Louisiana Disability Benefits
If you reside in Louisiana and have a serious physical or medical condition that keeps you from working, you may qualify for Social Security Disability and SSI disability. While Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Social Security Income (SSI) are both federal programs overseen and managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the state of Louisiana has its own state agency that evaluates disability, and its appeals process differs from those of other states.
You may wonder, “Am I eligible?” ”. This can be often addressed by doing a simple Google search, a visit to the SSA website, or a talk with friends and family who have received the benefits you need. Orum Young Law recognizes that becoming disabled, injured, or ill has a significant impact on your financial stability and could be distressing, which is why we make our Monroe social security disability attorney take the weight of understanding the intricacies of social security off your shoulders.
Before the SSA can certify you as an eligible claimant, you must provide a lengthy list of information and documents. Simply missing out on one of them can result in your claim being denied. Let our Monroe social security disability attorney help you in completing the required paperwork. Call now for a consultation with a disability lawyer from E. Orum Young Law!
What Is the Difference Between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
The fundamental difference between Social Security Disability and SSI disability is that SSDI is only available to people who have accumulated enough work credits through the years to be recognized as “insured” by the program. SSI disability benefits are made available to low-income people who have never worked or have not accumulated sufficient work credits to be eligible for SSDI.
Here are some significant differences that differentiate the two programs:
- SSDI benefits are often higher than SSI benefits. In 2022, the average SSDI payment is $1,358, whereas an SSI payment would average $586 per month.
- The SSDI program can provide benefits for the period prior to your application. If you are proven to be disabled, SSI benefits can start as soon as the very first full month following your claim for disability. However, SSDI benefits can start up to one year prior to applying for benefits.
- SSDI has a higher approval rate than SSI. Most often, though not always, people who qualify for SSDI benefits receive more medical care than those who qualify only for SSI, making it more easy for SSDI claimants to prove disability. Furthermore, judges usually give applicants with a long job experience higher credibility than those applicants who do not.
Though many people confuse SSDI with SSI, these are two entirely separate governmental disability programs. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees and manages both programs, and the SSA decides medical eligibility for disability in the same manner for the two programs, but there are significant differences between the two.
SSDI: What Is It and What Does It Provide?
The Social Security Disability Insurance Program (SSDI) is an insurance program of the federal government that provides monetary compensation to disabled workers. SSDI recipients are regarded as “insured” because they have worked for a long time and have contributed to the Social Security trust fund through FICA Social Security taxes (or SECA self-employment taxes). SSDI benefits are tightly connected to Social Security retirement benefits. SSDI is basically a form of early retirement for people who become disabled before reaching the age of 65, and the monthly benefit is the same.
What are SSDI’s technical requirements?
SSDI applicants must be under the age of 65 and have a specified amount of “work credits”.
How soon does SSDI start?
There is a waiting period of 5 months for SSDI applicants, which means that the SSA will not start paying benefits until five months after a person becomes disabled. However, SSDI recipients are eligible for retroactive payments dating back one year prior to their date of SSDI application.
How much are SSDI payouts?
Like with the Social Security retirement benefit, the amount of your monthly SSDI payment once the waiting period is done is determined by your earnings record. In 2022, the highest SSDI benefit amount is around $3,345, however, only a small number of people receive this much amount.
Are there other benefits available?
A disabled person becomes eligible for Medicare after two years of receiving SSDI. (An applicant with ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is eligible for Medicare as soon as they receive SSDI approval.)
Who receives SSDI?
Under SSDI, the spouse or child dependents of a disabled person are eligible for spousal benefits and dependents benefits, known as “auxiliary benefits”. However, children with disabilities cannot receive SSDI by themselves. Only adults above the age of 18 years old can get SSDI disability benefits, but only if they have worked for several years.
What are my odds of getting SSDI approved?
