If you’re struggling with health and financial problems in Traverse City, the local disability lawyers at Levine Benjamin Law Firm can help you regain financial control.
Muskegon Disability Lawyer
Muskegon is full of people who work hard in so many different industries, from food processing to the aerospace and defense sectors.
No matter what kind of job you do in Muskegon, you deserve a financial lifeline when you develop work-stopping health problems. Social Security Disability benefits should be that lifeline, but actually getting approved is an uphill battle.
If you have health issues that prevent you from working, don’t try to make your case to Social Security on your own. Let a Muskegon disability lawyer help you.
The disability attorneys of the Levine Benjamin Law Firm have been helping Michiganders apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for decades.
We’re the top disability law firm in Michigan according to Social Security numbers on firms winning the most benefits for clients.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) makes this process challenging, but we’re there to support you every step of the way:
In Muskegon and West Michigan, we can help you determine what kind of disability benefits you can qualify for.
We’ll assist you with your application and all those forms you need to fill out.
We’re ready to request an appeal if your disability claim gets denied.
Don’t try to make your case for SSDI or SSI benefits on your own. Work with the experienced Levine Benjamin team.
You won’t pay an attorney’s fee until you win benefits.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?
Qualifying for Social Security Disability in Muskegon
When you seek disability benefits, Social Security is going to have a few questions that they want you to answer:
- Are you working?
If you’re able to work and support yourself, you’re not going to qualify for disability benefits. Even if you’re just working part-time, you need to be careful with your application because a claims examiner might think you can work more and don’t need benefits.
- Do you have a condition listed in Social Security’s “blue book”?
Social Security keeps a listing of impairments and particular ways of evaluating claims relating to those diseases. If you can find your health issue on Social Security’s website, you’ll see the specific criteria for your type of disability claim.
If you don’t see your health problem mentioned, don’t get too worried. You can still qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security will measure your “residual functional capacity” (RFC) to determine what you can do despite any physical or mental limitations your health issues impose on you.
- Can you do your past work?
You’ll have to show that you can’t do any of your recent jobs when you apply for disability. Social Security will look at “past relevant work” to determine if you can still do the types of jobs you did before you developed health problems.
- Can you perform any work at all?
Just being unable to do your past work isn’t enough. A claims examiner wants to see if you can do any work at all.
You’ll have to be clear about your physical and mental limitations. Our Michigan disability lawyers can help you tell your story.
- How long will your condition last?
SSDI and SSI benefits aren’t for people who just need to take a few months off from work. You need to show that your health issues that rule out working will last 12 months or more.
Be ready to answer these questions and back up your disability claim with evidence. Our Muskegon disability attorneys can help.
What Kinds of Disability Benefits Are Available to Me in Muskegon?
Those are the basic qualifications, but before you apply for disability benefits you should know that Social Security actually runs two different disability benefits programs—Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
We’ve mentioned them already, but we need to talk about how each one works and why one type of benefit might be better for you.
Both programs require you to meet Social Security’s definition of disability, but each one has its own additional requirements.
Let’s break down some of the most important differences:
| SSDI | SSI | |
| Work history | You need to earn a certain number of “work credits” and pay into Social Security to be eligible for SSDI. | You can qualify for SSI even if you don’t have a significant work history. It’s a need-based program. |
| Asset limits | You can receive SSDI even if you have other financial resources, like savings or investments. The only thing that matters is whether you can work. | You have to meet strict financial limitations to receive SSI. Individuals are limited to $2,000 in assets and couples are limited to $3,000. Some assets, like a home and a vehicle, can be exempt from this count. |
| How payments are calculated | Social Security uses a formula to calculate SSDI payments based on your previous income. | SSI starts at a maximum payment, then deducts from that based on any income and other benefits you receive. |
| Medical coverage | If you receive SSDI benefits you can enroll in Medicare after a 24-month waiting period. | SSI recipients can qualify for Medicaid. There’s no waiting period once you’re approved for benefits. |
If you have any questions about which benefit you should apply for, our Michigan Social Security Disability attorneys are here to help.
Evidence That Can Support Your Disability Claim in Muskegon
The SSA won’t just take your word for it when you say that your health problems are going to stop you from working for 12 months or more.
You’ll need evidence of your medical issues, and you need to show that they affect your ability to work and support yourself.
Some items that can help you with your claim include:
- A diagnosis from your doctor
- Notes about treatments you’ve tried and evidence that you’ve stuck to them
- Results of medical tests
- Psychological evaluations from medical professionals
- Your doctor’s assessment of your everyday functioning and capabilities
- Records of any disruptions to your work, like frequent missed days or the need for accommodations
- Statements from coworkers, friends, and family members who have witnessed your health struggles
- Financial records that show you meet the asset limits for SSI benefits
- Anything that verifies your work history for SSDI benefits
Building a persuasive disability claim isn’t easy, but our disability lawyers for people in Muskegon and West Michigan can help gather the evidence needed to make a convincing case for benefits.
