Disability benefits provided through the federal government help people who can no longer work full-time make ends meet. A Social Security law firm helps clients apply for disability benefits and appeal claim denials. Because the denial rate is so high for initial applications, many people hire a lawyer to help them fill out the paperwork and understand the kind of documentation that is necessary for approval.
Categories of Disabilities
The Social Security Administration classifies disabilities into several categories. The agency provides statistics on which disabilities are most common. The most prevalent reason U.S. residents receive these benefits is for disabilities with the musculoskeletal system, as might be expected. Interestingly enough, the second most common is for psychiatric and other mental disorders. This includes illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with circulatory and nervous system diseases also account for a significant percentage of recipients.
Disorders Qualifying for Automatic Approval
Some health conditions qualify for automatic approval after a diagnosis is confirmed by a physician. This is reserved for the most serious health problems, such as metastatic cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly called Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Termination of Benefits
Eventually, the administration may terminate a person’s disability benefits, depending on the circumstances. If the claimant wants to appeal this decision, a Social Security law firm can help.
Sometimes the person made an inadvertent error, such as working too many hours over a certain period of time. This is a red flag for the agency, as it indicates that the person is no longer too disabled to earn a living. In other cases, the administration may want a review of the person’s medical situation, believing that significant improvement should have occurred by now. An organization such as Social Security Law Center can help. People who need assistance may start at the website website.com
Once the recipient reaches full retirement age, disability payments normally end and Social Security retirement benefits begin. Obviously, disability benefits stop if the recipient passes away. The family members cannot have those payments diverted to them, even if they had relied on the money to support the household.
