What is Social Security Disability?

Camden, Sumter, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Columbia, and Aiken, South Carolina

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to people who have become disabled and are no longer able to work. The program is managed by the Social Security Administration and distributes benefits to people whose medical condition prevents them from working for 12 months or longer.

The SSDI claims process is highly complicated, and it is common for people with legitimate claims to be unfairly denied by the Social Security Administration. In order to ensure that you receive the benefits to which you are entitled, it is important to work with an experienced attorney. The SSDI attorneys in South Carolina at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates will guide you through the filing process to ensure that your claim goes smoothly.

SSDI Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your condition must last at least 12 months
• You must not be able to earn more than $1000 a month while disabled
• You must have accumulated enough work credits to qualify for the SSDI program – generally, this requires you to have worked consistently and paid Social Security taxes for approximately five to ten years prior to your disability

Calculating your SSDI Benefits

If the Social Security Administration determines that you are eligible to receive SSDI benefits, they will use a complex system to calculate the value of your monthly benefits. Factors used in determining your benefits include:

• Your age
• The number of years you have worked
• Your average earnings while you worked

The more you earned while working jobs that deduct Social Security taxes, the higher your monthly benefits will be. There is no minimum SSDI benefit total. To estimate the amount of money you will receive in monthly SSDI benefits, you can use one of the benefit calculators on the SSA website.

McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates Can Help

There is a tremendous amount of red tape and paperwork involved in filing your SSDI claim. In addition, there are important filing deadlines which must be met to ensure you maintain your eligibility. These factors make it very difficult to receive the benefits to which you are entitled, and in many cases they result in an unfair denial of claims. Our South Carolina SSDI attorneys know the system, and we can help ensure that you receive the benefits you deserve if you qualify for SSDI. Our knowledge of the process can cut through a great deal of the red tape so that you can start receiving the assistance you need as soon as possible.

Please contact us today to schedule your free SSDI consultation. McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates serves clients in Camden, Sumter, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Columbia, and Aiken, South Carolina.