EFFECTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE REPRESENTATION
Cleveland, Ohio Social Security Attorneys
Do you need to file for disability but don’t know what to do? Has your claim been denied and you would like to appeal or re-apply?
We have all had frustrating experiences at times when dealing with government agencies. Filing a disability claim can be among the most daunting. Let us remove the worry and take on the burden of this process.
Our highly skilled attorneys at Shapiro Marnecheck & Palnik Co., LPA in Cleveland, Ohio have decades of experience working with clients to ensure they meet the requirements necessary to obtain their Social Security Disability benefits.
Contact Shapiro Marnecheck & Palnik Co., LPA for a free consultation today. We want to help you get the benefits you deserve. We guarantee effective and aggressive representation.
Overview of SSD and SSI
The SSI and SSD programs send payments to Americans that have a qualifying disability preventing them from holding full-time employment. However, SSI and SSD have distinct differences. SSD represents a safety net for disabled Americans that have developed a disability that prevents them from working. On the other hand, SSI is an insurance program covering Americans with serious disabilities that have never worked or who do not have the work history or “credits” to qualify for SSD. SSI also provides financial help to elderly Americans that live in poverty.
Obtaining SSD Benefits
In addition to suffering from a debilitating disability, SSD applicants must also have paid into the Social Security system through employment taxes. Here are the three conditions that qualify Americans for SSD benefits:
- Unable to perform on the job
- Suffer from a disability that a healthcare specialist says will last at least one year
- Have a medical condition that makes it impossible to adjust to other types of work
The SSA also uses a complex formula to assign work credits for every SSD applicant. One of our Ohio licensed Social Security attorneys can help you determine the number of work credits you have earned to qualify for SSD benefits.
Documents Needed for an SSD Application
The SSA requires SSD applicants to submit several documents that present a convincing case to receive SSD benefits. As the most important batch of documents, medical records should include the official diagnosis from a licensed and certified medical practitioner. Medical records also determine whether your disability symptoms match the symptoms of your illness or injury as listed in the SSA Blue Book.
Employment records gives the SSA details about the amount of money you have lost because of your disability. Documentation of financial assets, such as bank and retirement accounts, should also accompany the documents you submit with your SSD application.
Qualifying for SSI
SSI applicants must meet an important financial criterion. “Countable resource” cannot exceed $2,000 for single applicants and $3,000 for married applicants. “Countable resource” include the following financial assets:
- Stocks
- Bonds
- Savings account
- Personal property
- Easy to liquidate into cash assets
SSI applicants must also be at least 65 years old, suffer from partial or total blindness, or have a disability lasting more than one year that has prevented them from working.
Learn More about Social Security Benefits
The process for having the SSA approve SSD or SSI benefits can take a considerable amount of time. You have to meet deadlines to keep the process moving forward. A team of Social Security lawyers ensures you meet every deadline, as well as present the documentation required to get your application approved by the SSA.
At Shapiro Marnecheck & Palnik Co., LPA, one of our Social Security lawyers will meet with you to review your documentation and to discuss the best course of action. Timing is everything for a Social Security disability case, and our team of experienced Social Security lawyers keeps your case moving through the SSA system. If the SSA denies your disability application, you can expect our team of Social Security attorneys to file a timely appeal.
Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your Social Security disability case by submitting the online Contact form or by calling our law firms at 216-696-0990.