Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”)

Whenever someone gets a paycheck, taxes are taken out. This includes the taxes that everyone is most familiar with: income tax, Social Security Retirement taxes, and even Medicare taxes. However, many don't know or realize that part of those taxes are used to pay for Disability Insurance provided by the Federal Government. This is known as Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI.

If you are unable now to perform any substantial gainful employment, and your disability has lasted or is likely to last 12 or more consecutive months, you may be eligible to receive a monthly disability check from the federal government comparable to what you would get at retirement. Social Security Disability is different from early retirement or full retirement, so don't let the employees at the local social security office suggest otherwise.

If you have questions about whether you qualify for SSDI, contact a Disability Attorney at Marcotte Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation.

First, you need to find out if you are insured. In order to qualify, you need a work history in jobs where you paid the taxes. The Social Security Administration looks at your work history to see if you have enough “quarters” of work. That means that you worked for a 3 month period. 

If you haven't worked enough quarters on the books where employers made the required deduction, all is not lost. you may still be able to obtain Supplemental Security Income [SSI], which is covered in another article. Our Disability attorneys will make sure that you get benefits from whichever program you qualify for.

Second, you can't apply if you are still working. Many people see the writing on the wall and know that they won't be able to work for much longer. Sometimes, they start the process of applying for disability. Unfortunately, the government can't consider your claim if you have earnings currently of $1200.00 per month. That amount has increased over the decades and may be bumped up in the near future. 

Third, you need to provide medical evidence of a severe impairment or a combination of severe impairments. Some diseases are so obvious that the government will find that you meet a listing. Everything in a government bureaucracy is quantified and objectified so you will know quickly if you qualify.

Fourth, you may still succeed if you lack a residual functional capacity to do substantial and gainful employment. Your age, education, language ability, past work and medical difficulties are factored together. A person over age 50 is more likely to be approved than a younger individual.

Lastly, if an applicant is likely going to miss 2 or more days per month or be off-task 10% or more per day from work activity as documented by medical records and employment records, a judge may find that disability has been proven. Going for chemotherapy or transfusions or dialysis or having seizures or migraine headaches are some examples of missing work or being unproductive at work. 

The Social Security Administration often denies claims. This is especially true at the early stages of the process. There are also time limits on filing appeals. It is best to have a local Lowell lawyer to guide you through the process, who knows how to get the medical records, what evidence is most helpful, and what each particular judge wants to see in the record.

At Marcotte Law Firm, our Lowell SSD lawyers understand what is required to win a claim for Social Security Disability. Our attorneys will get medical records from years past until present, our lawyers will ask treating doctors to write supportive narrative letters, and our lawyers will ask employers and family members to write letters of support. Your SSD Lawyer will even contact U.S. senators and congress members to help constituents when the Social Security Administration is being especially difficult. Using our decades of experience, we work together for you.

If you need help in your application for SSDI benefits, call the Lowell SSD Lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation.