Vineland, NJ Social Security Disability (SSDI) Lawyer

People living with disabilities often have difficulty finding work. As such, they might struggle to maintain an income despite their best efforts. If you cannot work because of a disability, talk to our team about the disability benefits available to you in Vineland.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may be available for people who cannot work because of a disability. New Jersey offers a state program for those with temporary disabilities. If you are permanently disabled, you can get benefits through the federal government. Whether filing through a state or federal program, you can file online. It is best to speak to an attorney about your situation before you begin the application process. Benefits may include a portion of your average wages paid on a weekly basis. How much these benefits are worth and how long they last will depend on your situation. If your application is denied, our team can help you navigate the appeals process and hopefully get your case reconsidered.

For a free evaluation of your case from the Social Security disability lawyers of Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates, call (609) 557-3081.

Who is Eligible for SSDI Benefits in Vineland, NJ?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers various programs designed to assist people with numerous disabilities. For example, Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are for people who are no longer able to earn an income because of a recently diagnosed injury, illness, or disability.

SSDI benefits are meant for people who cannot work because of an injury. More specifically, SSDI is designed for people who were injured in non-work-related accidents, but any disability might still qualify for SSDI. However, complex situations arise if you are getting both Workers’ Compensation and SSDI.

If you are permanently disabled and cannot work, you can file for federal SSDI benefits. Generally, the Social Security Administration requires petitioners to meet two broad criteria for SSDI eligibility. First, you must have worked jobs where you were covered by Social Security. This tends to include most forms of employment. Second, you must show you have a medical condition that adheres to the SSA’s definition of a disability.

The SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that are considered disabilities. The list is long and includes both physical and mental health conditions. For example, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and mental disorders are included in this list, among many other conditions. After reviewing the specifics of your medical condition, our Social Security disability lawyers can check to see if it meets the SSA’s criteria for a covered disability.

According to the SSA, a petitioner’s disability must prevent them from working for at least 12 months for them to be eligible for SSDI benefits in Vineland. When you apply for benefits, we must include details about your medical condition and information from your doctor about how it prevents you from working.

How to Apply for SSDI Benefits in Vineland, NJ

Whether you are applying for SSDI benefits through the SSA or the state program, you can fill out an application online. While this sounds like a simple process, you should know that the application process is an extremely important and delicate step in your eventual approval for benefits. These benefits are not simply handed out to anyone who wants them. Every year, numerous applicants are rejected. Often, people who need benefits are denied because of mistakes in their application.

Before starting the application process, talk to our lawyers who have the experience handling disability benefit cases that is necessary to help you prepare the application. Fortunately, the SSA provides a checklist for people preparing their SSDI applications.

First, we need various bits of personal information. Your name, date and place of birth, marital and family status, military service history, financial situation, and employment information are all required.

Next, we need extensive details about your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work. This should include information about the history of your condition and information about the doctors who have treated you. It is important to be detailed and thorough. If information is lacking or too vague, your application might be denied.

Applications for SSDI benefits can be sent to the SSA online, by mail, or in person at an SSA office. After you apply for benefits in Vineland, you can expect to wait a bit before you hear from an SSA agent. This process can be slow, largely because of the sheer number of applications the SSA needs to process. If and when an SSA agent reaches out to you about your case, they might ask for further information regarding your work history, income, or medical condition. It will be important to provide these details as promptly as possible so that there are no unnecessary delays in approving your claim.

What Happens if I Am Denied SSDI Benefits in Vineland, NJ?

Perhaps you have already submitted an application for SSDI benefits and it was rejected. Now what? While a denial might sound like the end of the road, it is not. You have the right to appeal this decision and argue to have your case reevaluated. Our team can help you through the appeals process.

According to the SSA, you have four chances to appeal the decision. After the initial denial, we can file a request to have the application reconsidered. This often allows the SSA to catch errors that might have been made earlier than caused your application to be denied.

If you are denied benefits again, we can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. At this hearing, you may be able to explain your situation, and the court might decide that your application should have been approved.

