Social Security Disability Insurance Lawyers in Utica, NY Helping Clients Obtain Disability Benefits

If you have applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and been denied, then you need a lawyer who can fight to get you the benefits that you need. If you have applied for these benefits, chances are you are no longer able to work. Consequently, you need help replacing the income you are no longer able to earn on your own.

Even if you have never applied before, doing so for the first time can be extremely confusing and complicated. Whether or not you have already applied and been denied or need to apply for the first time, the lawyers of Passalacqua & Associates have extensive experience in dealing with the Social Security Administration.

Let us put our knowledge and experience to work for you in handling your Social Security disability claim. Members of our legal team understand how both the claims and denial process works and can help answer any questions that you may have.

Contact the law offices of Passalacqua & Associates, LLC at (315) 500-6425 and ask to speak with one of our experienced attorneys who can review your case and help to determine the best strategy going forward.

How Do You Qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?

SSDI is a program instituted by the Social Security Administration (SSA) into which employees and employers pay through payroll taxes. This is a type of “insurance” so that if the employee becomes disabled, they have benefits in the form of monthly income.

There are certain requirements that you must meet in order to qualify for SSDI, which include the following:

You must have worked enough quarters of the year in order to qualify for SSDI. If you do not have enough quarters in, then you will need to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits instead.
You must not be working full time or earning more than the limit of $1,000 per month.
You must be able to show that you meet the necessary criteria for impairment.
You must have a disability that prevents you from engaging in the same type of work that you have done within the last 15 years.
Your qualifying disability must be expected to last for a time period of at least 12 months or is expected to result in death.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to wait for a year after becoming disabled before you can apply for benefits. The attorneys of Passalacqua & Associates, LLC will be happy to assist you with filing for benefits for the first time or with help filing an appeal if your initial claim has already been denied.

Can I Obtain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits if I Haven’t Paid Enough Into Social Security?

Supplemental Security Income, commonly known as SSI, is a program that is provided by the federal government and provides benefits for individuals who need financial assistance. There are specific requirements as to the dollar amount of resources you already possess and can possess while you receive assistance.

To qualify, the applicant must:

Have limited income in the form of wages, pensions, and other financial means
Be a US citizen or national of the US, though there are certain exceptions
Have limited resources, such as things that they own. Examples include houses, motor vehicles, and real estate.
Have a qualifying disability

Can a Lawyer Help Me if My Social Security Disability Insurance Claim is Rejected?

If you have applied for Social Security Disability Insurance and your claim has been denied, you can take several steps to file an appeal.

There are several levels of appeal that you can go through if your claim has been rejected. Reconsideration is the first level of appeal. This is simply a review of your disability application by a claims examiner who was not involved in the original decision of the Social Security Administration.

Typically, most reconsiderations are denied unless you are able to present new evidence that you did not have when you initially filed your claim.

It is not necessary for you to hire a lawyer to file a reconsideration appeal. Nonetheless, a knowledgeable attorney can review your application and help you understand why it was denied. An attorney can also help to determine how your application could be strengthened so that it will not be denied again.

One very important advantage to hiring a lawyer at the reconsideration stage is it should shorten the amount of time that you spend waiting for approval. Often hiring a lawyer may help you to be approved six months to one year earlier than if you have to wait for a hearing.

Why Should I Hire Passalacqua & Associates, LLC to Help Me Receive Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?

The process involved in applying for and receiving disability benefits can be complicated and difficult to navigate on your own. It becomes even more difficult to understand if your initial claim is denied.

When filing for either Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security benefits, the paperwork involved is often very lengthy and can be complex in nature. Our knowledgeable legal team can assist you with the application process and review your application to be certain that it is filled out correctly. If you have missing or incorrect information on your application, this can cause your claim to be denied or significantly delayed.

If your claim has been rejected during the reconsideration phase, you may choose to hire an attorney who can represent you during an appeal. Your attorney can file this appeal and request a hearing on your behalf. At the time of the hearing, an administrative law judge will hear the evidence that you and any witnesses on your behalf can testify to in regard to your disability, as well as submit evidence to corroborate your claim.

Contact the law firm of Passalacqua & Associates, LLC at (315) 500-6425 and ask to schedule a free strategy session with one of our experienced attorneys. We can review your claim and supporting evidence and determine the best strategy in order to move forward and help you receive the benefits that you need.