Social Security Disability Attorneys in Wooster, Ohio

The federal government offers Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to Americans who suffer from physical or mental conditions that leave them unable to work. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is also available to disabled individuals who have few or no financial resources.

The two key terms here are “offers” and “available.” Social Security looks for reasons to deny applications for SSDI benefits and SSI payments. Simply documenting a physical and/or mental disability and financial need may not suffice to receive monthly disbursements and ensure access to medical insurance.

Partnering with a Social Security disability attorney can make it easier to fight through multiple appeals. Teaming up with SSDI attorney if it becomes necessary to go to court to secure benefits should be a no-brainer.

Barkan Meizlish, LLP, maintains an office in Wooster to serve residents of northeast Ohio beyond Cleveland. Our Social Security disability attorneys have advised and represented SSDI and SSI applicants from across the United States since 1960, and we welcome each new opportunity to stand up for the most-vulnerable members of society as they take on the Social Security disability program.

Who Can Apply for SSDI Benefits?

People who were born with significant disabilities and/or people who become permanently disabled later in life can apply for Social Security disability benefits.

To qualify, a person must, with few and very specific exceptions,

• Be a U.S. citizen,
• Have paid into the Social Security system or be the child or legal dependent of someone who has paid into Social Security, and
• Suffer from a physical or mental condition that has kept or will keep them out of work for at least 12 months or which is likely to result in death.

A qualifying disability can result from any cause, but it must significantly limit a person’s ability to perform any type of work in the national economy. Work-related injuries or occupational illnesses that keep people off the job for less than a year are most properly handled by private insurance policies and the Ohio workers’ compensation program.

An application for SSDI must include a treatment history, medical information, an employment history, and details on the applicant’s education and training. The Social Security program may also require an applicant to complete a physical or mental assessment that is conducted by a health care provider of the program’s choosing.

Who Might Qualify to Receive SSI?

Supplemental Security Income gets awarded to permanently disabled individuals based on financial need. To qualify for SSI payments, a person must document a permanent physical or mental disability or a fatal condition and  provide information on household income and expenses, investments and savings, and assets, including vehicles and homes.

Disabled individuals often qualify for both SSDI benefits and SSI payments, and applications for both can be submitted at the same time. Consulting a Social Security disability attorney will help you determine whether doing that is appropriate for your situation.

How a Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help You

Applying for Social Security disability Insurance and SSI takes time, and the process often becomes confusing and frustrating. Submitting incomplete forms or leaving out important information will result in a denial of benefits. Collaborating with an experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate SSDI lawyer will ensure that all the necessary records and documents are collected, organized and presented to the Social Security Administration.

If a carefully prepared application gets denied anyway, appealing quickly and supplying exactly the requested additional information is essential. Decades spent untangling the red tape of the SSDI and SSI programs enable us to respond promptly and fully.

Most of all, applying for federal disability benefits and supplemental income while dealing with health problems and tough finances is difficult. Our Social Security disability attorneys work to take as many of the paperwork and bureaucratic burdens off our clients’ shoulders as possible. By assuming many of the tasks that could be left uncompleted, we reduce what can seem like insurmountable challenges to manageable events.

Contact a Social Security Disability or SSI Lawyer

It costs nothing to speak with an experienced and caring SSDI attorney at Barkan Meizlish DeRose Wentz McInerney Peifer, LLP. You can email questions to info@barkanmeizlish.com or connect with us online to set up a FREE CONSULTATION. Also, you can call us in northeastern Ohio at 330-845-4233 or come visit our offices, which are located at 248 N. Walnut Street, Wooster, OH 44691.

OUR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ATTORNEYS

• Susan Waldron
• Mindy Yocum

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