Last week on the blog, we discussed the financial information that must be provided in order to apply for supplemental security income. This can be a daunting process. Determining what is income and who else must file documentation with yours can be challenging and confusing. Yet, gathering and submitting the appropriate records is critical to applying for SSI benefits. Failure to do so could result in a denial, leaving individuals worse off financially.
Many who file for SSI benefits find the assistance of an experienced attorney beneficial. Competent, dedicated, and compassionate lawyers, like those at the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod and Baril, can help ensure their clients follow the process and can help them utilize the law to their own advantage. Our attorneys can help individuals determine whether or not they meet income requirements and, if so, to how much supplemental security income to which he or she may be entitled. If a person’s claim is denied, we may be able to assist them in challenging that denial.
In addition to guiding our clients through the claim process and advising them regarding income requirements, we can also assess whether a person’s disability qualifies them for income. SSI is typically reserved for low-income individuals and those with disabilities, such as blindness. “Disability” can be a slippery word, legally speaking, so it might necessitate arguing that one’s condition is, in fact, a disability.
The SSI application process does not end there. Individuals will likely have to prove that they have a poor work history, which can be aggressively challenged by the Social Security Administration. If one’s claim is denied, then he or she may be confronted with a new host of headaches. For more information about SSI, please visit our Supplemental Security Income page.