If you are still denied, we can request a review of the hearing to determine if the administrative law judge made any mistakes. If you are yet again denied, we can file your case in the federal district court.

When claims are denied and appealed multiple times, applicants are without SSDI payments for too long. Our Social Security disability lawyers can prepare a strong application for benefits so that you do not have to go through unnecessary rejections and appeals, delaying your access to benefits in Vineland.

Waiting Period for SSDI Benefits in Vineland, NJ

Most SSDI applicants are subjected to a mandatory waiting period after being approved for benefits in Vineland. This means that it might be several months after you are deemed eligible before you receive your first check from the Social Security Administration.

When Social Security Disability Insurance applications are approved, a mandatory five-month waiting period follows. This period exists so that the SSA can further confirm that you are eligible for payments. In some cases, applicants can receive benefits immediately. This is possible when applicants have certain disabilities like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

The benefit you get each month will be for the previous month. So, you will get your January benefit in February, and so forth. Because of this, it might be a total of six months before you receive your first SSDI benefit check from the SSA. If you need payment sooner and your disability qualifies you for it, we might be able to get the mandatory five-month waiting period waived in your case.

Substantial Gainful Activity Limits and Trial Work Periods for Social Security Disability in Vineland, NJ

Because your disability should prevent you from supporting yourself and your family, you are not allowed to earn a certain amount in outside income while getting Social Security Disability Insurance benefits in Vineland.

The substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit refers to the amount of income SSDI recipients are permitted to earn each month. In 2024, the SGA limit for blind recipients is $2,590, while the SGA limit for non-blind recipients is $1,550. You must report all earned income to the SSA so that the agency can keep track of your earnings and whether or not you have breached the SGA limit. If you have, your continuing eligibility for SSDI might be called into question.

On top of SGA limits, SSDI recipients also need to be aware of trial work periods (TWPs). These periods exist so that disability benefit recipients can test their ability to return to work. Trial work periods are automatically triggered any time a recipient earns over $1,110 in a month. If you earn more than the TWP limit over nine months in a rolling 60-month period, your SSDI benefits could be revoked in Vineland. Fortunately, there is a grace period after which TWPs are triggered and before benefits are officially canceled, during which our attorneys can prove your continuing eligibility to the SSA.

Payment Dates for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits in Vineland, NJ

Disability payments are sent out according to a pre-determined schedule set by the Social Security Administration. For SSDI benefits, checks are dispersed according to recipients’ birthdays.

SSDI recipients born between the 1st and the 10th will get their checks on the second Wednesday of each month. Recipients born between the 11th and the 20th will get their checks on the third Wednesday of each month. Finally, recipients born between the 21st and the 31st will get their checks on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Some people get SSDI through their parents’ earning records because they do not have sufficient work histories themselves. In these cases, the payment date will follow the parent’s birthday, not the actual recipient’s.

You can get your monthly benefit through mail or direct deposit. If you choose direct deposit, your payment will be sent at midnight on the correct date. If you get your payment by mail, delays might occur from time to time. If your monthly benefit is considerably delayed, inform our attorneys, and we can contact the SSA to iron out the issue.

How Our Lawyers Can Help with Your SSDI Benefits Application in Vineland, NJ

Applying for SSDI benefits is not exactly the same as filing a lawsuit or some kind of legal dispute. Because of this, some people question whether they need an attorney at all for this process.

The truth is, applying for SSDI benefits is not a straightforward process, and applicants are expected to provide a great deal of information they might not necessarily be prepared to give. Our lawyers can help you gather what you need and convey it in your application to maximize your odds of being approved.

Many SSDI applicants are denied over simple mistakes. Perhaps they forgot to attach an important form to their application, or they left out certain medical details about their disability. Our lawyers can help you avoid making any mistakes. On top of that, many people who are denied believe that they are simply out of luck. We can help you file an appeal, so you get the benefits you need.

Ask Our Vineland, NJ Lawyers About Getting Social Security Disability Benefits

Call our Social Security disability lawyers at (609) 557-308 to get a free case assessment from Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates.