Winston-Salem Social Security Lawyer
The social security system in the United States is designed to allow people to draw upon funds into which they have paid if they become disabled or unable to work full-time.
Our experienced Winston-Salem social security lawyers can help guide you through the process of obtaining your social security disability income if you or your loved one have experienced a disabling illness or condition.
If you cannot work, or the work you are able to do is not enough to constitute full-time employment and you are having trouble making ends meet, a Winston-Salem social security lawyer can examine the details of your situation and determine whether pursuing access to social security disability income serves your best interest.
Types of Social Security Programs
There are two main kinds of social security programs to help individuals who are permanently or temporarily disabled and whose ability to work has been compromised.
The Social Security Disability program requires that you be suffering from a condition that lasts 12 months or more and prevents you from working altogether, or is considered terminal.
There is a requirement that you have worked and paid into the system for a certain number of years before you are eligible to collect social security, though the number depends on several factors, including your age. Your social security attorney can help you determine whether you are eligible.
The Social Security Disability Income program differs in that you may continue working with the ability you are able while receiving social security. Unlike the Social Security Disability program, the Social Security Disability Income program has income caps.
During your application process, you will need to disclose details of your financial situation to establish that you are in need of the additional income. There are no requirements for how long you must have worked in the past in order to collect.
Qualifying Conditions
Because so many different diseases and conditions can cause disability, almost any condition could potentially be considered disabling. While there is a list – called the blue book list – outlining whether your condition may be automatically covered, the enumerated conditions are very serious and fairly rare, including diseases such as AIDS and ALS.
While not very many conditions are automatically considered disabling, the Social Security Administration is willing to hear requests from victims suffering all kinds of disability. Whether your condition is considered disabling will depend on your specific circumstances.
Some of the more common disabling conditions our firm’s social security attorneys in Winston-Salem see include but are not limited to:
- Debilitating pain
- Back and spinal injuries
- Diabetes
- Severe depression or anxiety
- Cancer
- Traumatic brain injuries
How a Lawyer Can Help
Your Winston-Salem social security lawyer can be by your side from the beginning to help you navigate what can be a complex application process, especially if your claim in initially denied and you wish to move forward with the appeals procedure.
A condition that is disabling for one person may not necessarily be considered disabling for another. This is one reason why it is so important you work with an experienced social security lawyer in Winston-Salem who can establish for the Social Security administration that your condition hinders your ability to work.
