Social Security Disability
Fight For Your Social Security and Disability Claim Now
The Law Office of Douglas M. Engell
handles appeals at all levels of the Social Security application process. The first consultation is free of charge, and attorney's fees are not collected unless benefits are awarded. We will assist you with completing standard Social Security questionnaires. My staff will also obtain your doctors' records, as well as reports and interrogatories. Additionally, my staff will keep your claim running smoothly and will regularly check the status of your claim to be sure it is being processed properly. They are able to quickly and knowledgeably answer your questions. We have shown thousands of disabled persons how to win their Social Security and SSI claims, and look forward to helping you with your case.
Attorneys representing Social Security Disability claimants are members of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) and the Fifth Circuit Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (FOSSCR). Mr. Engell attends at least 15 hours of Continuing Legal Education courses every year to keep up with the changing regulations regarding disability law.
Filing for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income is a difficult, frustrating, and complicated process. We have been involved in this area of law for many years and will guide you every step of the way. To help you understand what is involved in obtaining these benefits, here are the various stages:
Types of Claims:
Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB)
You are eligible for these benefits only if you have paid a certain amount of Social Security tax (the FICA deduction on your paycheck) over a recent period of time, about five out of the last 10 years before you became totally disabled. In some cases, your spouse and dependent children may also get benefits in addition to your own.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI eligibility is not dependent on whether a person has paid in enough Social Security tax to get benefits. This benefit is based on financial need.
Criteria:
You must be disabled under the same rules as for disability insurance.
- Or you must be blind.
- Or you must be over 65.
- Some children 18 or younger with a severe disability can get a monthly benefit if their family income is low enough.
- In addition to ensuring that you meet the criteria above, Social Security will look at all other income and property in the household you live in, not just your own, and also the value of any support (like free room and board) you may get from others to determine if you meet the financial need requirement.
Disability Widow/Widower Benefits (DWB)
This is a special disability benefit for certain widows and widowers, based on the Social Security tax paid by the deceased spouse. In order to qualify, you must be between the ages of 50 and 60 and have been married for at least 10 years to the person who was covered under Social Security at the time of his or her death. Also, you must have proof that your disability was severe enough to meet these rules within seven years of your spouse's death, with some exceptions for those already receiving other kinds of Social Security benefits. If you are awarded DWB benefits, your monthly rate is determined by your spouse's income and Social Security tax payments. However, a surviving spouse's pension can usually be paid at the age of 60, regardless of any disability.
Disabled Adult Child Benefits (DAC)
In order to be eligible, you must be a child of a person who is already receiving disability insurance benefits or retirement benefits or who died while covered for Social Security. You must be at least 19 years old, and you must prove your total disability began before the month you turned age 22 and is continuing. The monthly benefit rate is based on a percentage of your parent's rate. Therefore, it is different in each particular case.
Need Help With Filing Your Social Security Claim?
Maybe you are wondering how long the appeal process will take? Check out our Social Security FAQs
to find more helpful information on the social security disability process today.