Cranberry Township
Social Security Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. Let Our Lawyers Help With Your Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits
2. You Can Also Seek Supplemental Security Income Benefits With the Help of A Disability Attorney
3. How a Cranberry Township Social Security Disability Insurance Lawyer Can Help if You Received a Denial Letter

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

March 03, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

The Social Security Administration (SSA) established the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program to benefit workers who have paid Social Security taxes throughout the course of their employment but can no longer work because of a disability. There is another program, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, that allows people with disabilities to seek benefits without a work history. Unfortunately, even those who qualify often have a difficult time obtaining benefits, as the SSA denies most initial applications.

If you applied for SSI and SSDI due to a physical disability or impairment that limits your ability to provide for yourself and your family and received a denial letter, you have a limited amount of time to appeal your claim. The lawyers at Berger and Green can help by guiding you through your appeal, and representing you at each step of the process. Contact our legal team right away to get started on your case with a Cranberry Township Social Security Disability Insurance lawyer.

Let Our Lawyers Help With Your Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits

The SSDI is an insurance program into which workers contribute through their Social Security taxes. To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have a significant work history and have contributed a certain amount of funding through Social Security taxes. If you qualify for SSDI benefits, you and your family may receive payments. According to 2023 SSA data, an estimated 7.4 million people receive SSDI benefits, as well as more than 1.1 million of their dependents.

How to Qualify for SSDI Benefits

In addition to contributing to the SSDI through employment taxes, you must also have a condition that meets the SSA’s definition of a disability. The agency deems disabled any person with a mental or physical impairment that prevents them from participating in substantial gainful activity (SGA) for at least 12 months.

SGA, which includes income earned through working, is determined on an individual basis. You must be able to prove your disability status through medical records and documentation, and if the SSA feels that you have not submitted adequate evidence, they may deny your claim.

How Much You May Receive on SSDI

Although you have paid in to qualify for SSDI benefits, they will not provide pay equivalent to what you received during your employment. The SSA calculates your payment amount based on your earning history, but some still find it difficult to live on SSDI benefits alone.

According to a report on disabled worker beneficiaries at the end of June 2022, a significant portion receive $900 to $1,999 per month, and approximately 85 percent of recipients receive less than $2,000.

If SSDI benefits alone are below a certain amount, you may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which some people can receive concurrently with SSDI. Contact the legal team at Berger and Green, and a Cranberry Township Social Security Disability Insurance lawyer can help you determine the types of Social Security disability you qualify for and help you file or appeal your claim.

Working While Receiving SSDI

If you can work in some limited capacity, the SSA may allow you to earn an income through employment if you do not exceed a certain threshold. In 2024, beneficiaries could earn up to $1,550 per month and still receive SSDI benefits. However, you must report all of your wages to the SSA, and if you receive too much income, they can revoke your SSDI benefits.

You Can Also Seek Supplemental Security Income Benefits With the Help of A Disability Attorney

SSI benefits are available to people with disabilities and adults who are 65 years of age or older, but there is an income requirement to receive these payments. Additionally, you must have a limited amount of resources, but there are exceptions that do not count towards the limit.

You can seek both kinds of Social Security disability benefits, but keep in mind that they can impact how much you receive. Of course, if you are denied benefits or they are revoked, you can speak with our Cranberry Township Social Security Disability lawyers to see how you can appeal a decision for Supplemental Security Income.

How a Cranberry Township Social Security Disability Insurance Lawyer Can Help if You Received a Denial Letter

The SSA gives applicants who received SSDI or SSI denials up to 60 days to appeal the decision through their appeals process. If you do not submit your request for reconsideration within this time frame, you must submit a new application to the SSA for consideration.

Review Your Initial Application

Applicants often find the disability application process long and confusing, and its specific requirements leave little room for even the smallest errors. If you accidentally left out certain information, we can help you determine what you need to gather before your appeal.

Help You File for a Reconsideration

The first step in appealing your SSDI denial is requesting a reconsideration. During the reconsideration process, an SSA adjudicator who was not associated with your initial application review and did not contribute to the decision to deny your claim will examine both the original application and any additional documentation that may fill in any gaps.

The adjudicator will then decide whether to reverse the decision or confirm your denial. Very few denials are reversed in the reconsideration stage, but if time remains, we can help you take the next step in the appeals process.

Request a Hearing

An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing allows applicants who were denied during both the initial application and reconsideration processes to present information and make their case in person to an impartial ALJ, who will then decide based on the evidence provided. Your lawyer will advocate on your behalf. It can take many months or over a year for Social Security to schedule the disability hearing.

Although the process is lengthy and complex, many claimants do receive a favorable decision  and back pay at this stage. We will provide you with consistent legal support and updates about your case throughout this stage of your appeal.

Contact Our Team Today for Help with Your SSDI Case

If the SSA denied your SSDI claim, it does not necessarily mean that you do not qualify for benefits. The social security disability lawyers in Cranberry Township at Berger and Green can investigate the details of your denial, determine your eligibility, and assist you through the appeals process to help you seek the SSDI benefits you need to provide for yourself and your family. Call our legal team as soon as possible for a free consultation.