How to Get Help with Social Security Disability in Tulsa

Every year hundreds of thousands of people in Tulsa receive social security benefits as outlined by the Social Security Administration (SSA). To receive social security benefits, your medical condition must fit SSA’s definition of disability. You must have contributed to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for you to receive SSDI benefits. It should also be evident that you have stopped working due to your disability. Applying for social security benefits in Tulsa entails a lot of work. Only 3.2% of Oklahoma’s population receives social security benefits. The SSA rejects around 60% of all social security disability claims. 

The Help of Social Security Disability Lawyer

You can give yourself a higher chance of winning a disability claim by working with a disability lawyer. A lawyer will provide you with all the assistance you need, including helping you to fill out and submit all the necessary documents. A lawyer will help you acquire all the necessary medical documentation and serve as your official representation during the disability hearing. 

Do Not Go It Alone

The majority of the people who opt to try their luck by filing a social security disability claim just end up being denied. After getting the rejection letter, you will only have sixty days to file an appeal for reconsideration. If you have applied for social security benefits and failed, you should now more than ever seek the assistance of a lawyer. Statistics show that appeals are denied 90% of the time. Working through a disability lawyer gives you the best chance of being approved for disability benefits. 

Choose a Lawyer with a History of Success

When choosing a social security disability lawyer in Tulsa, you should ensure that you choose an attorney with a proven history of success. Inquire about the lawyer’s overall claim approval rate. How many claims has the lawyer had approved at the initial stage, hearing level, or during an appeal? A reliable lawyer should understand the ins and outs of the Social Security Administration’s rules and regulations. The best lawyer to work with is the one who has been through the claim process with other clients. They know how to handle social disability claims and the challenges they are likely to encounter in the process. 

A reliable lawyer will be willing to provide you with a clear picture of his or her track record, including the approval rates. 

Your Lawyer Should Be Available and Dedicated

You should seek the help of a lawyer who understands the importance of your claim for social security benefits. The lawyer should be available to give your case the necessary focus for success. You need the assurance that the lawyer will be available through the entire claim process, no matter how complicated the social security disability claim gets. 

Get Help For Your Social Security Claim 

Legal representation is not a requirement while filing a social security claim. However, it is advisable to consult a disability lawyer before you even start the application for benefits. A reliable social security lawyer will advise you on the best strategies in your case and help you know how to proceed. The Social Security Law Center provides reliable legal assistance to social security disability benefits applicants in Tulsa. 

Oklahoma SSI Disability Benefits

If you stay in Oklahoma and can’t work full time because of a mental or physical condition, you can apply for two distinct social security disability programs. You can choose between Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Both the SSDI and the SSI are federal programs. However, the state plays a major role in certain stages of the social security disability process, like determining the SSI qualification and determining who should get Medicaid. 

Determining If You Meet the Disability Criteria

Oklahoma’s DDD (Disability Determination Division) is responsible for deciding whether you are disabled. This state agency determines whether the disability benefits applicants meet the requirements for disability set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA). In addition to gathering your medical information, the DDD may also schedule an appointment to have doctors examine you to determine whether you are disabled. The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services administers the DDD. 

SSI Benefits

How many SSI benefits can you access in Oklahoma? In addition to the federal SSI benefits, you might receive a small additional supplement from the state of Oklahoma. As of 2019, the U.S. federal government would pay SSI benefits of $771. If you live on your own or with another person, you could receive a state supplement of up to $42. However, it should be evident that you do not live in a nursing facility. You can access the supplement benefit from Oklahoma’s Department of Social Services, usually abbreviated as DHS. You could also apply for the Oklahoma state supplement at the doctor’s office. 

Accessing Medicaid Benefits in Oklahoma

You have to be eligible for either SSDI or SSI to receive Medicaid benefits in Oklahoma. Other qualification requirements include:

• You must stay in Oklahoma
• You should be a United States citizen; if not, you should be a recognized alien 
• You should meet the Medicaid income test. This income test is the same as that of the SSI program. 

Applying for Disability Benefits 

You can choose from three main ways of applying for disability benefits in Oklahoma:

• Online – You can apply on the internet, mainly when applying for the SSDI benefits 
• In-Person – You can visit your local office in person to apply for the SSDI or SSI benefits. You can identify your local office by visiting the Social Security Administration’s website and entering the applicable zip code.
• On the phone – You have the chance of applying for disability benefits on the phone. This application option is available while applying for both SSDI and SSI.  

Seek the Help of an Attorney

A social security attorney can handle all the questions you may have about the disability benefits process. An attorney will also come in handy if the Oklahoma DDD fails to recognize your disability or denies you compensation. It would help to speak to an attorney who understands everything about social security disability issues in Oklahoma. It is common for people with qualifying medical disabilities to face challenges obtaining disability benefits and even receive rejection notices. After a denial, you have to file an appeal and fight harder for the services. Contact Social Security Law Center for guidance on seeking social security disability benefits in Oklahoma. 

Social Security Disability

If you have a disability or a medical condition that prevents you from working full time, you can access disability benefits from the social security administration (SSA). It is essential to ensure that you understand the application procedures, eligibility requirements, and appeals process. 

Understanding the Social Security Disability Basics

The SSA provides two types of benefits for disabled persons: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The SSDI is supported by deductions from workers’ paychecks and serves people who have contributed to the system. The SSI is for low-income persons, children, the blind, and people with other disabilities. Both programs supplement the income of people who cannot work due to their disability. If you fail to qualify for social security disability through the SSDI, you can still qualify under SSI. In simpler terms, SSDI is available to people who were once in the workforce but can no longer work due to physical or mental disability. The SSI is available to persons who have not worked enough to qualify or earn the necessary credits to access SSDI benefits. 

The Meaning of Disabled

 Who qualifies as a disabled person while seeking SSDI or SSI benefits? You can only qualify if you have a mental or physical condition (physical or mental) that prevents you from working and earning monthly pay as a full-time worker. Your disability must have lasted or expected to stay for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. You may also claim the benefits if your disability is expected to lead to death. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list of the approved medical conditions and impairments, commonly known as the Listings. This list includes conditions like chronic coronary illness and back impairments. It also includes mental conditions like anxiety, autism, and depression. Other qualifying conditions include vision or hearing loss and Parkinson’s disease. 

Even if a condition isn’t outlined in the approved medical impairments, you may still be eligible for disability benefits. 

How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits

There are several ways of applying for social security disability benefits. You can apply in person, online, or over the phone. If you have prepared the necessary information and documents in advance, the process goes smoothly. Some of the information you need includes the names of your prescription medication, dates of your therapy sessions, medical processes, and your income tax statements. 

While applying for social security disability benefits, you have to disclose the disability onset date. This was the date when you became too disabled to continue working. This must be supported by medical evidence, records of your work history, and the allegations you outline in your application. In some instances, the SSA may interview your family and friends regarding your disability. 

When SSA Denies Your Claim 

What should you do if the SSA denies your initial social security disability claim? You should not get discouraged; SSA denies many claims for several reasons. You have four opportunities of appealing your claim:

• Reconsideration
• An Administrative Law Judge Hearing
• A review by the SSA Appeals Council 
• A claim in federal court 

How an Attorney Can Help 

A social security attorney will guide you through the disability benefits application process, help you compile and submit the relevant documents. In case of denial, the attorney will help you file an appeal. Contact Social Security Law Center for guidance on social security disability.