You seem overwhelmed as a major life challenge strikes you and your family. Your defective heart – which you had known about for some time – has finally permanently slowed you. Your medical condition not only is costly on the financial front, but also in your working life. You no longer can work as your illness limits what you can do.
Do you qualify for Social Security disability (SSD) payments? It is highly likely that you do. Will you be able to support your family on the payments you receive? You likely will. Yet you still want to and need to learn more about this government program that has helped many families like yours. Where do you turn? A knowledgeable and compassionate attorney can provide guidance.
Help with application, file an appeal
An attorney can answer the questions you have. Among the first things an attorney may tell you is that Social Security Administration (SSA) rejects two-thirds of all applications for SSD payments, and to not take this personally. Why? Because through an appeal, you likely can secure those funds.
An experienced attorney in SSD benefits matters can:
- Explain whether your ailment qualifies you to receive the benefits. The list includes many, including heart failure, high blood pressure, back pain, visual disorders and asthma.
- Assist with your application. In your submission, you will have to include many documents and medical records related to your illness.
- Tell you how much in monthly payments you can expect to receive. The average U.S. worker received nearly $1,258 per month in 2019. Male workers received an average of $1,384 per month, and female workers on average got $1,128.
- Represent you in the appeals process if the SSA denies your application.
- Instill patience in you as it may take many months before you receive that first benefits check. The government takes its time. After you have applied, the SSA may take up to five months to review your case. If the SSA declares that you qualify, you will not receive payments until it has been determined that you have been disabled for a total of five straight months.
Yes, you can do much of this work on your own. However, you can save time and limit your frustration by enlisting the guidance of a reliable and experienced attorney.