What is Disability Advocacy?
By definition, advocacy is supporting a cause, group or person. Advocates are passionate about their cause. They are non-judgmental. They build relationships. Above all, they care about what they do.At Freedom Disability, we advocate for people with disabilities. We help people, who can no longer work because of a disabling medical condition, apply for and win the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits they have earned and deserve to have. Freedom Disability Advocates have a deep understanding of the challenges people with disabilities face every day. They’ve seen these struggles first-hand because they’ve worked in health care, social services and for charitable organizations. Freedom Disability Advocates are experienced in preparing successful Social Security disability applications. They are passionate about what they do, and they do it with respect. Above all else, they care. That is the disability advocacy culture that defines Freedom Disability.
Work With an Advocate or Apply on Your Own?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) receives millions of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims every year, and denies 63 percent of initial applications. It can take months to appeal a denied claim, which many applicants choose to do because they believe they are eligible for disability benefits. People looking for representation to improve their chances of approval in filing a Social Security disability claim can get it with an expert non-attorney advocacy group such as Freedom Disability.
The Social Security Disability Experts
Freedom Disability is a national Social Security Advocacy group. Our Advocates are trained disability insurance experts who have successfully helped thousands of people with disabilities file for and win Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
If you think you qualify for disability benefits, contact us for a free evaluation. If we determine that you have a case, our professional Advocates will build the highest-quality application to give you the best chance to win.
Qualifications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits
The Social Security Administration follows specific criteria to determine if you are eligible for SSDI benefits:
- You must have worked long enough to have paid into the Social Security system through FICA taxes.
- If you are over 31 years of age, you must have worked a cumulative total of five years within the last 10 years.
- You must have been unable to work and pay into Social Security for the last 12 months.
- Your medical condition must meet SSA’s definition of “disability.”
- Your medical condition must prevent you from working at any type of work.
What Your SSDI Benefits Include
Once a Freedom Disability Advocate gets you approved for SSDI, your benefits will include:
- A monthly cash payment
- Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI
- Social Security Retirement Benefits Insurance Protection
Monthly Cash Payments
You start receiving a monthly cash payment in the sixth month after you have become disabled. SSA strongly recommends that you establish a bank account, if you do not already have one, so that your monthly cash payment can be direct-deposited into your account. How much you can expect to receive depends on your past work history and how much you contributed into Social Security through FICA taxe. Payments continue for as long as you are unable to work and your medical condition does not improve.
Medicare
After a waiting period of 24 months after you began receiving disability benefits, you are entitled to Medicare, a federally funded health insurance program.
Social Security Retirement Benefits Insurance Protection
Your SSDI cash benefit automatically converts into your Social Security retirement benefit when you reach retirement age. Your retirement benefit is protected from being reduced when you establish with SSA that your time away from the workforce is due to your disability. Your retirement benefit amount remains the same as your disability benefit.
Information Required for Your Application
To prove that you qualify for disability benefits, you must provide complete and accurate information to support your case. Your application must include:
Work History
- Types of occupation
- Wage history
- Occupational duties
Medical Information
- Doctors,
- Hospitals, clinics, treating sources
- Dates of treatment
- Prescriptions
Personal Information
- Marriages and dependents
- Birth certificate
- Social Security number
Providing this information will help your Freedom Disability Advocate prepare a strong case for you.
What to Expect from Your Freedom Disability Advocate
- Your Freedom Disability Advocate will represent you through the entire application process from the first evaluation to the final decision.
- There is a lot of paperwork required when applying for SSDI benefits. Your Advocate will prepare all documentation to build a winning application.
- Your Advocate will file your application and all required forms with the Social Security Administration.
- You will be updated periodically on the progress of your application.
- There are no upfront costs required from you. Freedom Disability receives a one-time-only percentage fee determined by SSA after your case is approved.
- Freedom Disability wins over 90 percent of its cases.
