APPLY FOR DISABILITY IN GRAND RAPIDS
From applying to appealing, Levine Benjamin Law Firm has helped 80,000 people win disability benefits.
How to Apply for Disability in Grand Rapids
When your health problems keep you from working, Social Security Disability benefits provide stable financial footing, covering bills and daily expenses so you can focus on managing your condition.
That is true across the country and in Grand Rapids. Kent County has thousands of people receiving Social Security Disability benefits, many of them hard-working folks who faced the same situation you do now.
But Social Security is big, it’s got a lot of rules, and it doesn’t make the process of applying for disability benefits easy.
You have forms to fill out, and even the smallest mistake may derail your claim. You have to back up everything you tell Social Security with evidence that you’re telling the truth.
You can apply for disability benefits on your own, but you don’t have to. It shouldn’t be on you alone to know all the ins and outs of a giant government bureaucracy.
Get help. At Levine Benjamin Law Firm, we pride ourselves on the decades we’ve spent helping folks in Grand Rapids. In all, we’ve helped over 80,000 people.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
What would you like to do?
What to Know When You Apply for Disability in Grand Rapids
When you’re sick and can’t work, applying for disability is the last thing you want to do. It’s confusing. It’s complicated. It takes patience and sticktoitiveness.
People in Grand Rapids aren’t afraid of hard work. But everyone needs help every now and then. When you’re not sure if you qualify for disability benefits, our disability lawyers at Levine Benjamin can walk you through it.
To get started, there are some basic hoops to jump through.
Be ready to prove who you are. Like all government agencies, Social Security will want to see official documentation that you are who you say you are. That can include a birth certificate or other official documents.
Check if you’re eligible. To receive disability benefits, you must show you’re under retirement age, your medical condition keeps you from working, and you won’t be able to work for at least a year.
Gather your information. You’ll need doctor’s reports, medical test results, medical imaging, treatment plans, a list of past jobs, current income information and more. It’s easier if you have it together before you start building your application.
Now you’re ready to apply. You can call Social Security, find the forms online, or visit Grand Rapids’ Social Security offices on Knapp Street or Breton Road.
But it gets tricky. To apply and win disability benefits, you have to provide the right information the right way. Miss a box, fill in the wrong information, and you’ll get a denial letter.
When you don’t feel well, don’t waste your time struggling with something when you can get help. The Grand Rapids disability lawyers at Levine Benjamin make it a point of pride to get you in the best position for success and financial relief.
We stand beside hardworking people in Grand Rapids every day, making sure they cross their T’s and dot their I’s as they apply for disability benefits.
And we don’t charge any attorney fees until you win your claim. Start by talking to us for a FREE CONSULTATION.
You Apply for Disability. Next, the Wait.
As soon as you know you can’t work because of health problems, apply immediately for disability benefits. The sooner you do it, the better, because Social Security is anything but fast.
Waiting for an initial decision letter can take months in Grand Rapids. If your application is denied, you’ll face more steps that take more time.
First you ask for a reconsideration. Usually they still say no, and you have to go to a disability hearing with a judge. You could be looking at another nine months to a year before you get a scheduled hearing.
It’s also important to know that Social Security won’t pay you for the first five months after they decided you officially had a qualifying impairment. It’s a built-in waiting period.
Many eligible workers delay their applications, wondering if they’ll get better soon or just dreading the Social Security Disability process, but that just adds time between losing work and getting essential monthly payments.
Don’t let the system slow your benefits any more than it already does. Give yourself the best chance to win benefits when you apply for Social Security Disability in Grand Rapids.
Our experienced disability attorneys in Grand Rapids have helped thousands of people who once stood in your shoes. We know how to avoid common mistakes and bottlenecks that can drag down your application.
Let’s clear the path for you to reach greater financial stability so you can focus on what counts: your health. When you’re ready to apply for disability benefits in Grand Rapids, give us a call.