Alabama Disability Attorneys: What are SSDI Benefits?

If you live in Alabama and you believe you are disabled, you have probably been told to apply for SSDI Benefits, but you may have questions as to what SSDI Benefits are and if you are entitled to these disability benefits. In order to be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI), you must show that: (A) you are disabled, (B) that you are insured for SSDI purposes and that (C) you were disabled previous to your retirement age.

To meet the definition of being disabled, your condition(s) must (i) create a medically determinable physical or mental disability (ii) which has lasted, or is reasonably expected to last at least 12 continuous months or end in death and (iii) is so severe that it prevents you from being able to (a) engage in your previous substantial work and (b) prevents you from being able to engage in other suitable full time work given your age, education and past job experience.

To be insured for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) you must be able to prove that you paid at least 20 quarters of Social Security taxes in the last ten years prior to the date you became disabled, which means that you have paid your Social Security taxes 5 out of the last 10 years you were able to work

Under age of retirement. If you have paid your Social Security taxes while working, at age 65 you become eligible for Social Security Retirement Benefits, and you are no longer eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits. This is because being awarded Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI) means that you were forced to take early retirement for medical reasons.

Many people who apply for Social Security Disability benefits are denied on their initial application and feel that given the Social Security Administration’s opinion, they are not entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, but that is not necessarily the case. The Social Security Administration simply does not have the resources to contact all of the physicians or counselors who have treated you through the years and they rarely ask the pertinent questions of your treating physicians as to how your condition(s) effect your ability to engage in full time substantial gainful employment. Your best chance at getting awarded Social Security Disability benefits in Alabama is had in appealing the initial rejection, and remember, you only have 60 days in which to appeal your case.

If you have been denied Social Security Disability benefits or SSI benefits but you believe you are entitled to disability benefits, don’t give up. Contact Powell and Denny today.

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Huntsville Social Security Disability Attorneys

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