Tionesta
Social Security Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. Get Legal Help With SSDI in Tionesta
2. Understanding Social Security Disability
3. Disability Claim Stages
4. How Berger and Green Can Help You

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

February 02, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Get Legal Help With SSDI in Tionesta

The federal government provides monthly payments for individuals who meet their Social Security disability program’s eligibility requirements. The two largest assistance programs are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs both programs and ensures that applicants meet the requirements for monthly payments. You will need to submit medical and financial information with your application.

The SSA may deny your application if you do not submit the appropriate records that prove your disability is severe enough to keep you from earning a substantial income. A Tionesta Social Security disability lawyer from Berger and Green can help you appeal a denial after you applied for Social Security disability benefits.

Call (412) 661-1400 to speak to one of our representatives about your denial.

Understanding Social Security Disability

You have the right to apply for Social Security disability benefits as a disabled resident in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. You will need to apply for the program that you are eligible for, based on the requirements outlined by the program. In certain cases, you may qualify for benefits from both programs. If you are eligible for both programs, you receive “concurrent” benefits.

The Social Security Administration provides Social Security benefits through the following programs:

• Social Security Disability Insurance – SSDI provides monthly assistance if you are disabled and unable to earn an income to support yourself. The program is exclusively for those with disabilities. Insured workers, their spouses, and dependents can receive benefits for SSDI benefits.
• Supplemental Security Income – SSI payments help you pay for basic needs, such as clothing, food, and shelter. The SSI program assists those who have no income or earn very little and are older than 65 years old, legally blind, or disabled.

Each program has a different application. However, both require you to furnish personal and medical information. The SSA will make a determination based on the details you supply. If you do not provide enough evidence of your condition, the agency may deny your claim. Likewise, you can delay receiving benefits by sending an incomplete application.

You will need to prove your disability is so severe that it keeps you from working. However, you may still seek benefits if you can work only limited hours and for little income.

Eligibility Requirements

Before you can apply for SSDI benefits, you need to have adequate work experience called “credits.” The SSA must consider you “insured” for you to qualify for monthly payments. Credit requirements can vary based on age, but you are insured if you have 20 recent work credits.

You earn these credits from working and paying taxes, and you earn up to four credits a year. You may still be eligible for SSDI if you are young because younger people require fewer credits.

You must also have a condition that the SSA considers a disability. Some common disabling conditions include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Amputation
• Asthma
• Immune deficiency
• Cancer
• Obesity
• Joint disease
• Fibromyalgia

Conversely, you do not need to be an insured person to qualify for SSI benefits. SSI provides payments based on your economic need. With SSI benefits, recipients need to be 65 years of age or older, or they must have a disability or be blind.

In addition to these requirements, the SSA lists various factors that can also influence your eligibility. Some requirements are listed below.

• You must be a United States citizen, national, or eligible noncitizen.
• You must have limited income and resources as determined by the SSA.
• You must be a resident of a U.S. state or the District of Columbia or live in the Northern Mariana Islands.
• You cannot live outside the U.S., Washington D.C., or the American territories for 30 consecutive days or more.

Your Tionesta Social Security disability lawyer from Berger and Green can help you if you received a denial after applying for Social Security disability benefits. We can make sure the SSA has the appropriate information about your medical providers.

Contact us about appealing a denial of benefits from the Social Security disability programs.

Disability Claim Stages

When filing for SSI or SSDI benefits, your application may require additional steps beyond the initial application. When you are ready to start the SSDI or SSI application, make sure you have any documents that confirm your eligibility for monthly payments. This can include proof of citizenship, forms that document your disability, tax forms from your employer(s), and proof of income.

The SSA will then mail you an award letter or a denial of benefits after reviewing the application. This is your initial determination.

If your application is rejected, you have the right to the appeals process. There are a few steps within the appeals process that may occur, depending on your case.

If you received a denial letter you could request an appeal within 60 days, according to the SSA. The appeal forms will request up-to-date information about your disability, including tests, treatments, and doctor visits since your application submission. You can also submit more documents to support your claim. Your appeal can follow the process below:

• Reconsideration: A representative at the SSA or the PA Disability Determination Services will review your appeal claim and any new evidence. You will receive an award letter or another denial notification. If this does not resolve your issues, you can go to the next step.
• Hearing: You can request a hearing after the SSA denies your appeal. You must wait until you receive a reconsideration decision before you can request a hearing. The SSA may request more information and documentation to help your case. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will review your claim. The ALJ may have questions, and your representative can explain your case. The SSA will mail you a copy of the ALJ’s decision.
• Appeals Council: In this step, you can dispute the results of the ALJ’s ruling on your hearing with the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council can rule on your case, but they can also send it back to an ALJ.
• Federal Court: An appeal with a federal court is the final measure you can take if the Appeals Council ruling is unsatisfactory.

You can choose a representative to assist you with your case. As your representative, the SSA will work with us in the same way they would work directly with you, and the SSA will send us copies of decisions about your case.

How Berger and Green Can Help You

We can help you apply for SSDI or SSI benefits and ensure the submission of the appropriate information and documentation. Submitting a complete and proper application can prevent delays in receiving benefits. The SSA can deny insufficient applications or take additional time to request more documentation.

Your Tionesta Social Security disability lawyer can review your case and detail which records you need for your application. We can help prove your eligibility for SSD benefits through proper medical records. We can also stand in as your representative if you need to appeal an eligibility decision or go through a hearing.

Berger and Green has 40 years of experience. Contact us about Social Security disability benefits or appealing a denial decision. Call our team at (412) 661-1400 today.