Denver SSDI Benefits
Workers in Denver who suffer from a disability that prevents them from continuing to work may be eligible to receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, since the agency applies strict standards for proving that an applicant meets the disability criteria, demonstrating eligibility can sometimes be a challenge.
SSA pays disability benefits under two programs, the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Denver SSDI benefits provide support to disabled employees and, in some situations, to their family members as well. For help recovering benefits, reach out to a dedicated SSDI laywer today.
The Social Security Disability Insurance Program
Most people in Denver are familiar with the retirement benefits provided by SSA. When employees, including self-employed workers, shell out payroll taxes through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), they are effectively investing in programs to pay benefits at a later date. Many employees who have worked at least ten years have paid into the system enough to qualify to receive retirement benefits when they reach the government-specified retirement age.
What these employees may not realize is that their payroll tax contributions also support the Social Security Disability Insurance program. This program operates as a long-term disability insurance plan to provide income benefits to workers when they become unable to work to support themselves and their families.
Since it is an insurance program rather than a government benefit program, only those who have invested sufficiently through payroll taxes are eligible to receive benefits. In addition to work requirements, beneficiaries should also satisfy disability requirements. For more information about the SSDI program, call an experienced attorney.
Establishing Eligibility for SSDI Benefits
It is relatively simple for an applicant to demonstrate that they have paid enough in payroll taxes to qualify for SSDI benefits in Denver. Federal law requires workers to acquire a certain number of work credits in order to qualify. The number needed varies depending on the applicant’s age at the time the disability began. For applicants seeking disability benefits at or near retirement age, the required number of work credits is equal to about ten years of full-time employment. At least five years of this employment should be recent.
Disability Requirements
One of the more complex task with respect to demonstrating eligibility for SSDI benefits in Denver involves satisfying the agency’s requirements to prove that a worker suffers from a qualifying disability. The medical condition causing the disability must be so severe that it renders the applicant unable to work at any gainful occupation, and it must be expected to last at least a year or result in death.
Types of SSDI Benefits Available in Denver
Benefits available to a disabled worker are sometimes referred to as Disability Insurance Benefits. The amount of these benefits is based on the amount of income earned while the employee was paying FICA taxes.
Disability benefits may also be paid to spouses and former spouses of deceased workers under the SSDI program. These benefits are often called Disabled Widows Benefits. SSDI benefits may also be paid to the children of insured workers. These benefits may continue to adulthood if the person receiving benefits suffers a disability before age 22.
Get Professional Help with Denver SSDI Benefits
An experienced attorney may assist with applying for Denver SSDI benefits. A knowledgeable lawyer may also provide advice regarding eligibility or help with appeals in situations where SSDI benefits have been denied.
Applicants in Denver should be aware that SSA also pays disability benefits through programs that are not supported by dedicated payroll taxes. Disabled individuals who have not worked enough to establish eligibility for SSDI may qualify to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. Contact a legal professional to learn more.
