Areas Served
Social Security Disability Lawyer Serving Latrobe
Have you a Latrobe resident who has suffered an injury or developed a chronic medical condition that prevents you from working? If so, you may qualify for financial benefits from Social Security disability programs to compensate for your lost income. However, the Social Security Administration imposes strict eligibility criteria, which leads to initial denials even for applicants who should qualify for benefits. Experienced legal counsel can give you a big leg up in having your application approved and getting the money you’re entitled to under the law.
Don’t wait another moment to get the help you need at this critical juncture. Contact Stine & Associates, P.C. today for an initial consultation to discuss your options with a Social Security disability lawyer serving Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Why Choose a Social Security Disability Attorney from Stine & Associates, P.C.?
If you’ve become disabled in Latrobe or elsewhere in Western & Central Pennsylvania and can no longer earn a living through employment, you may qualify for financial benefits through Social Security disability programs. However, securing disability benefits can become a complex, time-consuming process—one best navigated by an experienced attorney. Turn to a Social Security disability lawyer from Stine & Associates, P.C. because:
- Attorney Cindy Stine has three-plus decades of experience advocating for the rights of individuals unable to work due to disabling medical conditions.
- Our long-term focus on serving clients with injury and disability claims means we have developed in-depth knowledge and insight into the relevant law.
- Our firm offers free consultations and charges no fee unless we secure the disability benefits (including back benefits) you deserve.
Understanding Social Security Disability Benefits Programs
The Social Security Administration operates two programs that provide monthly financial benefits to individuals with qualifying disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both programs provide benefits to individuals who cannot work due to a qualifying disabling medical condition. A person may have a qualifying disability if their condition will likely last at least 12 months or cause the person’s death and the condition renders the person unable to work enough to earn a minimum amount of monthly income that the Social Security Administration designates as the threshold for substantial gainful activity (SGA).
SSDI and SSI serve different groups of disabled individuals. SSDI provides benefits to qualifying workers who become disabled from employment. SSDI requires an applicant to have sufficient work history (including recent work history), which is determined by the number of work credits an applicant has. People earn work credits when they earn a minimum amount of income taxable by Social Security, up to a maximum of four credits per year. Most applicants need 40 work credits to qualify for SSDI, with at least 20 credits earned in the ten years preceding the onset of disability; however, younger workers may require fewer credits.
SSI provides benefits to low-income disabled individuals. Unlike SSDI’s work history requirement, SSI’s eligibility criteria focus on applicants’ monthly income and total assets. Qualifying applicants must have a monthly income below the threshold set by the Social Security Administration and countable assets of less than $2,000 ($3,000 for married couples). However, the SSA does not count some assets towards an applicant’s limit, including their primary residence, one household vehicle, personal property and household goods, tools and equipment used for work/business purposes, burial plots/funeral savings, and some life insurance policies.
The Process of Applying for Social Security Disability
An individual can apply for Social Security disability benefits online on the Social Security Administration’s website or can call the SSA’s toll-free number to schedule an appointment to submit an application over the phone or in person at a local Social Security office, such as the office nearest to Latrobe in Greensburg, PA. Individuals should apply as soon as they develop a disability that prevents them from working. The Social Security disability benefits application process can take six months or more, depending on various complicating factors. A benefits application will require an applicant to include various types of information and documentation, such as:
- Personal information, including date of birth, residential address, and contact information
- Medical information, including contact information for treating providers, medication records, lab/diagnostic test results, and a summary of treatment/rehabilitation
- Copies of medical records
- Summary of work history (when applying for SSDI)
- Financial records, including pay stubs/income statements and records of assets such as real estate, vehicles, and financial/brokerage accounts
Upon receiving an application, the Social Security Administration reviews it to ensure the applicant meets the work history or financial eligibility requirements to qualify for SSDI or SSI, respectively. An applicant for Social Security disability benefits also must establish that they have a qualifying medical condition. The Social Security Administration forwards applications to the state Disability Determination Services to assess when an applicant has a qualifying disability. The state agency will review the medical records and information submitted by an applicant and contact the applicant’s treatment providers for additional information regarding the applicant’s ability to perform work-related activities. Sometimes, the state agency will ask the applicant to attend a special examination performed by the applicant’s doctor or an independent medical examiner.
What Happens If the Social Security Administration Denies Your Application?
The Social Security Administration denies most disability benefits applications on initial review because applicants provide insufficient information to allow the SSA to determine whether they qualify for SSDI or SSI. However, the agency provides an administrative appeals process that allows applicants to challenge the denial of their benefits applications.
Appealing a denied Social Security disability application involves a four-step process. First, an applicant can request reconsideration of their application, which allows them to submit additional information and documentation to address deficiencies that resulted in the initial denial of their claim. When the SSA denies an application after reconsideration, an applicant can request an administrative hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). Applicants can present new evidence and witness testimony at the hearing, and the ALJ can ask questions about the claimant’s condition or other relevant eligibility factors.
Should the ALJ rule against an applicant, they can appeal that decision to the Social Security Administration’s Appeals Council, which may choose to review the ALJ’s decision and return the case to the ALJ for further consideration if the Council finds the ALJ made an error in their determination.
Finally, an applicant can challenge an adverse decision by the Appeals Council by filing a lawsuit in federal court.
How Can Our Social Security Disability Lawyers Help?
Due to the strict eligibility requirements for Social Security disability benefits, many applicants have their benefits claims denied on initial review due to application deficiencies. Working with experienced legal counsel can help applicants prepare robust disability claims that give them the best chance of success. A Social Security disability attorney from Stine & Associates, P.C. can guide you through the application process by:
- Reviewing your circumstances to evaluate your eligibility
- Helping you gather supporting documentation and information
- Assisting you with preparing a compelling benefits application
- Representing you in communications with Social Security Administration representatives
- Preparing you for medical exams as part of the application process
- Vigorously challenging denials of your benefits application, including pursuing the administrative appeals process or fighting for your rights in court, if necessary
Contact Our Firm to Discuss Your Legal Options
If you’ve suffered a disabling condition due to an accident or an occupational injury/illness, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Contact Stine & Associates, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Social Security Disability lawyer serving Latrobe, Pennsylvania. We look forward to meeting you and determining how we can help.