Would you like to know if you qualify for disability benefits under SSDI law in Milwaukee? The best way to find out is to discuss your situation with an SSDI insurance attorney. As the attorney will explain, the following three categories of Milwaukee, WI residents can benefit from SSDI coverage and collect SSDI benefits:
- Insured workers who become disabled before turning the full retirement age
- Individuals whose disability set in before turning 22 years of age and who depend on a parent receiving retirement or title II disability benefits or who were dependents of deceased insured parents.
- Disables widows or widowers aged between 50 and 60 years of age whose deceased spouses had Social Security Insurance Coverage.
In order to collect SSDI benefits, Milwaukee applicants have to meet several requirements, both medical and non-medical ones, briefly reviewed in the following lines.
Medical Requirements Applicants Have to Meet under SSDI Law in Milwaukee, WI
The main condition SSDI applicants have to meet is to suffer from a physical or mental “medically determinable impairment” that leads to considerable functional limitations and prevents them from engaging in substantial gainful activities.
The disability should result from physiological, anatomical, or psychological abnormalities, and the applicant should be able to prove it through standard laboratory and clinical diagnostic techniques. The medical report should include a clear diagnosis, not only symptoms.
The disability should last for at least 12 months. The Social Security Administration provides a clear but non-exhaustive list of impairments and medical criteria they use as support when evaluating SSDI claims. The list includes:
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Speech and senses impairments
- Respiratory conditions
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Digestive system conditions
- Genitourinary disorders
- Skin conditions
- Hematological disorders
- Congenital disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- Mental disorders
- Neurological conditions
- Immune system diseases
- Cancer
- Birth and growth deficiencies (for children and applicants under 18 years of age only)
Applicants will have to support their claim with complete and conclusive medical reports, showing not only how the impairment occurred and how severe it is, but also that they followed their doctor’s recommendations. They will have to meet a series of non-medical requirements.
Non-Medical Requirements Applicants Have to Meet under SSDI Law in Milwaukee, WI
Perhaps the most important non-medical requirement applicants have to meet refers to SSDI credits. Under SSDI law, all workers earn SSDI credit, one credit for every $1,320 (according to 2018 criteria), and maximum four credits annually.
In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, applicants must have earned the minimum number of credits for their age category. The credit requirements range from six credits acquired throughout the three years before their disability sets in for applicants of up to 24 years of age to 28 credits for applicants over 50 years of age.
Another important requirement refers to the applicant’s income. It cannot exceed the limit the Social Security Administration sets every year for substantial gainful activity. For 2018, they have established the limit at $1,970 for blind applicants and $1,180 for the other categories. Those who earn more than the specified limits will not qualify for SSDI benefits.
The Importance of Requesting an SSDI Benefits Claim Evaluation from a Milwaukee SSDI Insurance Lawyer
Unfortunately, only one-third of Milwaukee SSDI claims are successful. Many claims receive a negative verdict due to one or several of the following considerations:
- The applicant could not be reached to answer questions or provide additional documents or clarifications
- The applicant’s disability is directly connected to the continuing abuse of drugs or alcohol
- The applicant incurred the disabling injury or developed the disability in prison while serving a criminal sentence, or while committing a felony for which they were later convicted
Since the SSDI claim process can take several months in which the applicant has low or no income, it is in their best interest to make sure their claim is thoroughly documented and will be approved from the beginning.
Claim denials are not the end of the world since claimants have several appeal options available. However, appeals take time and money most applicants do not have. The best way to ensure your claim is approved and avoid having to file an appeal is to work with a Milwaukee SSDI insurance lawyer.
Reach Out to a Milwaukee, Wisconsin SSDI Lawyer Today
At Tabak Law, we have been evaluating SSDI claims and helping applicants understand SSDI benefits coverage and obtain the benefits they deserve for years. We can help you too. Schedule a FREE consultation with our Milwaukee lawyer now by calling 844-432-0114, and let them explain SSDI law and help you benefit from its stipulations!