Most people associate Social Security benefits with growing old. Other than the benefits available after the age of 62 years, people who are unable to work due to an injury or illness are entitled to benefits regardless of age. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a form of insurance available to people suffering from a disability that hinders them from earning a living or working the way they would if they didn’t have the condition. 

Administered by the Social Security Administration, abbreviated as SSA, SSDI benefits are available to people who contribute money to the Social Security trust fund. If you have a disability and plan to apply for benefits, the social security lawyers at the Social Security Law Center can help. With years of experience, we know what needs to be done and how to do it. For many years, we have successfully represented disabled persons with remarkable outcomes.

Understanding Social Security Disability Income

Usually abbreviated as SSDI, the Social Security Disability Income benefits are available to people who have paid into the Social Security system. To access SSDI benefits, you must have collected enough Social Security Benefits from your lifetime payroll tax contributions. Typically, there is a waiting period of five months from when you apply for the SSDI benefits to when you receive the first payment. 

After the waiting period, you can receive a lump sum of the accrued benefits. You will then continue receiving the monthly benefits. Our experienced disability lawyers can streamline your application by ensuring the application documents are correct and complete. If your claim is returned, denied, or rejected, our lawyers will help you seek reconsideration or file an appeal.

Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income, abbreviated as SSI, is more of a welfare program. It is available to disabled people with disabilities that prevent them from working. Unlike the SSDI benefits, you don’t require a work history to apply for the SSI benefits. If you are ineligible for the SSDI benefits, you can receive compensation under the SSI program without consideration of your work credits. Both disabled children and adults can file for SSI benefits. 

Appealing a Social Security Benefits Denial 

The approval rate for disability benefits in Oklahoma is relatively low, especially at the initial stages. The good news is that you can appeal up to four times. After the first denial, you can seek reconsideration of your disability application. At this stage, you will be free to provide additional documents and information to support your application. You can apply for a hearing if the reconsideration doesn’t deliver desirable results. During the hearing, you will appeal your case before an administrative judge. Our reliable lawyers at Social Security Law Center can appeal on your behalf. 

If you don’t succeed at the appeal hearing, you can apply for a review of your case with the Social Security Appeals Council. If this also fails, you can file a civil lawsuit. You should file the lawsuit within sixty days from when you receive a verdict from the appeals council. 

Contact Us Today

You don’t have to go through the challenging process of applying for social security benefits on your own. At the Social Security Law Center, we walk with our clients throughout the application process, handling all their questions and concerns. Contact us today for reliable legal representation.