Leesburg Social Security Disability Attorney
The federal government directs about six cents (6.2 percent) of every dollar you make, as well as every dollar your employer makes, in order to help fund Social Security. While most people know about the Social Security Administration’s retirement pension, another major part of the Social Security Administration’s funds go to people who become disabled. As long as a disabled individual has enough credits though working, they should, in theory, be able to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. However, the process is more complicated than simply ticking all the boxes and filing the necessary paperwork. If you have been denied SSD benefits, the Leesburg Social Security Disability attorneys at the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A. are here to help.
How Many Work Credits Do I Need?
Generally, a disabled worker needs to have earned 40 credits or more to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, and 20 of these credits need to be earned in the past 10 years, ending with the year that you became disabled, according to the Social Security Administration. Currently, for 2020 an individual is awarded one credit for every $1,410 they earn, with a maximum of four credits per year (a total of $5,640 per year). As such, even if you were earning significantly more than $5,640 per year, as most Americans do, you cannot earn more than four credits annually. At a rate of four maximum credits a year, it would take a decade (10 years) to earn enough credits to qualify for disability. However, younger workers may be able to qualify with fewer credits in some cases.
What is a Qualifying Disability?
Let us say you broke your leg in a car crash and now have a permanent limp, even after multiple surgeries were performed. The disability may prevent you from doing certain manual labor jobs, but does it mean that you will automatically qualify for Social Security Disability? The answer is no, not necessarily. In order to qualify for disability, you must:
- Be earning less than $1,260 a month if you are still working;
- Have a disability that significantly limits your “ability to do basic work such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and remembering;”
- Have a disability that lasts at least 12 months; and
- Have a disability that qualifies under the SSA’s list of medical conditions that qualifies you for disability.
Contact a Leesburg Social Security Disability Lawyer Today
Many people who file for SSD benefits are denied because they do not have the proper medical records needed, there are errors in their paperwork, they have their income listed incorrectly, or they are denied for some other reason. To help streamline the process and give yourself the best chance at success, we encourage you to contact the experienced Leesburg Social Security Disability lawyers at the Law Offices of Shea A. Fugate, P.A. If you have already filed and been denied, we can help you appeal the decision so that you are awarded the SSD benefits that you deserve.
