SSI and How It Affects You

If you have a disability, you could be eligible for a program handled by the Social Security Administration. SSI benefits are paid through the United StatesTreasury general funds and are typically restricted to those that have low income and few resources.  

Children that are blind or disabled may also receive SSI benefits.  The standard level of benefits are identical across the country, however, many states will add money to the basic benefit.  At Kassin & Carrow, we want to enable you to obtain the maximum benefit possible. 

Receiving SSI will depend on things like your earnings and resources.  Wages, Social Security benefits and pensions all count as earnings.  Furthermore, food and shelter benefits may count as earnings. If you're married, a part of your spouse's earnings and resources may be considered. If you're a student, a number of the wages and/or scholarships may not count.

If you're blind, Social Security doesn't count wages that you apply to work expenses.  For instance - making use of wages to cover transportation to work and back aren't looked at as income. Also, some of the income you use for training or buying items required to work might not count.

With regards to resources, or items that you possess, Social Security will look at things such as real estate, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and cash.  If your resources are worth no more than $2,000, you might be capable of getting SSI.  For couples, the resources can be worth a maximum of $3,000.
Social Security does not count everything you possess.

Items that commonly are not considered are:

•   Life insurance policies with face value lower than or equivalent to $1,500
•   Your vehicle in most instances
•   Burial plots for  both you and members of your immediate family
•   Burial funds as much as $1,500 for yourself and $1,500 for your spouse
•   Your residential home you reside in as well as the property it's on

You might also be eligible for SSI benefits:

•   If you are living in a public institute while going to authorized job or educational training
•   If you reside in a community emergency shelter allocated for the homeless
•   If you reside in a private or public institution and over fifty percent of the expense of your care is paid by Medicaid
•   If you are living in a public community residence serving a maximum of sixteen people

Whenever we formally make an application for benefits and to process your application quickly, we'll require:


•   Your Social Security number
•   Information about your house - mortgage, lease, and landlord's name
•   Birth record or other proof or your age
•   Payroll stubs, insurance policies, bank statements/records, and additional information regarding income and resources
•   We'll have to have the names, address, and phone number of physicians, hospitals, and clinics that have treated you
•   Proof of citizenship in the United States or qualified noncitizen status
Kassin & Carrow is here to help you each step of the way. Keep in mind, you won't ever pay a fee unless we win your case.

How is Disability Determined?

Disability is determined via a process known as Sequential Evaluation, which is explained below:

·         •   Are you employed? If you're employed and your gross earnings are over $1,010.00 in a typical month, you usually won't be regarded as disabled. If you aren't employed or your gross earnings are lower than $1,010.00 in a typical month as a result of a medical condition, then SSA will go to the next concern.

·         •   Is your condition “Severe”? Your condition needs to hinder basic job associated tasks for your claim to be considered. If your condition isn't severe, then SSA won't find you disabled. If your condition is severe, then SSA will go to the next question.

·         •   Is your condition foundwithin the selection of disabling impairments? The regulations list impairments for every one of the major body systems that are so severe that they immediately indicate that you're disabled. If your condition isn't in the list, then SSA must determine if it's of equivalent seriousness to an impairment on the list. If your condition satisfies or equates to one of the mentioned impairments, then SSA will find that you're disabled. If your condition doesn't satisfy or equate to one of the listed impairments, then SSA will go to the next matter.

·         •   Are you able to carry out thework you did previously? If your condition is severe, but not at the same or equal seriousness as a condition on the list, then SSA must determine whether the condition disrupts your capability to complete the work that you did previously or not. If your condition doesn't stop you from doing your past work, then SSA won't find you disabled. If your condition keeps you from doing your past work, then SSA will go to the next concern.

·         •   Could you do any other kindof work? If you are unable to do the task that you did in the past, then SSA decides if you can adapt to other work. SSA considers your medical conditions, your age, education, previous work experience and any transferable abilities that you might have obtained. If you're able to adapt to other work, then SSA won't find you disabled. If you can't adapt to other work, then SSA will find you disabled.

What Can An Attorney Do For You?

Social Security guidelines for assessing disability and your work history are particularly technical and complex. Social Security doesn't require an individual to be represented by an attorney.  Nevertheless, the government’s own data shows that benefits are granted much more commonly to claimants with attorneys compared to those who decided to manage their claims without the help of an attorney.
Moreover, the hearing before an administrative law judge is considered to be a legal proceeding.

Each case is unique. The role of an attorney is dependent upon the specific details of each case. Attorneys in Social Security Disability cases do far more than sit in a hearing and ask a few questions. Much pre-hearing preparation, analysis and evidence gathering go into sufficient representation for each case.

As your attorney, some of the things we may do are:
•       Collect medical or other evidence
•       Give a comprehensive assessment and explanation of your claim
•       Acquire documents from your SocialSecurity Disability file
•       Request that prior application for benefits be reopened
•       Speak to your physician to secure a report in accordance with Social Security rules
•       Help you prepare to testify at the hearing
•       Present an opening or closing statement at the hearing
•       Petition for prompt appeals to proper level of appeal
•       Seek waiver of time limit
•       Ensure that you get the appropriate amount of benefits if approved