Social Security Disability (SSD)

Columbia Social Security Disability Attorneys

Columbia lawyers helping people throughout Maryland get the disability benefits they need

Many workers are not able to earn a living due to injuries or illnesses. Applicants and certain family members may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits if they have a long enough work history and can’t work. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., our Columbia SSDI lawyers have helped numerous applicants obtain their Social Security disability benefits – even after their initial application is denied. Our skills include examining your work history, proving to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you do have the type of disability that qualifies you for benefits, and explaining what benefits you and other members of your family can receive.

How can we help?

What are the eligibility requirements for filing an SSDI claim in Columbia?

To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you need to show that:

  • You have earned enough work history credits in the recent past. Applicants must have enough work credits to qualify. You can receive four credits each year. The wage requirements differ from year to year. For 2023, to earn one credit, you must earn at least $1,640 in wages or self-employment income. If you earn $6,560, you receive four credits. Applicants need 40 credits, 20 of which you must earn in the 10 years before the onset of their disability to qualify for SSDI. Younger workers may need fewer credits.
  • Have a qualifying medical disability. To qualify, you must have a total, not a partial, disability. Social Security’s definition of total disability is strict. Our Columbia SSDI lawyers work with your doctors, and our network of doctors when necessary, to help show that you qualify. The Social Security disability requirements are:
    • You can’t work or engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to your medical condition.
    • You can’t do the work you did at your prior job or work at a new job due to your medical condition.
    • Your medical condition must have lasted for at least one year or must be expected to last for at least one year. You can also qualify if your medical condition is expected to result in your death.

Social Security will also review whether you have access to income through workers’ compensation, savings, insurance, and investments.

Qualifying family members

If your spouse or ex-spouse is collecting SSDI, and he or she passes away, you may be eligible for benefits if you have a qualifying disability, and if you are between the age of 50 and 60. Children may also be entitled to these benefits until they reach the age of 18, though the benefits can be extended if they are full-time elementary or high students. If the child has a qualifying disability, then he or she may be entitled to benefits of his or her own once reaching the age of 18.

Per the SSA:

An adult who has a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if their parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.

The Disabled Adult Child (DAC) – who may be an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild – must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a qualified disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.

Qualifying medical disabilities

The Social Security Administration has a list of disability impairments identified by 14 categories. Within each category are specific types of disabilities and the medical requirements for showing an applicant has that medical condition.

  1. Musculoskeletal Disorders
  2. Special Senses and Speech
  3. Respiratory Disorders
  4. Cardiovascular System
  5. Digestive Disorders
  6. Genitourinary Disorders
  7. Hematological Disorders
  8. Skin Disorders
  9. Endocrine Disorders
  10. Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems
  11. Neurological Disorders
  12. Mental Disorders
  13. Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)
  14. Immune System Disorders

In some cases, you may be able to fast-track your application based on the type of medical condition you have. If your disorder is not in one of these preset categories, you still may be able to qualify if you can show, through medical evidence, that you cannot work or engage in substantial gainful activity for at least one year. Our Columbia personal injury lawyers work with your doctors to show that your condition meets the specific impairment definitions for the condition you have and that your condition is one of the disabilities in one of the categories.

What are the eligibility requirements for filing an SSI claim in Columbia?

Some applicants may also be eligible for Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) benefits if they can’t work, even if they don’t have a sufficient work history. This federal program is available for eligible adults and children with limited income. To qualify for SSI, you must have little or no income; little or no resources; and have a disability, be blind, or be 65 or older.

What benefits can I receive if my Disability claim is approved?

The amount of your monthly benefits depends on your age and the amount you earned. The amount is subject to a cap and to a yearly cost of living allowance (COLA). For 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. Per the SSA, the monthly caps for 2024 are:

  • $2,590 for the statutorily blind
  • $ 1,550 for the non-blind

Once you receive SSDI for two years, you become eligible for a Medicare card, even if you’re not a senior. Your monthly Medicare payment (currently about $170) will be deducted from your SSDI benefit amount if you choose to use Medicare.

Normally, people who receive SSI don’t have to wait two years to be eligible for a Medicaid card.

How do I file a Social Security Disability claim in Columbia?

Filing for Social Security Disability Insurance is complicated. There’s a lot of paperwork. You need to be able to prove your work eligibility requirements and your medical disability requirements. Many applications are denied due to missing information, and many due to an inability to show that you meet the definition of a medical disability. You can file your application online, by phone, or in person. We recommend strongly that you seek legal advice.

At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., our Columbia Disability lawyers help you document your disability and file the claim on your behalf. Many applicants file the initial application on their own. If your claim is denied (as often happens), our lawyers have the experience and understanding of the precise requirements to help many applicants receive approval of their benefit claim on appeal.

How do you fight for me if my claim is denied?

Our Columbia Social Security Disability lawyers begin by reviewing the reason your claim was denied (the reason should be stated on the denial letter) and the time limits for filing your appeal (normally within 60 days from the date of the denial). We also file a request for reconsideration – a request to have another Social Security employee review your claim – along with all the new documents and evidence we submit.

In many cases, we request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The hearing is like a regular court hearing. There are rules of evidence. You have the right to testify and present your evidence, including any medical reports and medical testimony. Social Security may have witnesses such as vocational experts. We’ll prepare you for the questions that are likely to be asked.

If the ALJ denies your claim, we can file a claim with the Appeals Council and then, if necessary, in federal court.

Don’t let all these potential tasks overwhelm you. We’ll guide you through each step, answer all your questions, and work to ensure that you have the correct documentation and evidence.

Do you have a Social Security Disability lawyer near me?

Our legal team can meet with clients who have questions about SSDI benefits or the denial of their application at our Columbia office located at 10211 Wincopin Cir, Suite 620. We’re just a short distance from both Merriweather Post Pavilion and The Mall in Columbia. If you’re too unwell to come to our office, our Columbia Social Security Disability lawyers will discuss seeing you at your home, a hospital, by phone, or through a video conference.

We’ll work with you, your doctors, and your former employers to present as strong a case as possible.

Get help from our Columbia Social Security Disability attorneys now

We understand how upset you are. You need a source of income to pay your bills. You need a Medicare or Medicaid card to pay your doctors. We’ve helped many people just like you obtain the SSDI or SSI benefits they deserve. We represent Social Security disability claimants on a contingency basis, which is subject to federal review. We’re experienced at trying cases before an administrative law judge. Successful claimants receive a monthly check. Most are eligible for back benefits to the date of their initial application. We’ll help you obtain your Medicare/Medicaid card if your claim is successful.

In addition to Columbia, we have offices in Baltimore, Towson, and throughout Maryland. To schedule a free consultation, please call us or complete our contact form today.