Chico SSDI Lawyer
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Please note: We only handle disability claims and do not handle retirement issues
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Trusted Chico SSDI Attorney
Living with a disability can feel impossibly hard. You deserve to have access to the resources you need to make your life manageable, including benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. A Chico SSDI lawyer can help you access the benefits to which you are entitled.
Trust Gade & Parekh, LLP
The team here at Gade & Parekh, LLP, focuses on just one thing — helping clients get the benefits they deserve. A large part of our practice focuses on SSDI benefits, in particular, which are available for disabled individuals who have paid into the Social Security program. With over 30 years of success in advocating for clients, we have what it takes to help you navigate this complex program and get the benefits to which you are entitled.
Why Hire an SSDI Lawyer?
In 2023, there were 38,203 people receiving SSDI in California. They got an average monthly benefit amount of $1,685.04. It generally takes the Social Security Administration six to eight months to review claims. Only 36% of initial claims are approved without a denial.
If you want to improve your odds of getting your claim approved without going through a lengthy appeals process, you should hire an SSDI lawyer before you submit your initial claim. Your lawyer can review the paperwork to make sure that everything is correct, help you gather the evidence required to support your claim, and, if necessary, help you file an appeal and appear on your behalf at the hearing.
How the SSA Defines Disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines disability as the inability to engage in work because of a physical or mental impairment. To be eligible for SSDI, the impairment must last or have lasted for at least 12 months or be expected to end in death. The SSDI program does not cover partial or short-term disability.
How Claim Determinations Are Made?
The SSA makes disability determinations by reviewing your application to find out whether you meet basic eligibility requirements, then sending it to California’s Disability Determination Services (DDS). An employee at DDS must then review your case to make sure that you meet the program’s medical eligibility requirements. Here’s how your claim gets evaluated:
- Severity: The DDS must first consider whether your impairment is sufficiently severe. It must limit your physical or mental ability to perform even basic work activities.
- Listing:Â The SSA maintains a Listing of Impairments. If your severe condition meets or equals one that is on the list, the DSS should determine that you are unable to engage in gainful activity and find you disabled.
- Consideration of prior work: If your condition doesn’t meet or equal a listing, the DSS must consider whether you’re unable to perform your prior work, whether it was at the California State University, Chico, or the Enloe Medical Center. If you can no longer continue to work in your prior field due to your medical condition, your application should move on to the final step.
- Consideration of other work:Â The DSS must determine whether you could adjust to other types of work. If they determine that you are not able to work in any other field, either, your claim of disability may be approved.
The SSA also considers limitations such as age, education, past work experience, and transferable skills in addition to your medical condition to determine whether you might still be able to work. If it approves your application, you’ll begin receiving benefits. If it does not, you can file an appeal under SSDI laws.
What Benefits Are Available?
For those approved, SSDI goes beyond monthly payments. You may also be able to receive:
- Benefits for certain dependents
- Converted payments to retirement benefits when you reach retirement age
- Eligibility for Medicare health insurance
You should enlist the help of an attorney for your SSDI case. Our law firm only handles disability cases. We can assist you with your application and, if necessary, help you file an appeal.
FAQs
How Can I Qualify for Social Security Disability in California?
You can qualify for Social Security Disability in California by proving that you have a severe medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. The condition must make you unable to perform substantial work, and you must meet the requirements for either the Social Security Disability Insurance or the Supplemental Security Income program.
How Much Do SSDI Attorneys Make?
How much SSDI attorneys make varies depending on the value of their clients’ claims. Most SSDI lawyers work on commission, taking a portion of the back pay recovered for their clients. The Social Security Administration limits the fees that can be charged by SSDI lawyers to either 25% of the client’s back pay or $9,200.
What Does an SSDI Lawyer Do?
An SSDI lawyer guides clients through the process of claiming disability. They can gather medical records, make sure applications are free from errors, communicate with the SSA on clients’ behalf, and represent them at hearings if their claims are denied. Having a Chico SSDI attorney on your side is a good way to minimize hassles and improve the odds that your claim gets approved.
What Is the Hardest Disability to Prove?
The hardest disabilities to prove are invisible conditions that rely on patients’ subjective reporting instead of objective tests, such as X-rays or blood work. Some common examples include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, primary headache disorders, and mental health issues. These claims are often denied due to a lack of definitive diagnostic proof.
Your Chico SSDI Lawyer
If you need a Chico SSDI lawyer to help you with getting your claim approved, turn to Gade & Parekh, LLP. We understand what it’s like to live with a disability and know that even simple tasks can feel daunting, if not impossible.
Applying for SSDI or SSI is not a simple task, and you deserve help. We’re here to support you no matter where you are in the claims process and are committed to advocating for disabled people however we can. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.