The people living, working, and investing their livelihoods in Las Vegas are the reason our city is so great. Our tireless residents work around the clock to bring Las Vegas a uniqueness you can’t find in any other city on Earth. But everything that is great about living in Las Vegas can be disrupted when you or someone you love experience an unexpected illness, occupational injury, or sudden accident in Nevada.
When that happens, filing for Social Security Disability and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as soon as possible is a vital step to take to get your life back on track, and Shook & Stone’s lawyers are the proven disability attorneys you can trust to get you the proper SSDI or SSI payout from the state of Nevada.
Call a Las Vegas Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) lawyer at Shook & Stone today if you are applying to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for Social Security Disability benefits or have been denied Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the state of Nevada.
SSD cases can be highly complex. SSD procedures involve a great deal of dense legal work, numerous eligibility requirements, and many federal regulations. Depending on whether your disability is temporary or permanent, your SSD payments may be supplied on a temporary or permanent basis.
The experienced attorneys at Shook & Stone have worked on a variety of Social Security Disability cases and have helped many injured and disabled clients receive the compensation they need and deserve.
If you are looking for qualified counsel to help you through the SSD process, please do not hesitate to contact our skilled legal team.
How Do You Qualify for SSDI?
Our seasoned Las Vegas social security disability insurance (SSDI) attorneys can help you determine whether you qualify.
Stage 1
Must be declared “disabled” by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA has its own definition of what qualifies as a “disability.” You must provide proof of a permanent disability or a condition that has lasted or is expected to last more than one year. Your physical condition must prevent you from performing the duties of your previous job and from finding a new line of work.
Stage 2
Work requirements. Since Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is funded by the Social Security tax fund, applicants must have paid Social Security taxes through their work wages for a sufficient amount of time. Known as work credits, your work history and tax payments play a large role in qualifying for SSD.
Applying for SSDI Benefits
The SSD application process is notoriously lengthy, complicated, and highly selective.
In Nevada, there are numerous federal agencies and offices involved—and due to an increasing volume of claims, they frequently deny applicants. Denial rates during the initial stage of the SSDI process are currently above 60 percent. During the appeals process, that rises to more than 80 percent.
According to the Social Security Administration, most denials are the result of insufficient medical documentation, insufficient work history, and the high percentage of applicants who don’t know the proper procedures to pursue their claim.
At Shook & Stone, our goal is to work closely with you to prevent any errors in your application and to greatly reduce your risk of being denied.
Qualified Legal Assistance for SSDI Applicants
At Shook & Stone, we have worked with numerous injured clients who had a genuine need for financial assistance. Their disabilities or illnesses prevented them from working, and contributed to a great deal of negative consequences for their personal and financial well-being.
Our social security disability insurance (SSDI) lawyers want to help all injured residents of Las Vegas and the entire state of Nevada. We will walk you through applying for Social Security benefits, giving you the best possible chance of being accepted.
Our attorneys at Shook & Stone have more than 85 years of combined legal experience, and have recovered more than $500 million in compensation for our clients all over Nevada and surrounding areas.
If you are looking for experienced and knowledgeable legal assistance with your Social Security Disability claim, contact our firm today.
Common Social Security Disability Questions – Answered
Who Is Eligible for Social Security Disability?
In order to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you first need to be declared disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA), which requires an application process that our disability attorneys can guide you through.
Whether you will be applying to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) depends on your age and how much time you have spent working in jobs where you have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund.
How Much Does Social Security Disability Pay Per Month?
Payouts for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can vary widely depending on their condition, or how much an injured worker has previously paid into the government’s Social Security Trust Fund.
The maximum SSI monthly payout in 2021 is $794.00, and in 2020 the average payout for a disabled worker in the SSDI program was $1,277.05.
I have Been Denied Social Security Disability – What Can I Do?
Our Las Vegas SSDI attorneys hear questions about being denied Social Security Disability benefits every day. That’s because the Social Security Administration (SSA) is extremely strict on approving Social Security Disability benefit claims – the SSA’s most recent numbers the outcome of disabled worker applications showed the SSA approved just 22 percent of applicants.
But, there’s good news as well! If you have a qualifying medical condition but were denied for Social Security Disability benefits, you can appeal the decision from the SSA and schedule a disability hearing in court. The next step after that is to call our Las Vegas disability attorneys, because studies show that those who hire a lawyer for their Social Security Disability case are almost twice as likely to win their Social Security appeal than those who do not.
What Medical Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability?
There are a wide range of conditions that qualify a person for Social Security Disability benefits which you can find in the Social Security Disability Blue Book. These include:
- muscle disorders
- sensory disorders
- blood disorders
- neurological disorders
- cancer
- immune system disorders
- mental disorders
- any disorder related to an organ of the human body
For more information on disabilities that qualify an adult or child for Social Security Disability benefits, see the SSA’s “Blue Book.”
What Is the difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), disabled workers have to establish enough “work credits” through the SSA. Work credits are accumulated by working jobs that pay into the federal government’s Social Security Trust Fund. Workers are eligible to collect up to four credits per year of employment, so it generally takes at least ten years of employment to qualify for SSDI, however that number can differ for younger applicants.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a government program that is for applicants with limited income and limited resources. SSI is paid through the U.S. Treasury’s General Fund, rather than through Social Security taxes, so there are no work requirements.
Average payouts are also different for SSDI vs. SSI, as noted in the FAQ above.
What Is the Application Process for Social Security Disability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recommends you apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. This will ensure you can start receiving disability payments in as little time as possible.
However, our Social Security Disability lawyers know you or your loved one may still be dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of a disability and finding yourself unable to complete the application process yourself. At Shook & Stone, our Social Security disability insurance lawyers in Las Vegas are here to relieve you of the burden of taking on your case yourself. We will walk you step-by-step through the Social Security application process to ensure that you receive the benefits you need.
I Was Denied Social Security Disability Benefits. Can I Appeal?
Yes! As we noted above, only 22 percent of initial disability applications are accepted by the Social Security Administration. While those numbers seem bleak, don’t lose hope.
Call our Las Vegas disability lawyers, and we will get started on your in-person appeal right away. Approval rates for disabled workers who hire a lawyer for their Social Security Disability hearing are almost three times higher than the initial 22 percent acceptance rate from the SSA.
What Should I Expect at My Social Security Disability Appeal Hearing?
The good news about a Social Security Disability hearing is that they are often quick, low-stakes events. There are usually few people, if anyone, in the room at your disability hearing besides your disability lawyer, the judge, and yourself.
The judge will ask you standard questions about your disability, your employment history, and your current health situation – then you will be on your way. A few months after that, you can expect a decision from the court regarding your appeal and updated eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits.
How Much Does It Cost to File for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Luckily for workers, filing for Social Security Disability benefits is completely free. In addition to that, you won’t pay the Las Vegas SSDI attorneys at Shook & Stone a dime until we win your case. Federal law requires all disability lawyers to commission 25 percent or less of a client’s disability award or a maximum of $6,000, whichever number is less. Everything else is yours.
How Can I Contact a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Attorney in Las Vegas?
A Las Vegas social security disability insurance (SSDI) lawyer is ready to speak with you about your case. We will take the worry off your hands and focus on winning your case so you can focus on helping you and your family get better.
Call today for a free consultation, or contact us to send us information about you and your case.