Your Freedom Disability Advocate assists you every step of the way to winning disability benefits.
Get a free evaluation on your case. Click here or call (866) 761-5942.
I lost a kidney almost 3 years ago and have stage 3 kidney disease. How can I get disability. I have not ben able to work for the last 2 years. I am on medication for this. I have some other medical conditions as well. I hope you can help me. Thank you Ellen Shaneck
A key consideration for getting approved for Social Security Disability insurance is the work criteria. You have to have paid into Social Security and worked enough. depending on your age, within the last ten years. Please call 866-761-5942 so that we can assess your situation and guide you on what kind of help you may be eligible to receive.
I’m receiving SSDI for a Blood Disorder–however because it is a mydeoblstic syndrome, Medicare does not cover it. My medications are not covered completely. I still have to
pay for all over-the-counter supplies (pads for bleeding, sterile perennial wipes, etc.).
I have continually turned down for any additional help. People who never worked for a living
(Welfare and Medicaid receive all these items free). What other Insurance is available
for people with disability in the state of Illinois.? Medicare costs me too much and so does
Health Spring (their RX coverage–which doesn’t cover any of my prescriptions in full?
What is the 2010 Poverty Level amount for state of Illinois?
Kendall
I get ss disabity and get a check for a minor child. the irs has garnished part of my wages. is this allowed?
Deanna,
Here’s some information on the SSA Web site that states that “you have to pay federal taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an “individual” and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total income that is more than $32,000.”
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. IF I COMPLY WITH SSDI, AND MY REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT FOR SSI WHY HAVEN’T I RECIEVED BOTH?
Hi, my name is Kim my husband and I are on disability. My husband was on before I was on before me. I got into a very bad car accident in 2002, after that I was puy on disability. Before we got married we ask our caseworker would they take his disability income would cbange if we got married, and our caseworker told us that the money my husband was receiving wouldn’t change. When we got married they changed our benefit amount to $500 a month each. We were getting almost $700 each. I want to know why they took away so much money because we got married. It seems like we get more living together then we do when we get married. We do the right thing and they take away the income we had before we got married. This can’t be right. And my husband is diabetic and he can’t afford most of his diabetic needs. Now they want to reavaluate him with one of there dr.s to see if he is still eligible to stay on disability. My husband’s health has gotten worse since he’s been on disability, for one he was diagnosed with diabetes long after he was put on disability, also now he has copd, and rhuemetoid arthritis, he also has numbness in his hands and feet. How can I get help for my husband to get medicare and why they gave us less money for just getting married. We live in a house thats dangerous for us because I lose my balance a lot from my injury in the car accident. I fall down the stairs a lot. We can’t afford to move to a safer house to live in. Please if you could give us some prgrams that could help us. My husband has been on disability since 1986 and we are barely making it. Im at my wits end. Please if you can give us some help please Thank You
Kimberly,
If you are both receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits, those benefits are based on your earnings record from when you worked. Marriage should not affect your individual benefit. But if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, these are benefits based on income and resources and not your work record. According to the SSA Web site “The SSI program provides a basic Federal payment for an eligible individual and a larger amount for an eligible couple. The payment for a couple is lower than that made to two individuals because married people living together generally share expenses and live more economically than two people living independently.” It is advisable to talk to your local Social Security office for help in understanding your benefits. They should also be able to direct you to other programs and services to help you.
Dear Mrs. Wilson,
You may be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Social Security Administration. The application form(s) are available online. The link is http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/.
God bless,
Mark
I wanna know can i get approve for SSDI if I have a learning disability and depression
Please call 866-347-2910 to talk to one of our Eligibility Consultants who can help explain your options for benefits.
Hi my son has adhd and also has asthma. I put in for his disabilty and he was deined, what can i do
Lorrine,
There must have been an eliigibility issue that disqualified your son from SSI benefits. SSA’s booklet on SSI for children may give you some guidance about this.