Alongside Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) is one of the main disability benefits that the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides to millions of Americans on a yearly basis. As anyone who has pursued these kinds of benefits can tell you, though, getting a favorable result from the claims process without running into legal or procedural obstacles can be time-consuming and far from simple.
At Shook & Stone, our lawyers have years of experience handling not just claims dealing with Social Security benefits alone, but also with personal injury litigation, workers’ comp claims, and cases involving a combination of all three. Put simply, if you need help filing, appealing, or navigating any other aspect of a Reno SSDI claim, contact one of the qualified SSDI attorneys at our firm.
Important Evidence for SSDI Claims
The basic elements of a successful SSDI claim in Reno or anywhere else in Nevada are fairly straightforward. To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must be “disabled” in the eyes of the SSA, and you must have earned a specific number of “work credits”—usually 40 quarters’ or ten years’ worth of work—by paying Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes out of their wages, salary, and self-employment income. Notably, people who become disabled at younger ages may have less strict requirements.
Proving that you meet the criteria listed above can require extensive evidence from numerous sources, such as:
- Pay stubs
- Tax returns
- Comprehensive medical records
- Reports from physicians who have provided treatment for your disabling condition
Failing to provide the SSA with enough information to establish beyond a shadow of a doubt that you qualify for benefits—or making even a small procedural mistake when filing your claim—could lead to your claim being denied and you not getting the monetary support you need.
What to Do If an SSDI Claim Is Rejected
Sometimes, resolving a rejection for a Reno SSDI claim is as easy as submitting additional evidence or correcting a minor error or omission on the application packet you submitted to the SSA. In many situations, though, rejected applicants will need to formally request “reconsideration” of their application from a different department within the SSA. Further, if that does not work, they may need to progress through a series of appeals that could potentially go all the way to a U.S. District Court.
Moving quickly after receiving a claim denial is crucial, as the effective deadline for requesting reconsideration is usually 60 days after being notified of a rejection. Support from seasoned legal counsel can be vital from start to finish of this process for anyone who wants to maximize their chances of securing a positive final result.
Wondering if you meet the SSDI requirements?
A Reno Attorney Can Help You with Your SSDI Claim
Social Security Disability Insurance provides essential and largely irreplaceable benefits for millions of Americans nationwide, including hundreds of thousands in Nevada. If this is your first time applying for this type of benefit, though, or if you have already filed a petition and had it rejected by the Social Security Administration, your next best move should be to seek advice from a legal professional who has helped people like you through similar situations in the past.
An experienced lawyer from Shook & Stone can tenaciously fight on your behalf for the best possible result from your Reno SSDI claim. Call today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our dedicated attorneys.
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