Flint Social Security Disability Attorneys

SSDI Representation in Michigan that You Can Trust

Are you considering filing for social security disability? If so, you should consider obtaining legal representation to help you throughout your case. At Steele & Ferguson, we are proud to have more than 60 years of combined experience in providing outstanding representation to our clients using our skills and knowledge of the social security disability system to your advantage. Having a lawyer on your side can improve your chances of being approved for disability and, in case your claim is denied, we can represent you throughout the appeals process.

Our SSDI Lawyers Can Help You

Our office is fully equipped with skilled legal professionals that can guide you throughout the application process.

Am I Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?

To qualify for social security disability benefits, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have worked in a job covered by social security for a certain amount of time
• You must have paid social security taxes during your employment
• You must have a disability that meets the requirements set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA)

The Social Security Administration has very strict eligibility criteria for disability benefits. First, you must be able to prove that your disability is permanent in nature, meaning that it will last for one year or it is a terminal disability. Next, the SSA must determine that your disability prevents you from engaging in "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) on your own behalf and that you cannot continue to do the work you did prior to your disability. Finally, the SSA must determine that your condition prevents you from finding alternative employment due to either your disability itself, your age, or educational requirements.

Meeting these requirements can be challenging and can potentially take weeks or months of back-and-forth correspondence with the SSA before a decision is reached. For this reason, it is important you keep detailed medical records that prove the severity of your disability and work with a trained attorney to maximize your chances of success.

Social Security FAQ:

Q. How long after a disability hearing do you get an answer?

After a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge you can usually expect to receive an answer within 2-3 months. However, there is no set deadline for the ALJ to deliver a decision, so the actual wait time could be longer or shorter.

Q. Can you collect disability and unemployment at the same time?

Nowhere does the law say that you cannot collect both disability and unemployment; however, this would be a very unusual circumstance because both types of benefits generally exclude the other because of their requirements. For example, to collect Social Security disability benefits, you must be unable to work. To collect unemployment benefits you must be willing and able to work but unable to find employment. However, there are certainly exceptions to these scenarios in which someone may be able to collect benefits for both.

Schedule Your Case Review Today

The moment that you consider filing for social security disability insurance, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule a consultation with our team. Having a practiced social security disability lawyer on your side can grant you peace of mind when you submit your application, and help keep you confident that you can fight an appeal should your SSDI claim be denied. We are confident in our ability to represent you and we encourage all injured individuals to seek our legal professional assistance before undertaking the social security disability system.

• Related Reading: Workers' Comp FAQ