Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, is a quiet, blue-collar and sports-oriented city known as the birthplace of celebrated quarterback Joe Namath and Coach Joe Walton. Today, the city continues to support decent, hard-working people, but no one is immune to the tragedy of injury. If you live in Beaver Falls and are no longer physically or mentally able to work, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and an experienced attorney can help walk you through the complex process.
What Is SSDI?
SSDI is one of two programs administered by the Social Security Department that provides benefits to people who are unable to work because of one or more serious medical conditions or illnesses. Many people confuse the two, but it is a simple matter to tell them apart. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays benefits to anyone whose household income falls below a certain level, but SSDI is an insurance program that covers workers who have paid sufficient premiums in the past, usually through payroll deductions.
When you work in the United States, you receive a number of annual work credits based on the pay you earned during that time. You receive one work credit for each $1,260 you earn up to the annual maximum of four credits. The number of credits you need to be eligible for SSDI depends on your age at the time disability occurred, the number of credits earned and the number of years worked.
If you meet the above criteria, you are then required to prove that you are unable to work or engage in any form of substantial gainful activity (SGA). Once this is done, you must wait a minimum of five months to receive benefits, but some people end up waiting longer because of appeals or errors in paperwork.
Social Security Disability in Beaver Falls, PA
No matter whether you have worked in Beaver Falls, PA, or another location within the U.S., if you have paid payroll taxes, you may be eligible for SSDI. For many, the complex process usually starts by walking into the local Social Security office and asking for information or an application. However, nearly all people who begin like this become instantly shocked at the realization that they are woefully unprepared.
Following are a few tips for simplifying the SSDI application process, reducing hassle and increasingly your chances of a quick approval:
1. Gather all of your pertinent medical records. You will want your records to be complete with the names of your doctors, names of the facilities, dates, reasons for your visits, tests, diagnoses, treatments, results and recommendations.
2. Make a list of the injuries or illnesses that prevent you from working. Be sure to include all physical and psychological conditions, and always use the scientific terms stated in your medical records.
3. Locate an experienced SSDI attorney. Although an attorney is not necessary to apply for SSDI, reliable counsel can provide invaluable assistance.
Getting Help From an Attorney
Getting help with your SSDI case from a local attorney can take the hassle and headache out of the process. Most people applying for SSDI are far from their peak capacity, and it is easy to look over important instructions and make simple errors that could delay your application or be cause for denial.
A knowledgeable attorney will be able to explain the entire application process and will be by your side every step of the way no matter how long and how much work it takes. He or she has gone through all the hoops many times over and knows how best to jump through them or, in some cases, simply walk around them. For further information and a free consultation, contact a Pennsylvania SSDI lawyer today.
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