Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income Attorneys Serving Milwaukee
Waukesha, Wisconsin, SSD and SSI Claim Lawyers
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers disability benefit programs that can provide necessary financial assistance to individuals who qualify. If you are suffering from a serious disability or illness that renders you from earning income, you may be eligible for monthly income benefits.
At D'Angelo & Jones, LLP, our Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income attorneys serve Milwaukee, Waukesha and surrounding communities. We provide clients with experienced advice and representation in cases involving Social Security benefits.
SSDI or SSI: Am I Entitled to Disability Benefits?
There are two types of disability benefits that individuals can apply for: Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI): Applicants requesting SSDI benefits must convince the Social Security Administration that they are disabled. To qualify to receive SSDI benefits, the applicant also must have accumulated the necessary amount of work credits. Usually, a person will have earned enough work credits if he or she has worked consistently and have worked a minimum of five of the last 10 years before becoming disabled. Essentially, whether you qualify for payments, and the size of your SSDI payments, will depend upon what you have paid into the system (through regular payroll tax deductions).
Contrary to popular belief, you can still be employed and earn SSDI benefits. In fact, you can earn up to $1,000 per month in gross income and still qualify to receive SSDI payments.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Like SSDI, SSI requires a showing that you are disabled. However, unlike SSDI, SSI is needs-based government assistance that does not depend upon an applicant’s work history. The reason for this is that SSI is funded by general tax revenues, unlike SSDI, which is funded primarily by the Social Security tax.
To qualify for SSI, applicants must either be over the age of 65, legally blind or disabled. Additionally, SSI applicants must have less than $2,000 in total assets, or $3,000 if they are married, in order to qualify for disability benefits. Assets include not only an applicant’s income but also his or her resources such as stock, retirement accounts, savings and real estate.
As with SSDI, you can work while receiving SSI payments, but how much you earn may affect the amount of your monthly payment. The maximum monthly SSI payments are updated annually based upon cost of living and can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/SSI.html.
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Experienced Social Security Law Attorneys in Waukesha
At the small, AV-rated* law firm of D'Angelo & Jones, we provide clients with the personalized legal counsel and aggressive advocacy that is necessary. Put the experience of our Social Security Disability law attorneys on your side. If you have questions about filing an application for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income, or if your claim has been denied, contact us to schedule a free one-half hour consultation with a knowledgeable disability benefits lawyer. We serve clients throughout the Waukesha and Milwaukee area.
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Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.