Social Security Claims

Social Security Disability

How to Qualify and Apply for SSD

How to Appeal an SSD Claim Denial

How SSD Benefits are Calculated

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Wonder if You Qualify for Benefits?

How to Qualify & Apply for SSDI

Speak to Our Experienced Oklahoma Social Security Disability Lawyer

In order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. Even if you do qualify, the process of applying for SSDI can be very complicated. It is a good idea to work with a knowledgeable attorney who can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the SSDI application process.

With nearly a decade of experience in Social Security law, our founding attorney, Aimee Todd, is incredibly knowledgeable about the SSDI system. She can help you determine if you are eligible for benefits and assist you in gathering the necessary documents before applying.

Contact Todd Disability Law online or call our office at (405) 562-7955 to discuss your situation with an experienced Oklahoma SSDI lawyer. We serve clients in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and the surrounding areas.

SSDI Eligibility Requirements

Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program that provides benefits to workers who have suffered an injury or condition that leaves them unable to work for at least one year. In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, workers must have enough work credits. In other words, they must have “paid in” to the program over a certain amount of time by working at a job that is covered by Social Security. If you have not earned the required work credits (typically, this happens when an individual has never been able to work due to his/her disability), you are not eligible for SSDI, but you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You can learn more about SSI and its eligibility requirements on our SSI page here.

In order to qualify for SSDI benefits, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

You have earned the required work credits
You had/have a condition or disability that prevented/is expected to prevent you from working for a period of at least one year
Your condition/disability renders you completely disabled (instead of partially disabled)
Your condition/disability is listed in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) list of impairments, also known as the “blue book” or you have a “comparable condition”

If you are unsure of whether or not you meet these requirements, we encourage you to reach out to our Oklahoma Social Security disability lawyer as soon as possible. It can take time to receive your benefits, so the sooner you determine your eligibility and apply, the better. Ms. Todd can help you determine if you are eligible and, if so, can help you begin the SSDI application process.

How to Apply for SSDI Benefits

You may apply for SSDI benefits online or by calling the SSA’s toll-free number (1-800-772-1213). You can also submit your application in person at the nearest Social Security office. Before applying, you will need to make sure that you have all of the necessary documents in addition to your completed application.

These documents include:

Medical records or at least all contact information for all of your treating doctors
Workers’ compensation information
The name(s) and date(s) of birth of your spouse/minor children (if applicable)
The date(s) of your marriage and/or divorce (if applicable)
A checking or savings account number and routing number (if you wish to receive benefits via direct deposit)

In certain special circumstances, you may also need to include additional documents or bring other information to your SSDI interview.

Note that it can take up to six months from the time you submit your application to the time you start receiving benefits, so it is crucial that you apply for SSDI as soon as you become disabled.

To learn more, or to discuss your case with the Oklahoma SSDI lawyer at Todd Law, contact us at (405) 562-7955 today.

How to Appeal an SSD Claim Denial

Work with a Knowledgeable Oklahoma SSD Appeals Attorney

Unfortunately, many Social Security disability claims are denied. This often occurs as a result of errors made during the application process or because the Social Security Administration (SSA) has decided your condition/disability does not meet its strict requirements.

If your SSD claim was denied, don’t give up!

At Todd Disability Law, we represent clients in appealing denied SSD claims throughout Oklahoma. Our founding attorney, Aimee Todd, spent nearly a decade working closely with judges and the Appeals Council in complex district court cases. She can help you appeal your denied SSD claim and work to recover your rightful benefits. You only have 60 days from the date you received notice of the denial to request an appeal, so it is important that you act quickly. If this 60 day deadline just recently passed, contact us and see if we can still help.

Call Todd Law at (405) 562-7955 for a no-obligation consultation with an experienced Oklahoma SSD appeals attorney today.

