The process of applying for disability benefits can be challenging for someone who is not familiar with the Social Security process.
More than 70% of the people who start the process on their own have their initial claims turned down, and very few of them know how to appeal their denied initial decision.
Having a skilled disability attorney assist you from the beginning of the Eligibility process can significantly improve your chances of winning your case by presenting your claim in the most favorable light from the start of the process.
At AND BENEFITS FOR ALL, our highly-trained, skilled and experienced staff will help you apply or appeal your claim for benefits from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other SSA or Federal disability programs.
Leave all of the stress and work to us. We will assist you with the forms, request your medical records, and follow-up with the appropriate individuals at the Social Security Administration to make sure that your claim is being worked properly and is being reviewed in the most favorable light. We have represented numerous clients at all levels of appeal and are intimately familiar with the burden of proof requirements involved.
AND BENEFITS FOR ALL utilizes a one-of-a-kind screening process which takes 15-20 minutes to complete over the telephone with the client and successfully results in only the best cases being accepted.
For each new screening case, our staff will need obtain certain information in order to determine if you qualify for benefits. They will need to obtain:
- Personal information (name, address, phone number, Date of Birth etc.);
- Information relating to your income and resources;
- Information relating to residency and citizenship;
- Information relating to education and past relevant work history;
- Information relating to your current medical conditions and medications;
- Names of recent doctors or hospitals who have provide medical treatment.
All of this information provided in the screening is confidential and will help our staff determine if you have a good claim for benefits or not. The screening is FREE and the client is under no obligation to move forward with our services if they chose that they are no longer interested.
Who is considered Disabled?
The Social Security Administration states that the disability definition to qualify Claimants includes any individual with:
“The inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in the death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.”
A medically determinable physical or mental impairment is an impairment that results from an anatomical, physiological or psychological abnormality which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. A physical or mental impairment must be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms and laboratory findings – not only by the individual’s statement of symptoms.”
If all this seems confusing, complicated and time-consuming to the reader – you are not alone!
Simply stated, identifying and qualifying a “disabled” Claimant for Social Security disability benefits is a very difficult and time-consuming process.
As such, the initial step of identifying potentially disabled Claimants can be a daunting challenge if the screening staff is not properly trained to screen for disability benefits.
And Benefits For All spends more staff training time on disability than on any other subject. We also provide Claimant screening forms to our staff to ensure that the proper questions are asked of every Claimant.
Differences Between SSDI and SSI Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the program under which those who have paid into the Social Security system can receive benefits. It is different that retirement benefits which is also offered by the SSA. SSDI is a form of insurance for those employed, and workers contribute to this fund through payroll deductions. There are no Asset/Resources limits for SSDI eligibility.
SSDI benefits are paid to disabled people who have reasonably stable work histories. Generally, SSDI is available if you have been employed five out of the last ten years.
During your free no-obligation telephone screening, our team of trained Case Managers will ask you a series of questions in order to determine which program you are eligible for. In some cases, you may be eligible for both SSI and SSDI, and if you are we will file two (2) applications for you for both the SSI and SSDI Program.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), on the other hand, is a program for those with limited resources who have become disabled. It is a type of welfare program, like local General Assistance or Temporary Relief programs offered in each state. There are work requirements for SSDI, but none for SSI. This is intended to fill the gap for disabled persons who cannot meet the work requirements.
Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI)
There are asset/Resource limits for SSI, but none for SSDI. There are strict residency and citizenship criteria. You must be both poor and disabled in order to be approved for Supplemental Security Income Benefits (SSI) benefits. In addition, SSI children’s disability benefits are paid to children 18 years old and younger who are disabled and whose parents or guardians are poor.
During the free screening process, the staff at AND BENEFITS FOR ALL is specifically trained to identify whether the caller is looking to file a first time application or is in need of appeal assistance. Once the screening is completed, the results will be discussed immediately with the caller and a list of options how to proceed with will be presented.
Call And Benefits For All today at 1-888-755-0077 for your free screening and consultation!
