely be denied.
• Failing to Challenge Social Security’s Vocational Evidence at the Administrative Hearing. To deny your disability, the Social Security Administration is ordinarily required to prove there are available full-time jobs that exist in the national economy which you can perform. The sad reality, however, is disabled claimants almost always fail to challenge Social Security’s vocational evidence because the attorney they hire does not know the law or how to apply it in practice. Because disabled individuals fail to effectively challenge the government’s vocational evidence at the final stage of Social Security’s evaluation process, those individuals are denied the disability benefits they otherwise should have received.

If your application is denied and you believe you met every requirement, consider seeking the assistance of an SSDI lawyer who can go over your application and help you in the appeals process. It is encouraged to have a lawyer assist with your application from the start to help you avoid any mistakes that could potentially lead to a denial.

Walker Disability Law: Your Sacramento SSDI Lawyer

At Walker Disability Law, we understand the challenges that come with securing disability insurance, and we can work hard to help you overcome them. From the initial application to the potential appeals process, our legal team can stand by your side. Contact Walker Disability Law to consult with our SSDI lawyer.