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?
Determining if you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can feel overwhelming, but our experienced Las Vegas attorneys at Shook & Stone are here to help. To be eligible, you must meet two key requirements:
Disability Definition
The Social Security Administration (SSA) must classify you as “disabled.” This means you have a medical condition—physical or mental—that prevents you from doing your past work or adjusting to other jobs, and it must have lasted (or be expected to last) at least one year or result in death. Medical evidence, like doctor’s reports and test results, is critical to proving this.
Work Credits
SSDI is funded through Social Security taxes you’ve paid while working. You earn “work credits” based on your income—up to four per year. Typically, you need 40 credits (10 years of work), with 20 earned in the last 10 years before your disability began, though younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
Applying for SSDI Benefits
The SSDI application process is complex, time-consuming, and often discouraging. In Nevada and nationwide, initial claims face high denial rates—over 60% are rejected, often due to incomplete medical records, insufficient work history, or procedural errors. Appeals fare even worse, with denials exceeding 80% without proper representation.
At Shook & Stone, we simplify this for you. We gather the right evidence, meet strict deadlines, and submit a strong application to boost your approval odds from the start. Whether you’re filing for the first time or fighting a denial, our Las Vegas SSDI lawyers work tirelessly to secure the benefits you need to regain stability.
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?
Payments vary. For SSDI, your monthly amount depends on your past earnings, averaging about $1,542 in 2024, with adjustments for 2025 based on cost-of-living increases. SSI’s maximum federal payment in 2025 is $967 for an individual, though it may be less depending on other income. We’ll help you understand what you’re entitled to.
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. You must request reconsideration within 60 days of the denial notice. If that fails, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), where approval rates rise significantly with legal help—often nearing 50% with representation.
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 $9,200, 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.
