Pennsylvania SSDI Attorney
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a kind of disability insurance you "buy" from the U.S. government by working and paying taxes. You have to work long enough and earn enough wages to qualify. How long you have to work depends on how old you are. For older workers, the test normally is that you worked 20 qualifying quarters (5 years) in the 40 quarters (10 years) before you become disabled. A qualifying quarter is any quarter you earned the qualifying wage amount set by the government for that year.
By contrast, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a form of government assistance available to disabled people who have limited income and financial resources. You may qualify for one or both of these programs. Usually SSDI pays a higher benefit.
Regardless of which program you are financially qualified for, both programs use the same medical definition of disability. The Social Security Administration uses a very technical five-step analysis to determine if you are medically (or psychiatrically) disabled. Generally, the older you are, the easier it is to prove you are disabled, but there are very frequent exceptions to that general rule.
At McGraw and Associates, we help clients with SSDI/SSI applications and appeals. If you are unable to work or your work ability is significantly hindered by a physical or mental disability/injury, we can help. If you need to speak with a lawyer, contact our law office in Skippack, Pennsylvania. Call 610-584-9400 (Ext. 116) to schedule a free consultation with attorney Terence Sean McGraw.
No Recovery - No Fees
If you do not have the ability to pay an attorney, don't worry. We charge no attorney fees unless you are awarded SSDI/SSI benefits. If you do recover, the amount you pay is a small percentage of the retroactive (past) benefits you receive. We do not charge contingent (percentage) fees on future benefits.
Improve Your Chances - Retain an Attorney
According to the government's own statistics, the favorable award rate for 2006 was 33.7 percent of all decided claims. National statistics show that people with attorneys have a better chance of obtaining benefits. We begin working on your claim the very first time you step into our office. If you have not applied, we help you apply. We gather all your medical records to support your claim. Often, we request work records, school records, and other records necessary to show a complete picture of your case. Sometimes we contact your employer, family members, or clergy to seek their input and present that input to the Social Security Administration for a comprehensive picture of your disability. Based upon years of experience, we know what evidence the adjudicators like and what evidence they do not like. We work hard to create a file that gives the adjudicator a complete picture of your disability in a format that they want.
Attorney Terence Sean McGraw has more than 20 years of legal experience representing disabled people. He has helped countless clients obtain the SSDI/SSI benefits they need.
Physical Disabilities, Mental Disabilities, People Over 50
To receive SSDI or SSI benefits, you must be able to establish that you are unable to work in any type of employment. This can often be difficult for young workers who are expected to adjust more easily to changes in their work capabilities. After you reach the age of 50, special rules created by the Social Security Administration help make it easier to qualify for benefits. Therefore, the likelihood you will qualify for receive SSDI or SSI benefits increases with age.
Despite the stringent requirements for receipt of SSDI or SSI benefits, we have helped many clients obtain the relief they need. We represent workers of all ages and with all mental and physical disabilities, including back and neck injuries, clinical depression and anxiety, paralysis, loss of limb, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, suicidal ideations, brain damage, cancer, fibromyalgia and other physical/mental disabilities.
Contact Us
To speak with a Pennsylvania attorney about SSDI or SSI, contact McGraw & Associates, LLC in Skippack, Pennsylvania. Consultations are free. Fees are contingent upon successfully making or defending your claim.