SSD Appeal Levels

There are four levels, or stages, of appealing a denied SSD claim. These levels include:

Reconsideration: If you request a reconsideration, a non-involved party will conduct a thorough review of your application. This is typically an appropriate first step when an SSD claim is denied for medical reasons, though you may request a reconsideration if your claim was denied on non-medical grounds.
Administrative Law Judge Hearing: If you requested a reconsideration but your SSD claim was still denied, you may move forward in requesting a hearing with an administrative law judge. The administrative law judge will be someone who had no involvement in your original SSD claim denial or reconsideration.
Appeals Council Review: If you are not happy with the outcome of your administrative law judge hearing, you may request a review by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council does not accept all requests for review but, if it does, it may either return to the administrative law judge who conducted your hearing or make a decision on your case itself.
Federal Court Review: The final step in the denied SSD appeals process is filing a civil lawsuit at the federal level. You may wish to pursue this step if the Appeals Council does not accept your request for review or if it finds the original ruling of the administrative law judge to be lawful and you disagree.

Appealing a denied SSD claim is a complex—and often lengthy—process. It is critical that you work with an attorney who has extensive experience in this particular area of law.

Contact Todd Law Today

Our Oklahoma SSD appeals lawyer offers compassionate and personalized legal guidance. She understands the challenges you are facing—and she knows how to win. Ms. Todd has experience in all aspects of SSD appeals at all levels. Whether you need help beginning the appeals process or have been unsuccessful in your attempts to appeal your claim denial on your own, our firm is ready to help.

There is no obligation when you speak to us about your case. Give us a call at (405) 562-7955 or submit an online contact form to request your initial consultation.

How Are SSDI Benefits Calculated?

Learn More—Contact Our Oklahoma SSDI Attorney Today

Generally speaking, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are calculated based on your average earnings and the number of work credits you have earned. Work credits are based on the total amount of income you have earned for which you paid Social Security taxes.

In contrast, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are calculated based on several factors but are not based on your work or income history. To learn more about SSI benefits, SSI eligibility requirements, and how to apply for SSI, please click here.

If you need help with any aspect of your SSDI or SSI claim, reach out to the Oklahoma Social Security disability lawyer at Todd Disability Law. With nearly a decade of experience in this area of law, she can help you determine how much you can expect to receive in benefits.

For a no-obligation consultation with Ms. Todd, please call our office at (405) 562-7955. Based in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, we serve clients throughout the state.

Factors Involved in Calculating Your SSDI Benefits

It is important to note that, despite common misconception, SSDI benefits are not dependent on the severity of your disability. They are also not dependent on your income. Instead, SSDI benefits are calculated based on a complex formula that takes into account a number of unique factors.

The factors involved in calculating your SSDI benefits include:

Your “covered earnings,” or the income on which you have paid Social Security taxes, which is used to calculate;
Your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME), or your average “covered earnings” over a set time period, which is used to calculate;
Your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the maximum amount of SSDI benefits you may receive.

As of 2019, the formula to calculate PIA is as follows: 90% of an individual’s first $926 of AIME is added to 32% of the individual’s AIME between $926 and $5,583, which is added to 15% of the individual’s AIME in excess of $5,583 to calculate the individual’s PIA.

Once determined and accepted, your SSDI benefits will typically be paid to you on a monthly basis. Special circumstances, such as when you are already receiving government disability benefits, may affect the total amount of SSDI benefits you are entitled to.

Let Our Firm Assist You

Calculating your SSDI benefits is a fairly complex process; it’s a good idea to speak to a knowledgeable Oklahoma Social Security disability lawyer who can help you understand the benefits you can receive. At Todd Law, we have the experience, skill, and resources to help you navigate the entire SSDI process from start to finish. Whether you are unsure if you are eligible for SSDI, need help applying, or have had your claim denied, our firm is here to help. We proudly provide compassionate, personalized legal services and tireless advocacy for our clients.

Call Todd Law at (405) 562-7955 or contact us online to get started with your initial consultation.