Many people do not understand that they do have an option when their initial Social Security claim is denied by the SSA. Actually, almost all cases are approved through the appeals process which establishes the case facts concerning the applicant’s ability to maintain substantive gainful employment. Disability approval is actually a claim of inability to earn a living due to a specific medical issue or a combination of medical issues that impact each other impeding the ability to work. Some claims can be approved in a short process while others can take an extended amount of time for approval. This means the next step after a disability denial is retaining an experienced Social Security disability attorney among the many SSD lawyers in North Carolina.

Your Social Security disability lawyer will understand what the agency needs for approving a claim and move immediately to assemble all pertinent official medical records, including physician diagnosis and prognosis as well as any official testing reports. The SSA is diligent about issuing disability rulings because they are often permanent status determinations, and it commonly takes solid representation for claim approval.

Program Eligibility

There are two government programs that apply to disabled Americans in need of income who cannot maintain employment. One is SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance, which is determined by the earnings and taxation records of the applicant. Each applicant must have sufficient Social Security credits to receive SSDI after approval. SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is available for those that meet certain medical requirements that will last at least one calendar year and have a limited amount of personal assets. Both SSDI and SSI are evaluated by the same disability criteria, but SSA handles SSDI accounts and SSI accounts are overseen and approved by the state of residence for the applicant.