SSDI, SSI, disability applications, appeals, benefits
The SSA caps attorney fees for disability claims at the lesser of 25 percent of past-due benefits or $7,200 for 2025. If your back pay is $28,800 or less, your lawyer gets 25%. If it exceeds $28,800, the fee is capped at $7,200—even if 25% would be higher. This fee structure applies only to past-due…
Yes, you can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if your back condition meets the SSA’s Listing of Impairments or prevents you from working at the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level. A diagnosis alone is rarely enough—you need medical evidence that ties objective findings to concrete functional limitations. SSDI vs. SSI – Two Different…
If you receive both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and workers compensation, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will reduce your SSDI payment when the combined total exceeds 80% of your average current earnings (ACD). This is the workers compensation offset, a rule under Section 224 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 424a). For…
At your SSDI hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), you will be asked about your medical conditions, daily activities, work history, and how your impairments limit your ability to work. The judge’s goal is to determine whether you meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability using the five-step sequential evaluation process. Unlike…
Yes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does approve disability benefits for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. But approval depends on meeting strict medical criteria under the SSA’s Blue Book listings (Section 12.00) and satisfying non-medical eligibility rules for SSDI or SSI. For example, under Listing 12.04 for depressive/bipolar disorders, you…
Amending your alleged onset date (AOD) at an SSDI hearing can improve your chances of approval—but only if the new date is backed by clear medical evidence. The strategy works best when your original AOD is too early to be credible (e.g., while you were still working at substantial gainful activity levels) or when medical…
If you’re on SSDI and want to test your ability to work, Social Security gives you a 9-month Trial Work Period (TWP). During those months, you can earn any amount without losing benefits — as long as you don’t exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold after the TWP ends. A trial work month is…
If you apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and live with an ineligible spouse or parent, the Social Security Administration (SSA) counts a portion of that person’s income as yours — even if you never receive a dime. This “deeming” rule follows a specific formula that subtracts personal allocations for the ineligible spouse and any…
To qualify a child for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under age 18, two separate hurdles must be cleared. First, the child’s household must meet SSI’s income and resource limits (in 2024, the resource limit is $2,000 for an individual child, and parental income is partially “deemed” to the child). Second, the child must have a…
