1. Who can receive Social Security disability benefits? The following people may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits: workers who become disabled; the disabled widows and widowers of deceased workers; the disabled adult children of deceased, retired or disabled workers, and disabled adults and children who meet strict financial need requirements. 2. Who is considered disabled under the Social Security Act? You must have severe physical or mental health problems which prevent you from performing any type of full-time work in order to be considered disabled under the Social Security Act. In most cases, Social Security considers your age, education, and work experience in deciding whether you are disabled. Your disability must last or be expected to last at least 12 continuous months.

3. When should I apply for Social Security disability benefits? If you have to stop work because of a serious illness or injury and it looks like you may be unable to work for at least a year, you should apply for benefits right away. There is no advantage in delaying the application. You may lose past-due benefits by waiting.

4. How do I apply for Social Security disability benefits? You can go to the nearest Social Security office and wait (often for a few hours) to file in person or you can call Social Security by telephone and arrange for a telephone interview to file the claim.

5. How long will it take to get a decision on my application? It usually takes around four months to get a first decision on your application. About 65% of the people who apply for Social Security disability benefits are denied at the first step. If your application is denied at the first step and you have to file appeals, it can often take eighteen months or more for your claim to be approved.

6. What should I do if my application is denied? Don't give up. If your application is denied, you should immediately contact a lawyer who specializes in helping people with Social Security claims. A high percentage of the people who pursue their appeals with the help of an experienced Social Security lawyer win their cases. In our office, there is no charge for a conference to review your case.

7. What does it cost to hire a lawyer? Our fee is one-fourth of the past-due benefits if your claim is approved, subject to a cap of $6,000.00. No fee is charged if your claim is not approved. Win or lose, you would be responsible for our out-of-pocket expenses such as the cost of obtaining medical records and reports.