It is a common misconception that disability benefits are immediately available to you the moment after you become disabled. This is simply not true. Our attorneys stand ready to explain the Social Security Disability process to you.

As a preliminary matter, you must demonstrate the following to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits:

First, you must have worked for a certain amount of time during the years before you became disabled. For candidates who meet this threshold, the dollar amount of your disability compensation depends in part on your history of earnings.

Second, your disability must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability. According to the SSA, you qualify for SSDI only if:

You cannot do the work you did before you became disabled, and
You cannot perform another job in your current medical condition, and
Your doctor expects that your injury will last for at least one year or result in death.

There are delays between the date of your disability’s onset and the date when your disability benefits begin. You are not entitled to SSDI payments for six months after the date of onset of your disability. Medicare payments begin 30 months after the onset of your disability. The program also limits eligibility based on your monthly earning capacity. Our attorneys can explain the Social Security disability program to you in greater detail during a one-on-one initial consultation.

Contact us today for legal advice and guidance.

A lawyer familiar with the Social Security claims process can be invaluable to you as you file for disability benefits. Our lawyers can explain the claims process and help you secure your benefits. Call us at (516) 739-3441 or contact us online to schedule a virtual, phone, or in-person consultation at our Westbury, New York office.