Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides financial support to people who become disabled and lose their ability to work.

Some people buy disability insurance on their own or through their employer, which roughly replaces your take-home pay during the time you’re disabled or until the end of a predefined benefit period. But if you don’t have a separate disability insurance policy, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits, and they're free.

If you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, these are benefits that you’ve earned by working and paying payroll taxes to the Social Security Administration (SSA). But it’s notoriously difficult to qualify for SSDI.

The vast majority of initial SSDI applications are denied, and after all levels of appeal the final acceptance rate has averaged a mere 34%. It can help to find a

Youngstown, OH

 Social Security disability lawyer near you to assist with your application.

How much does a Social Security disability benefits lawyer cost? The first thing to know is that SSDI lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case.

An SSDI attorney's fees are taken out of your Social Security Disability Insurance backpay award (past benefits owed to you, not future payments). If you don’t get awarded SSDI benefits, you pay no legal fees.

There are also limits on SSDI attorneys' fees. By law, the maximum fee a

Youngstown, OH

Social Security disability lawyer can charge is 25% of your SSDI backpay award up to a maximum of $6,000. Typically, the Social Security disability lawyer's fee is less than the maximum $6,000 amount.

There are limited circumstances, though, in which an SSDI lawyer could seek more than $6,000 in attorneys' fees.

For example, if you are initially denied benefits and your Social Security disability lawyer appeals your case to the SSA Appeals Council or to federal court, your SSDI lawyer could petition the SSA to be able to ask for additional attorneys' fees.

But again, most SSDI lawyer's fees are less than the $6,000 maximum.

Wondering whether you need a Social Security disability lawyer? You are not technically required to hire an SSDI lawyer to apply for Social Security disability benefits. But many people hire Social Security disability lawyers because it can increase your chances of receiving SSDI benefits, and of getting them faster. (Remember, a mere 34% of applications are accepted).

And since SSDI is a federal program, you don’t need to hire a Social Security disability lawyer near you--you can hire one from anywhere in the country. It may be helpful to hire a

Youngstown, OH

Social Security disability lawyer, though, if you intend to meet in person to discuss your case.

So, what are the Social Security disability requirements to qualify for SSDI?

You are eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits if you are an American citizen or a legal resident. In the SSDI application process, you’ll need to prove that your disability may last for at least one year. And often you will also need to prove that you’ve been working for several years and are no longer able to earn an income above a certain threshold.
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The Social Security Administration uses a five-point test to determine whether you meet the SSDI definition of disability:

• 1. Are you working?
  
• 2. Is your disability “severe”?
• 3. Is your disability listed by the SSA or equivalent to a listed disability?
• 4. Can you do the work you did before?
• 5. Can you do any other work?

Under each of these questions, the SSA evaluates various criteria to determine whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance.

If you hire a

Youngstown, OH

Social Security disability lawyer, they will handle the filing process for you. You can also apply on your own:

• You can apply online directly through the Social Security Administration’s website
  
• You can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• You can apply in person at your local Social Security office, though we recommend calling in advance to make an appointment.

You may be wondering, "do I need a lawyer to apply for SSDI?" There is a clear financial benefit to applying on your own--if your application is successful, you won’t have any SSDI attorney fees deducted from your award.
 
But keep in mind that less than ⅓ of Social Security disability applications are approved, and many fail due to incomplete forms or information.
 
The SSDI application process can be overwhelming and confusing, and having a

Youngstown, OH

Social Security disability lawyer guide you through the process will increase your chance of success.

The Social Security disability application process requires a lot of information. There are several things you should do to prepare for completing the application.

• Confirm social security numbers. Make sure you have your social security number available, and if you have a spouse or children, their social security numbers as well. 
  
• Have your wage and tax statement (Form W-2). You’ll need your W-2 for the past year, which shows the wages you earned and the taxes you paid.
• Review the Adult Disability Report form and make sure you have the necessary information handy. To determine eligibility, the Social Security Administration will ask for extensive information from you regarding your work history, wages, medical treatments, medications, and other information.  You should review this form and gather as much of this information as possible.
• Collect your medical records. Your application may move more quickly if you have already collected your medical records detailing your disability. If you haven’t, that’s okay. The SSA will request them on your behalf, but having your records in advance can help you get approved for disability benefits more quickly.

This information will help you complete your SSDI application, the Adult Disability Report, and answer any questions the SSA may have.
 
Typically, it takes three to four months to hear whether you are approved for Social Security disability benefits. If you are approved, the SSA will send you a letter detailing your benefits and any back pay benefits as well.
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If your SSDI application is denied, you have 60 days to file an appeal with the SSA.

If your Social Security disability benefits claim is denied, you can appeal that decision. There are several levels of appeal your application may go through. 
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Below is an overview:

Each step in the Social Security disability benefits appeals process is different.  

• Reconsideration. You have 60 days to file an appeal for reconsideration. The SSA will have another representative review your SSDI application and any new evidence you submit, and determine whether you should in fact be granted Social Security disability benefits.
  
• Administrative law judge hearing. If your reconsideration request is denied, you again have 60 days to notify the SSA that you are appealing the reconsideration decision. You will have to go to court and argue your case before an administrative law judge.
• Review by the Appeals Council. If your application is denied by the administrative law judge as well, you have 60 days to file an appeal to the SSA’s Appeals Council who will determine whether the judge’s decision was correct.
• Lawsuit in federal court. If the Appeals Council also denies your Social Security disability benefits application, your last resort is to file a lawsuit in federal district court.