SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INFORMATION
 Under the federal Social Security Disability Act, "disability" means the "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physician or mental impairment which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or result in death."
If you are disabled from performing substantial gainful activity you may be eligible for Social Security Disability, SSDI or Supplemental Security Income, SSI Benefits. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration often denies truly disabled claimants. All too often, it takes an experienced Lawyer, with a thorough knowledge of the laws and medical listings, to get disabled claimants benefits.
By law, anyone may file for his or her own Social Security Disability benefits. But statistics clearly show that claimants who have representation win their benefits much more often than those who apply on their own.
The government makes the process very difficult. Waiting lines are long. Forms are complicated. Benefits are often denied to people who have legitimate claims. And not just once; frequently twice. Sometimes more often. As a result, many people who apply on their own become discouraged and intimidated. So they simply back off, give up, and go away, even when they are genuinely entitled to their benefits.
Social Security Disability Benefits or SSD are paid to individuals who have worked in the recent years. Usually you have to work 5 out of the last 10 years. For individuals under 31 years old, the requirements are a little different since they have not been in the work force as long.
Supplemental Security Income benefits or SSI are paid to individuals who are poor and disabled whether or not the individual has worked in the past. SSI child's disability benefits are paid to children who are under 18 years old, are disabled and the parents or guardian are poor.
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