Professional Social Security Disability Lawyer in Monroe, Louisiana
The application and approval procedure for Social Security Disability benefits might be intimidating. Even though these benefits are intended to offer financial assistance to persons who are unable to work due to an accident, illness, or a combination of the two, benefit applications are frequently rejected. In addition, after denying a claim, the Social Security Administration can be unhelpful, leaving injured and ill individuals to fend for themselves.
If your Social Security Disability application has been declined, there is still hope. E. Orum Young Law has assisted numerous individuals in appealing their disability claims and obtaining life-sustaining government aid. If your Social Security Disability claim was denied or you have questions about the application process or how does Social Security decide if you are disabled, our professional Monroe social security disability lawyer from E. Orum Young Law can help.
What Constitutes Disability According to Social Security Administration?
Social Security has a different definition of disability than other programs. Social Security only provides benefits for total incapacity. There are no benefits awarded for partial or temporary incapacity. Social Security rules consider you to have a qualifying impairment if all of the following are true:
- Due to your medical condition, you cannot engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
- Your medical condition prevents you from performing a past job or adapting to new work
- Your condition has lasted at least one year or is projected to last at least one year, or is fatal
This is a stringent definition of disability. Social Security program guidelines presume that working families have access to other resources, such as workers’ compensation, insurance, savings, and investments, to assist during periods of short-term disability.
How Much Work Do You Require?
In addition to satisfying their definition of disability, you must have worked for Social Security long enough, and late enough, to qualify for disability payments. Social Security work credits are based on your total annual salary or income from self-employment. Each year, you can earn up to four credits. The required quantity for a work credit fluctuates annually.
In 2022, you gain one credit for every $1,510 earned through wages or self-employment. When you have earned $6,040 for the year, you have earned four credits. The amount of labor credits required to qualify for disability payments varies on the applicant’s age at the onset of disability.
In general, 40 credits are required, 20 of which must have been obtained in the ten years preceding the year your impairment began. Younger employees may be eligible for fewer credits.
What is the Process for Social Security Disability Insurance Application in Louisiana?
A claim for SSDI benefits may be filed in Louisiana using any of the following methods:
- Submit an application in person at any of the state’s local Social Security offices
- Apply at www.ssa.gov
- Apply by phone by dialing (800) 771-1213
SSDI was developed at the federal level and must adhere to federal criteria, but the details of eligibility and payment of benefits are handled by the Louisiana Disability Determination Services. You may file your disability claim on your own. However, some applicants opt to collaborate with our skilled Monroe social security disability lawyer to prepare their first disability claim.
How Does Social Security Decide If You Are Disabled?
If you have sufficient work to qualify for disability payments, the Social Security Administration uses a five-step approach to evaluate if you have a qualifying disability. The five questions on how does Social Security decide if you are disabled are:
Are You Employed?
Typically, they apply earnings guidelines to determine if your employment activity is SGA. In general, if you are employed in 2022 and your average monthly wages exceed $1,350 ($2,260 if you are blind), you will not be regarded as having a qualifying impairment. If you are unemployed or working but not performing SGA, your application will be sent to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office, which will decide on your medical condition. The DDS employs Steps 2 through 5 to arrive at a decision.
Is Your Current Condition “Severe”?
Your condition must impede your ability to do fundamental work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, or remembering, for at least 12 months. If not, they will determine that you do not have a qualifying impairment. If your condition interferes with fundamental job-related duties, they will proceed to Step 3.
Does Your Condition Appear on the List of Disabling Disorders?
For each major bodily system, they keep a list of medical disorders regarded as serious enough to prevent an individual from performing SGA. If your condition is not on the list, they must determine whether or not it is as severe as the one that is. If so, they will determine that you have a qualifying disability. If not, they then go to Step 4.
Can You Perform Your Previous Job Functions?
At this stage, it is determined whether or not your medical condition(s) hinders you from completing any of your previous work. If not, they will determine that you do not have a qualifying disability. If so, they advance to Step 5.
Can You Perform Other Kinds of Jobs?
If you are unable to do your previous duties due to a medical disability, they will consider whether you can perform other jobs (s). They take into account your medical problems, age, education, previous work experience, and any transferable skills you may possess. If you are unable to perform an alternative job, they will determine that you qualify for disability compensation.
If you can do an alternative job, they will determine that you do not have a qualifying disability and deny your claim.
What Conditions Can Qualify You Automatically for Disability?
Our competent social security disability attorney at E. Orum Young Law is aware that the Social Security Administration’s listing of medical conditions qualifying for disability payments might be complicated. Here are some of the most common examples of disability. If the Administration has rejected your application for Social Security Disability (SSD), our knowledgeable Monroe social security disability attorney can help you appeal the decision.
We help Louisiana residents who are confused about the question of how does Social Security decide if you are disabled as well as obtaining disability claims. The earlier you contact us, the sooner we can begin working on your disability appeal. Among the conditions that may qualify a policyholder automatically for Social Security disability payments are:
Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Problems
The greatest category of diagnoses among disabled employees receiving disability payments, according to the Social Security Administration, is disorders of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. These conditions, which accounted for 32.3 percent of the diagnoses, entail nerve, muscle, tendon, or ligament injury. The following are examples of this kind of disorder:
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Back Pain
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Mental Disorders
The Social Security Administration reports that over 20% of disability payments were given to persons with qualifying mental disorders. Individuals must have a mental disorder that has been medically recognized and severely impairs their capacity to operate independently. The Social Security Administration classifies mental disorders under the following main categories:
- Mood Disorders (Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks)
- Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome
- Schizophrenia or Other Psychotic Disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Cardiovascular Disorders
According to the SSA, around 10 percent of benefit recipients suffered from a circulatory condition. Circulatory disorders affect the blood supply to the heart and the rest of the body. Examples are:
- Angina
- Hypertension
- Coronary Artery Disease
Neoplasms (Cancer)
Neoplasms are abnormal tissue masses. These are also known as tumors. They might be cancerous or benign (non-cancerous). Workers frequently report developing mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Neurological Disorder
Around 10 percent of applicants given disability payments by the Social Security Administration had neurological disorders. Examples include:
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
- Neuralgia
We Can Provide the Social Security Disability Help That You Need
Social Security Disability (SSD) is a benefit offered to disabled individuals who are unable to work. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is offered to injured employees, their bereaved spouses, and their impaired children. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to disabled individuals in financial need. Both the SSDI and SSI programs are administered and regulated by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Our talented Monroe social security disability lawyer at E. Orum Young Law has represented disabled individuals throughout the state of Louisiana for years. We are familiar with the challenges experienced by disabled applicants applying for Social Security Disability benefits. Even if you believe you have a clear case of severe impairment, your claim may be denied without the required documentation and presentation of evidence.
The vast majority of first-claim efforts are denied. It is essential, however, not to become disheartened, as our seasoned social security disability lawyer can assist you in appealing your claim judgment and obtaining the benefits to which you are entitled. If your Social Security Disability claim in Louisiana has been denied or has inquiries on how does Social Security decide if you are disabled, call our law firm immediately for a free case review. We serve the citizens of Louisiana, particularly Monroe, with pride.