SSDI approval rates are generally higher than SSI approval rates. There are several possible explanations for this, including:
- SSDI applicants are likelier to have a higher income and insurance benefits than SSI applicants, which implies they are likelier to visit a doctor regarding their medical issues. (It is extremely difficult to obtain disability if you do not see a doctor on a regular basis.)
- Judges and claim examiners tend to see applicants with a long employment history more favorably than those who don’t, which is the case for the majority of SSI applicants.
- SSDI applicants are likelier to seek legal counsel to help with their application or hearing to increase their chances of receiving benefits.
Learn more from a Monroe disability lawyer at E. Orum Young Law about the SSDI program and SSDI benefits.
SSI: What Is It and How Does It Work?
SSI gives modest basic monetary assistance to disabled people who have minimal recent employment experience. To be eligible for SSI, you need an exceptionally low income (or even no income) and assets worth less than $2,000 (for a couple, it’s $3,000).
What are SSI’s technical requirements?
SSI, unlike SSDI, does not require a certain number of work experience. You are financially eligible for the SSI program provided you fulfill the income as well as asset requirements. Understandably, you need also prove that you are medically qualified by proving your disability status.
How much are SSI payouts?
The amount of SSI that a qualified individual will get depends on their monthly regular income and also where they reside. (SSI beneficiaries who get free accommodation and board, such as at a friend’s house, receive a smaller benefit; also, some states offer a larger supplemental payment to select SSI beneficiaries.) In 2022, the maximum federal SSI payout is $841 (while it’s $1,261 for couples).
How soon does SSI start?
SSI benefits will start the first day of the month following the month wherein you submitted your SSI application.
What additional benefits does SSI have?
Disabled people who meet SSI’s income requirements are also eligible for Medicaid in their home state. Most of those qualified for SSI are also qualified for food stamps. SSI is paid from the general fund of the United States Treasury, similar to all other safety net programs.
Who receives SSI?
Due to fewer women qualifying for SSDI benefits (approximately 71% of females versus 79% of males), SSI applicants are slightly more likely to be female. Women have fewer eligible years of employment (about 60% of males having worked at least a portion of each year of their adult lives, compared to 41% of women).
Find out more information on the SSI program and its benefits from a Monroe social security disability attorney.
Can I Receive Both SSDI and SSI?
If you are accepted to SSDI but your SSDI compensation is low, you can receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time. This can be the case if you’ve consistently earned minimal pay or haven’t put in much recent work. If your SSDI compensation is smaller than $861 (or smaller than $1,281 for a couple), you can be eligible for a minor SSI benefit on top of your SSDI payment.
Louisiana Disability Determination Services (DDS)
The Disability Determination Services (DDS) of Louisiana is a state agency that evaluates your disability application and medical records to determine whether you are disabled. In making this judgment, DDS is bound to adhere to Social Security laws and procedures.
After Social Security has reviewed your disability application for basic SSDI or SSI eligibility, it is forwarded to DDS. You can contact DDS directly if you have questions about your case and its status.
Contact Our Monroe Louisiana Social Security Disability Law Firm
Having a disability benefits lawyer on your side when filing a claim for SSI or SSDI benefits is advantageous for many reasons. Still, the best advantage of hiring legal representation is avoiding becoming overwhelmed or completely confused by Social Security processes, regulations, and rules. Allow our social security disability attorney at E. Orum Young Law to handle that for you.
Our Monroe social security disability attorney can also represent you at any point in the process, including your initial application, second application, reconsideration, appeal, and hearing. Having a disability lawyer provides you with a fresh set of eyes who can check the tiny details in your disability application to increase the chances of your claim being approved in the shortest amount of time possible.
If cost is preventing you from seeking help and support, you should be aware that you are not required to pay your attorney if your claim is unsuccessful. Your legal counsel may get a share of your pay if you are approved. All of this means that if you begin your application today, you will not have to pay anything out of pocket. So, what are you waiting for? Call us now to start the ball rolling!
