Get Support Seeking Social Security Disability to Steady Your Life
Losing your job in Indiana because of health problems leaves you frustrated, exhausted, and just plain worried about what comes next.
Against an uneasy future, Social Security Disability benefits are a balm.
Benefits provide predictable monthly checks that help relieve the strain of daily expenses. They also come with access to Medicare or Medicaid.
But you don’t just get these benefits by asking for them. There is a rigorous application process, and Social Security doesn’t make it easy. You will have to dive deep into information about your medical condition, work history and earnings record.
The forms you have to fill out can be confusing, and they differ depending on your situation. Make one mistake, and Social Security can turn you away.
You certainly can travel this path on your own, but you don’t have to. A skilled disability lawyer can help you apply for disability in Indiana and give you the best possible chance of approval.
Your disability lawyer in Indiana will know the common errors people make and how to avoid them. They can examine your case and help you make the best decisions at the right times.
They provide that extra level of comfort that you’re not missing out on an opportunity to stabilize your life at a trying time.
Social Security Disability benefits help hundreds of thousands of people in Indiana focus on what’s most important: managing their health.
At Nash Disability Law, our disability attorneys for Indiana have been supporting hardworking Hoosiers for 40 years, from Hammond and Gary and across the state.
When you’re ready to apply for Social Security Disability in Indiana, talk to us. There’s no free for a disability attorney until you win benefits.
How Applying for Social Security Disability Works in Indiana
Indiana is a solid middle class state full of hardworking people. Its lower cost of living and high homeownership makes it a stable place to live and raise a family. But no one is immune to health problems. When they strike, you have options.
Social Security maintains two basic programs for people with impairments that keep them from working:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is there for people who have worked long and recently enough and paid enough in Social Security taxes to earn a monthly benefit when their health takes a bad turn.
Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) is there for people who have had lifelong struggles being able to work, haven’t worked in a long time, and don’t have financial resources to support themselves without help.
For either program, you must determine if you meet Social Security’s definition of “disabled.” The program doesn’t award benefits because you’re sick. It only deems you to have a qualifying condition if you can’t work at a job—any job—for at least 12 consecutive months.
To prove you qualify, you must gather a lot of evidence. That starts with your work history.
If you have earned enough Social Security work credits—you can get up to four per year that you’re employed—then SSDI is available. If you haven’t worked or worked very little and don’t have other sources of financial support, SSI may be right for you.
The next step is looking at your medical history. Social Security keeps a “blue book” of qualified impairments.
If yours appears on it, you can use that in your application for disability benefits. If your condition isn’t there, don’t give up. Social Security also grants benefits if you can show that the combination of your health problems makes you unable to work on a consistent and reliable basis.
As you can see, there are a lot of nuances, and every case is unique.
The Indiana disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law know how to sift through the red tape and build a strong case based on your situation.
If you live in Indiana, you can get a free disability benefits application consultation with us.
Patience is Key when Dealing with Social Security Disability Applications in Indiana
If a serious health problem has stopped you from working, you should apply for Social Security Disability benefits immediately.
In Indiana, just like anywhere else, time is a critical factor—the sooner you apply, the sooner your potential payments can begin.
Social Security is a large federal system, and the wheels turn slowly.
Initial Decision: Waiting for a decision letter on your first application can take several months in Indiana.
Appeals: If your initial claim is denied, the appeals process is also long. You could be facing a year or even longer to get through the reconsideration process, and if that is denied, to schedule a hearing with an Indiana disability judge.
Social Security also has a built-in waiting period, not paying benefits for the first five months after they officially decide that your disability began. This is called the mandatory waiting period.
Because of that mandatory waiting period and the long process that follows, every day you delay your application can add more time between your last paycheck and your first vital monthly benefit payment. Apply for benefits as soon as you realize you can’t work.
You have enough to worry about with your health, so don’t let the complex application process add to your stress.
Give yourself the best possible chance to win the benefits you deserve. The experienced disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law have successfully helped thousands of individuals who were once in your exact position.
We know the common pitfalls and processing delays that can slow down disability claims in Indiana’s review offices and hearing locations.
Let us handle the complexity and clear your path to financial stability.