Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
A disability can rob you of the ability to take care of yourself and participate in activities you once enjoyed. Depending on the severity of your disability, you may no longer be able to work. For many people, losing the ability to earn an income hurts both financially and emotionally, but people who cannot work because they become disabled may qualify for disability support from Social Security.
While you can apply for disability benefits with Social Security on your own, you might want to work with a Social Security disability attorney in New York City who has years of experience in handling cases like yours. The New York injury lawyers at Shulman & Hill can guide you through the application process and gather relevant documents for you. If Social Security denies your application, we can appeal the decision and sue if necessary.
Your Social Security disability benefits are too important to lose. Contact us today to learn how we can help you get the benefits you deserve.
What Is Social Security Disability?
Social Security disability is financial assistance for people who are unable to work because of a medical condition. There are stringent rules about who qualifies for disability benefits. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), only people whose disability prevents them from working for a year or more qualify for disability benefits. Once you qualify, your benefits continue until you recover enough to return to work, reach retirement age, or pass away.
The purpose of Social Security disability is to prevent people with disabilities from going broke because of their medical condition. It’s hard enough to make ends meet when you cannot work. It’s harder still when you face steep medical bills, require multiple treatments from multiple doctors, or need expensive medical equipment just to get by. Social Security disability helps people meet their financial obligations while affording the care they need.
Thousands of New York City Residents Have Disabilities
According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 7% of New York City residents under age 65 have a disability. In a city with a population of more than 8 million, that means thousands of New Yorkers live with disabilities that interfere with their daily lives.
Which Disabilities Qualify for Social Security Assistance?
The SSA provides extensive information about the specific disabilities that qualify for financial assistance. The administration has a list of qualifying disabilities, but also considers cases individually to determine if the person meets the requirements.
To qualify for assistance, your disability must:
- Be severe enough to limit work-related activities such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, and remembering
- Limit your abilities for at least 12 months
- Prevent you from working at your previous occupation
- Prevent you from working in a different occupation
Special rules may apply if you are blind or visually impaired. Talk to our Social Security disability lawyers in New York City to learn more about qualifying for disability assistance.
Common Social Security Cases in New York City
The SSA provides information about medical conditions that can result in disability in its Listing of Impairments. The broad categories of impairments are:
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Special senses and speech
- Respiratory disorders
- Cardiovascular system
- Genitourinary disorders
- Hematological disorders
- Skin disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- Congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems
- Neurological disorders
- Mental disorders
- Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)
- Immune system disorders
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides additional details about the most common types of disability in the state of New York. The most common type is problems with mobility. Other common disabilities include cognitive difficulties, living independently, hearing, vision, and self-care. The CDC also reports that New York residents with disabilities are more likely to smoke and have depression, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
According to New York City disability statistics provided by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, almost 1 million people (or roughly 11% of the city’s total population) live with a disability. Most people with disabilities are 18 or older, meaning they are at an age where they could work and support themselves if not for their disability. Just over 77% of adults with disabilities in New York City are not in the labor force.
Do I Need a Social Security Disability Lawyer in New York City?
You do not have to hire a New York City social security disability lawyer, but you may want to consider doing so. Applying for Social Security disability benefits by yourself can be a daunting task. When you have a physical or mental disability, you may find it difficult to gather the required documents, fill out the application, and follow up on its status on your own.
Our team can fill out the application for you and guide you throughout this process, taking over the cumbersome bureaucratic tasks so you can focus on your health.
To do so, we will:
- Gather your birth, marriage, and divorce records
- Collect the names and birthdates of your children
- Document your military service (if any)
- Collect your employment or self-employment history for the past two years
- Provide the date when your medical condition began to affect your ability to work
- Gather the names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for examinations and treatments related to your disability
- Collect the names, dates, and provider referrals of any medical tests you received
- Compile a list of medications, provider names, and your reasons for taking them
- Document any vocational rehabilitation services, workers’ compensation, or public welfare you have received
- List the types of jobs you have held in the past 15 years before you lost the ability to work
- Provide the types of duties you had in the longest job you held
- List your educational history, including your highest grade completed, any special education you received, and any job training, vocational school, or trade school you completed
- Document any prison or jail time you have served
What if My Social Security Disability Application Is Denied?
You do not have to give up just because the SSA denied your application for disability assistance. The SSA approves just under 32% of applications, meaning that it denies nearly 70% of them. If you fall into that 70%, you have the right to appeal the decision and continue seeking the benefits you deserve.
We can handle three levels to the appeals process for you:
- Reconsideration: A party that did not review your application the first time reviews your claim and any additional evidence you submit.
- Hearing by an administrative law judge: If your reconsideration fails, you may request a hearing by an administrative law judge (ALJ). This judge will not be one who was part of the reconsideration.
- Review by the Appeals Council: If you disagree with the ruling of the ALJ, you can request a review by the Appeals Council. The council may deny or dismiss your request, return your case to an ALJ, or issue a new decision.
Our Social Security disability lawyers in New York City can represent your legal interests throughout the appeals process. This includes submitting evidence in support of your case and attending hearings.