My Disability Claim Was Denied in Muskegon. What’s Next?
If your disability claim was denied, you’re in good company. Only around 35-40% of initial applications for SSDI or SSI benefits get approved.
You have a chance to appeal the decision and make your case for benefits, but you have to act quickly. Social Security gives you just 60 days to respond after a denial.
Be ready to take these steps as soon as you get denied disability benefits:
Step #1: Review your letter from Social Security.
Disability claims can be denied for many reasons. Read your letter for the reasons Social Security says you were denied.
If you left something important out of your claim or you need more evidence, you’re going to want to know for your appeal.
Step #2: Update your medical records.
Now’s a good time to fill any gaps in your file, especially if Social Security thought that you didn’t have enough evidence to get approved the first time around.
Even if a lack of evidence wasn’t the reason for your denial, take some time to look over your evidence and make sure that everything is up to date.
Do you have any recent test results or assessments from your doctor that could strengthen your claim? Make sure that you have everything you need before moving to the appeals stage.
Step #3: Talk to a disability attorney.
You can request an appeal by yourself, but we recommend working with an experienced disability lawyer.
The first step is reconsideration, where another examiner from Social Security takes a look at your claim and could grant you benefits. From there it quickly gets more complicated, requiring hearings and legal arguments and briefs.
Our disability lawyers help Muskegon residents who have had their claims denied. Whether you applied on your own or worked with another attorney, we’re here to assist you.
Why Work with a Local Muskegon Disability Lawyer?
You aren’t required to have a disability lawyer when you apply for disability benefits, but we don’t recommend going through this process alone.
We’ve already talked about how difficult Social Security makes it to win benefits. Trying to successfully apply for SSDI or SSI while you’re worried about your health and finances can feel overwhelming.
Let a local disability lawyer who knows Muskegon and West Michigan well do this work for you.
We’ll help you gather your evidence and build the most convincing claim possible.
If you get denied disability benefits, we’ll help with your appeal and represent you at your disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge.
We’ll keep you updated on your claim and answer any questions you have about the Social Security Disability system at any point in the process.
The disability attorneys of the Levine Benjamin Law Firm have helped 100,000 people when they needed the financial lifeline that these benefits could provide.
Now we’re ready to assist you with your claim.
Commonly Asked Questions About Disability Benefits in Muskegon
Whether you’re trying to understand if you qualify for benefits, ready to submit an application, or you’ve already had your disability claim denied, you probably have some questions.
Our Muskegon disability lawyers can answer. Read on to see the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
Who can qualify for disability in Muskegon?
You can qualify for disability in Muskegon if you can’t work any job because of your health. You also need to be able to show that your health problems are going to last a long time—12 months or more.
You won’t receive benefits if Social Security thinks your current job is the issue and that you can just do another kind of work.
If you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you also need to show that you have worked and paid into Social Security. If you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you need to stay under strict asset limitations.
How long does it take to get disability benefits?
Hearing back about your initial application for disability benefits often takes more than six months, but it could take over a year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) often has a backlog of claims and not enough claims examiners to evaluate them quickly.
Getting denied makes this process take even longer. Each step of the appeals process adds months to your waiting time.
It’s important to work with a Muskegon disability lawyer who can give you the best chance of winning benefits at each stage of this process.
How much do disability benefits pay?
If you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, Social Security uses a formula based on your past income to determine your monthly payments.
Payments for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits start at a maximum amount, then money is deducted based on any income and other benefits you receive.
Everyone’s situation is different, so payments can vary a lot.
When should I talk to a Muskegon disability lawyer?
We recommend talking to a disability lawyer as soon as you think you qualify for benefits. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get through this process and start receiving benefits.
The disability lawyers of the Levine Benjamin Law Firm won’t tell you to apply on your own and come back if you get denied.
We’re with you at every step of this process.
Do disability lawyers charge an upfront fee?
The disability lawyers of Levine Benjamin won’t charge you an upfront fee when you need help. We collect an attorney’s fee only when you win benefits.
When you get approved for benefits, you’ll also get back pay to make up for all of that time you waited. Our fee comes out of that lump sum and is subject to strict limits set by Social Security. Attorney fees can only come from a portion of your back benefits.
Does my age make a difference when I apply for disability?
Your age can be a factor when you apply for disability in Muskegon. A claims examiner will generally understand that it’s harder for an older person to train for a new job and switch into a new career field after a health issue stops them from working.