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Are you having trouble filing for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits? Has your case been denied or slowed by long delays? North Carolina residents can turn to our firm for help. A Morganton Social Security Disability lawyer from our team understands the complexities of filing Social Security Disability claims.
Filing a claim can be both time-consuming and confusing. Receiving a denial can lead to additional complications. When added to the challenges you already face due to your disability, your situation can become much more difficult. Our North Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyer team wants to make the process easier and help you receive benefits as soon as possible.
Getting Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim
Types of Social Security Disability
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income
- Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits
- Disabled Widow or Widower (DWB) Benefits
Applying for Social Security Disability in North Carolina
- The Appeals Process
- Other Benefits
North Carolina Social Security Disability Benefit Process
Contact Us to Get Started on Your Case
Getting Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we understand the difficulties and challenges individuals experience when dealing with a disability and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Our team of Morganton Social Security Disability lawyers is available now to help.
It is our mission to alleviate your worries by managing your entire case on your behalf, giving you the chance to focus on other matters as we fight for your rights. We assist you throughout the claims process by:
- Examining your medical history and records to determine how your condition can qualify you for benefits
- Collecting all documentation, as well as any other evidence, that shows how your disability has impacted your life and ability to work
- Compiling all paperwork that filing a claim requires
- Serving as an intermediary between you and the other interested parties
- Filing your claim in a timely and proper manner
- Filing an appeal, if your claim has already been denied
In addition to providing the respect and compassion families need, our team also pursues the benefits to which dependents are entitled. Our clients appreciate the care and attentiveness with which we treat them. Lavonda, whose Social Security Disability case we handled, was happy that she “could always get through” to her lawyer when she needed additional assistance.
Types of Social Security Disability
Before beginning the process, you can discuss your options with a member of our team. During that conversation, we go into detail regarding the different types of Social Security Disability benefits that are available. They include the following.
Social Security Disability Insurance
This type of benefit covers millions of Americans who have a verifiable work history and now have a disability. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), you can qualify for these benefits by:
- Working for at least ten years in a qualifying position (i.e., one that required you to pay into Social Security)
- Receiving a diagnosis of a qualifying disability
- Proving that your disability prevents you from working for at least a year and/or will probably be fatal
It is sometimes possible for dependents, including children and spouses, to collect benefits as well.
Supplemental Security Income
You do not necessarily have to have a disability to qualify for SSI. Older Americans – those over retirement age – may also be entitled to such benefits, regardless of disability status, if they meet other criteria. These, per the SSA, include:
- Having limited means to bring in regular income
- Having limited or no other resources, such as real estate or other benefits, to rely on
- Having a child who is seriously disabled and unable to support themselves
Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits
If you first developed your disability between the ages of 18 and 22, you might be eligible for benefits if one of your parents is currently receiving Social Security retirement or Social Security Disability benefits, or if they are deceased.
Disabled Widow or Widower (DWB) Benefits
Widows or widowers are eligible to receive these benefits if they are over 50 years old and develop a disability within seven years of their covered spouse’s death. However, to receive these benefits, the widow or widower must have been married to the deceased for at least ten years.
Applying for Social Security Disability in North Carolina
If you have an injury or illness that keeps you from working, you can file a claim for Social Security Disability benefits. Qualifying disabilities include but are not limited to:
- Arthritis
- Chronic heart disease
- Cancer
- Asthma
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic liver disease
- Congenital disorders, including Down syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Blindness can also entitle you to benefits.
It is a good idea to start your claim as soon as the injury results in a disability. This way, it is easier to prove that your disability occurred when you say it did, and you may receive benefits sooner.
The Appeals Process
If your claim is denied, do not panic: this is upsetting, but it does not have to mean the end for your claim. You have four chances to appeal your claim and get a new judgment by following these steps:
- Seek a reconsideration from an administrator who has not viewed your case before
- Request a hearing to take place at your local hearing office
- Ask that the Appeals Council review your case and issue a new decision
- Take civil action by submitting your case to Federal Court
Our team of Social Security Disability lawyers can help you navigate the submission and appeals process from beginning to end. We work with you by handling all paperwork necessary for submission to Disability Determination Services and other organizations. We are also available to answer any questions you have throughout the process.
Other Benefits
Under some circumstances, those filing a claim may also qualify for – or already receive – benefits from other U.S. government agencies. If this is the case for you, we can help you figure out how it affects your Social Security Disability claim and what combination of benefits may help your family the most.
The Social Security Disability Benefit Process
Before submitting an application, you must collect enough evidence to prove that you meet the SSA’s qualifications. We can help you pull together materials pertaining to:
- Medical history
- Current medical condition
- Work history
- Relationship history (e.g., if you are seeking DWB benefits, you must prove you were married to the decedent)
- Citizenship status
You can apply for Social Security Disability benefits in North Carolina in three different ways. You can:
- Speak to someone from the Social Security Administration over the phone
- Visit your local Social Security office
- Visit the Social Security Administration’s official website (though only certain types of applicants are allowed to submit a claim online)
Once your application meets eligibility requirements regarding work history and income level, the office sends your application to the state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) agency. This agency, which operates under the Department of Health and Human Services, determines whether or not you have a qualifying medical disability.
Contact Us to Get Started on Your Case
If you or a loved one suffered an injury or illness that resulted in a disability, we want to help. Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC for a free case evaluation today. You can reach our Morganton office at (828) 438-8418. A Social Security Disability lawyer from our firm can help you file your claim and even appeal a denial on your behalf.
