People start contributing to Social Security as soon as they get their first jobs. Even part-time workers who only earn a few thousand dollars a year make payroll tax contributions to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Eventually, workers may make use of those...
Social Security Disability
How depression and anxiety can factor into an SSDI claim
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can be a complex and often emotionally charged process. Many people find themselves not only grappling with the new challenges of their physical condition but also contending with the profound impact of...
Can I receive disability benefits after an amputation?
Life is full of uncertainties. One moment you may be driving home after a fruitful day at work and the next, you are fighting for dear life following a catastrophic car wreck. If a life experience like an accident or an infection leads to the loss of a limb, you may...
How long does it take to appeal a denied SSDI benefits claim?
Individuals who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits generally have debilitating medical conditions that have eliminated their earning potential. These individuals may not have very much money in savings, which means that losing their primary...
How does the SSA define a disability?
If you are hurt or develop an illness that renders you incapable Of working, you may be eligible for the Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), these benefits are meant to help beneficiaries pay bills,...
What are invisible disabilities?
One of the most common misunderstandings around disabilities is that they are always plainly visible to others. This can lead to some confusion where people won’t be able to see any evidence of a disability, and so they will believe that person is not, in fact,...
Have you worked for long enough to qualify for SSDI?
Although you may not have saved anything you've earned, you've slowly been making contributions toward your own retirement or disability support since your first job. Even when you were a part-time worker at the local ice cream shop back in high school, a portion of...
Can substance abuse prevent you from getting SSDI?
Millions of Americans suffer from substance abuse issues involving drugs and/or alcohol. While substance abuse can certainly be highly detrimental to a person’s health, it’s also possible to have a medical condition or disability that is unrelated to that problem. So...
How to answer when the ALJ asks, “Why can’t you work?”
When you have a Hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) coming up where you hope to successfully plead your case for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, it helps to be prepared. Since the ALJ will already have your case file (with all your medical...
The role of medical evidence in your SSD case
If you're involved in a Social Security Disability case, perhaps because you're trying to get the benefits that you believe you deserve, the government has to agree that you are suffering from a long-term disability. This has to last for at least 12 months. You can...