Social Security Disability Attorney in Myrtle Beach

At Morgan and Morgan, we help Myrtle Beach residents pursue the SSD benefits they need. Here is our process. 

Provide you with information about the benefits you may be entitled to receive - The entire process for applying for SSD benefits is extensive and complex. There are two programs the SSA offers people with disabling conditions. SSD and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSD is for people who have worked and paid in the SSD system and is not income-related. On the other hand, SSI is a needs-based program that pays benefits to disabled people with limited income and available resources. You may be eligible for both SSI and SSD, depending on your unique circumstances. 

Extensive experience in handling these claims - Through our extensive experience with claims like these, we understand the process inside and out, which significantly helps our clients. We work to present your case in a light where your disability is clearly understood. We work to ensure you have the medical evidence necessary to make a successful claim. We help our clients understand the Blue Book or the Listing of Impairments which is the criteria the SSA lays out for eligibility. We will assist you in every step of the process to grant you the best chance of securing benefits. 

With our experience, we've gained useful insight into how to navigate the application and appeals process as we do it regularly. Through experience comes good professional relationships within the system. When you have many SSI and SSD clients, you tend to see agency employees and administrative law judges frequently, which can be beneficial to new clients, as these professionals come to trust us. We know what it takes for a successful claim. 

Most SSD and SSI applications are denied initially - It's a frustrating process. The lion's share of applicants is turned down. That's where we can help to make sure your application is filled out correctly and you provide the proper medical evidence on your first try or on appeal if you've already been turned down. 

Don't let technical mistakes be why your claim is rejected - Some claims are denied simply because of technical errors, not because you don't fit the disabled condition criteria. We can guide you in the claims process to ensure you're not turned down because of an error in your application. 

Appeal representation - Should you be denied, our SSD/SSI lawyers can represent you on appeal. Before the hearing proceedings, we will work with your doctor to gain the medical evidence that can secure your benefits and prepare you to answer questions the judge may ask. We will counsel you on how to present your disability so the judge understands it thoroughly. 

When you apply for disability benefits, the SSA will evaluate your disability based upon what is known as the Blue Book. Suppose you have a disability that you believe prevents you from working and therefore entitles you to benefits. In that case, there is a list of criteria that you must meet. Both physical and mental disabilities can make you eligible for SSDI benefits.

There are two parts in the Blue Book, Part A and Part B. Part A governs disabilities for adults, while Part B governs minor children. There are thousands of disabilities that could affect an individual's ability to work, so it's impossible to list them all. Medical evidence such as MRIs, X-rays, and psychological tests are often requirements. However, for conditions that cannot be measured through these means, the SSA will look at medical chart notes from your physician. We can work with you to choose which Blue Book listing best describes your disability based on the evidence.

Sometimes, a claimant may have cumulative conditions that would meet a Blue Book listing, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and frequent migraines. All of these ailments together could be judged to be equivalent to a Blue Book listing. 

To qualify for SSD benefits, you must have 40 work credits. Work credits are earned throughout your work history. When you work, you pay FICA taxes which go into the Social Security System. Workers can earn a maximum of four work credits per year. However, the amount will depend on how much you work and earn. As of 2021, the requirement for a worker to earn one work credit is to have earned $1,510.

Twenty of those credits have to have been earned in the last ten years. If you qualify for SSD, your spouse and children may be eligible for up to one-half of your disability amount. Survivor benefits could also be paid to a surviving spouse and children. Our SSD lawyers can help you understand which benefits you may be eligible to receive. 

SSI is a federal program for people who have disabilities, are blind, or are over 65, and have low income and few resources. Individuals who qualify for SSI may automatically qualify for SCDHHS health coverage. 

To be eligible for SSI, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible alien and have a disability that meets SSA standards or is 65 years or older and have low income and limited resources. To qualify for SSI benefits, it is not required that you have earned work credits.

SSI eligibility puts a stringent limit on how much money you can have. Individuals may not have more than $2000 in resources or $3000 for couples. However, the home in which you reside or your vehicle does not count toward those resources. Suppose an individual's disability begins before the age of 26. In that case, you are allowed to open an ABLE account where you can save up to $100,000 and not have it counted against SSI.

SSI benefits are available as long as you remain disabled and meet income and resource limitations. The SSA will check to see if you still meet the requirements from time to time.  

When looking at your income, SSA will decide if you qualify and for how much. They look at earned income and unearned income such as SSDI, VA benefits, and workers' compensation. Generally speaking, you may be better off working while collecting SSI benefits if you are able because they don't count all of your income against your benefits. Our SSDI lawyers will be able to explain this further during a consultation. 

How to Apply for Disability Benefits in South Carolina

Social Security Disability benefits are through the federal government agency known as the SSA. However, there can be slight differences in the likelihood of being approved and other state supplementation such as SCDHHS.

There are three ways to apply for SSDI in Myrtle Beach:

Online: https://www.ssa.gov/
Call: 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM., Monday through Friday or the TTY number at 1-800-325-0778
In-person: Apply in person at the closest Myrtle Beach Social Security Office located at 611 Burroughs and Chapin Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

Generally, people will contact a Social Security Disability lawyer when they have been denied benefits. However, you can get in touch with a Morgan and Morgan SSDI lawyer at any time to avoid having to go through an appeal that draws out the time in which you will not be receiving benefits. We understand the level of evidence that is required for a successful claim and know the application process like the back of our hands. 

Hiring an attorney to help you through the appeals process is recommended if you have already been denied. We can help you put together a case using reliable evidence that will showcase in a coherent manner how your condition prevents you from working or how your resource limitations require access to SSI benefits. 

For SSD, we'll need to show how you paid into the system as well as demonstrate your disability to stand up to the scrutiny of the SSA. This process can be complex and overwhelming on your own. With our help, we can take the burden off your shoulders and de-stress the entire situation. It can be very beneficial from an emotional standpoint to have the surety of professional guidance. 

If you're called to a hearing, this will require your physical presence, and we know this can be a stressful situation for disabled people to handle on their own. Saying the wrong thing or not understanding how to communicate your disability adequately to the judge can hurt your chances of a rewarding hearing. For example, a judge may ask you about your ability to pick up your toddler. However, just because you're able to pick your child up to care for them doesn't mean you would be capable of picking up heavy trays and standing hours at a time working as wait staff in a restaurant. We can coach you on how to answer these questions honestly, but in a light that will make it, so the judge understands your disabilities. 

At Morgan and Morgan, we understand how crucial it is that disabled people receive disability benefits to maintain their financial future. Speaking with an attorney is at no cost to you, so please contact us today for a free case evaluation. The sooner we start, the sooner you can get the financial help you need.