Millions of Americans rely on Social Security disability benefits (namely, SSDI and SSI) to pay bills and maintain financial stability after an accident, life change, or health condition leaves them physically or mentally unable to work.

Unfortunately, Social Security disability benefits have become more-and-more difficult to access because of shifting political winds and administrative overreaction to cases of fraud and abuse. Today, some people truly deserving of Social Security disability benefits have their applications for those benefits denied for improper or unfair reasons.

The hard-working Seattle social security attorneys at Boohoff Law have years of experience representing Americans whose Social Security disability claims have been denied and who need help pursuing the appeals process to obtain the benefits they deserve.

If you or a loved one faces an unfair or unjust Social Security benefits claim denial, we can help. Contact us today to learn more.

About Boohoff Law

For years, Tatiana Boohoff and her team of top-flight attorneys have represented Americans struggling to obtain the Social Security disability benefits they rightly deserve.

Boohoff Law opened its doors in Florida more than a decade ago, and recently expanded its practice to the Seattle area, bringing with it a reputation for providing clients with smart, effective, diligent legal services, delivered with a personal touch.

When you find yourself in need of a superstar legal team to fight the toughest battles against federal and Washington State bureaucracy, Boohoff Law is your best choice in the Seattle area for getting results. Of course, no matter we handle has a guaranteed outcome. Every case we handle has its own unique facts and circumstances.

But the lawyers at Boohoff Law have the know-how and resources to untangle even the most complicated legal knots. Unlike some law firms that shy away from contending with government red tape, we spend every day using our cutting edge skills and relentless determination to achieve our clients’ goals, even if it means wading neck-deep into government regulations.

About Social Security Disability Benefits

The following information borrows heavily from the Social Security Administration‘s (SSA’s) guidebooks on the SSDI and SSI benefits programs.

We encourage anyone with questions about those programs to supplement the information provided in our summary below by reading those guidebooks and other helpful materials found on the SSA’s website as well as on the website of the Washington State office for Disability Determination Services.

Overview of SSDI

SSDI stands for “Social Security Disability Insurance.” It is a federal program that pays benefits to disabled workers who worked long enough to qualify for them and who paid Social Security taxes.

When someone is “on disability,” that usually means SSDI.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive SSDI, a worker must meet a two part test.

• First, the worker must have a work history set by the following formula: Subtract the year you turned 22 from the year you became disabled. Divide that number by 4. That is the number of years you need to have worked since you turned 22 to be eligible. So, for example, if you became disabled in 2019 and you turned 22 in 2003, then you need to have worked 4 years since 2003 to be eligible.
• Second, the worker must be “disabled” within the legal definition of that term. According to the SSA, this means the worker “can’t work because they have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least one year or result in death.”

In addition to the worker, certain other family members may also have the right to receive SSDI benefits. They include spouses over age 62, spouses of any age caring for a child who is under 16 or is disabled, and unmarried children under age 18 or who are disabled.

Applying

Applying for SSDI benefits involves submitting employment and medical paperwork to the SSA for an initial determination of your eligibility (principally, whether you meet the work history requirement).

If the SSA decides you meet basic requirements, it then forwards your file to the Washington State office for Disability Determination Services to make a final evaluation of your disability status.

According to the SSA, the government generally asks five basic questions in determining whether you are “disabled:”

• Are you working? If so and you earn over a certain amount, then generally speaking you won’t be considered “disabled.”
• Is your medical condition “severe”? According to SSA, to be considered severe, “your medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and remembering for at least 12 months.”
• Does your medical condition meet or medically equal a listing? The SSA maintains a “listing” of conditions it considers to be disabling. This is a shortcut, essentially. If your condition fits one of the “listings” already considered a disability, you will be deemed disabled. If not, then the government will ask two additional questions.
• Can you do the work you did before? Obviously, if you are still able to do your former job, you will not be considered disabled.
• Can you do any other work? If there are other types of jobs you can do, then you will not be considered disabled.

As you might imagine, most disputes about eligibility for SSDI revolve around whether you are “disabled” under the criteria above.

Amount

If you are deemed disabled, the amount of benefits you receive will be based on your average lifetime earnings.

Overview of SSI

SSI stands for “Supplemental Security Income.” It is a program for elderly, blind, or disabled (as defined above) persons who have low incomes and limited financial resources. SSI acts, essentially, as a “safety net” for people of extremely limited means. It does not have a work history requirement.

Eligibility

Eligibility for SSI depends on a person being over 65, blind, or disabled, and having very limited income and financial resources (namely, the value of things you own).

In certain instances, a disabled person may continue to work and still receive SSI. Washington State supplements the amount of basic federal SSI, subject to certain additional eligibility requirements.

Applying

Applications for SSI benefits can be filed online at SSA.gov or a local Social Security Administration office. The application process consists of providing detailed financial information to demonstrate financial need.

Amount

If SSI is approved, the amount of payment depends in part on where the applicant lives. As of 2019, the amount for an individual is about $700/month in Washington State, and about $1,100/month for a couple.