Applying for Social Security disability is not an easy process. There are many rules and regulations that must be followed. For example, some people do not know the difference between SSI and SSDI. SSDI stands for Social Security disability insurance. SSDI is available to people who worked and had Social Security taken out of their pay checks. SSI or supplemental security income is a joint program between the federal government and the state. People who fall into certain categories are eligible for SSI. First, applicants must be blind, disabled or over age 65.
Likewise, applicants must be low-income. Applicants who are having difficulty should visit a disability attorney in Chattanooga, TN. People applying for SSDI receive a check based on the amount they earned while working. The toughest part of applying for SSI or SSDI is proving disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires applicants to have a disability that stops them from doing any work. Further, one’s condition must be terminal or expected to last for a year.
The disability attorney in Chattanooga, TN informs clients about the process. The first part of the application process is handled in the state where the applicant lives. The agency has its own medical and vocational experts that determine disability. The experts assess the applicant’s residual functional capacity. This means what the applicant can do physically in spite of their condition. Attorneys know that the applicant’s physician may also fill out the residual functional capacity form. However, SSA will not necessarily give this information to applicants. If the initial application is denied, the attorney asks for a Request for Reconsideration. A new team of state workers assesses the applicant’s file. The next level of appeal is a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. The difficulty in applying makes it necessary to have an experienced attorney.
