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California Disability Law Firm

California Disability Law Firm

California Disability Law Firm

There are always advantages to having a California Disability Law Firm in your contact list. Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center has the knowledge and expertise to help you through a crucial time of need—that is, when you find yourself needing to file for disability.

In fact, California residents are eligible for special programs. There is a state disability insurance program where California employers offer private disability insurance. A small percentage of an employee’s check is deducted and placed into a special disability fund. If there is ever a point where you are unable to work due to a medical conditions and cannot perform your work as you regular could, this fund can help pay for disability benefits when you can no longer depend on wages.

Employers who offer employee health insurance must offer COBRA benefits to a former employee for a period of time after they leave the job. If you were in an emergency, this could be beneficial in supplementing help while you find a better benefits program for your situation.

If you are a government employee, chances are you have a disability benefits program and maintain a special status under the law with your own disability program which can provide you with income assistance, job protection, and medical care.

A lot of people would assume that only those who had underlying conditions or disabilities they were born with will need to call a California Disability Law Firm so they can apply for a disability program, but unfortunately, disabilities can be a result from vehicle accidents, diseases developed at a later age, botched surgeries, and so on. These conditions can develop to severe levels, resulting in having to drastically lower your work hours or have to leave your job entirely. Without a steady income, you can imagine how difficult life will become apart from the disabilities you have.

Apart from an employer’s private disability insurance program, there is also CalWORKS, a program that works if you are disabled and have a limited income. You can become eligible for benefits as well as employment assistance. Your California Disability Law Firm can help assist in determining if you are eligible for these programs or if you would be a better fit for other programs available to all Americans, such as SNAP, SSDI, Temporary Assitance, or even Unemployment.

Whatever the case may be, early intervention works, and calling a California Disability Law Firm to know what your options are now may be to your benefit whether you are disabled or not. Call us at 530-362-7188 or toll free at 877-233-8399 for a free consultation.

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Related Post: How A Workplace Accident Attorney Can Help With Workers Comp Claims

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Grass Valley Social Security Law

Disability Claim Lawyer in Roseville

If you find you can no longer work at your regular job, it is often a good idea to call one of your local Grass Valley Social Security lawyers. It’s never too late nor too early to find out if you are eligible, and our team of professionals at Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center can help you investigate your eligibility so that you do not feel alone during the process.

Why apply for Social Security benefits?

The most available program for disability benefits is the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) as well as the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) which are both provided by Social Security which most people are entitled to if they have the earnings history needed or if you otherwise fall under a certain income level.  While being unable to work your regular job alone is not enough to qualify for SSDI or SSI, it may mean you’ve suffered a job related injury, either because of a specific injury OR because of cumulative stress on a body part over time.

For Social Security Disability or SSI purposes, you must provide adequate information to prove you are unable to work your current job and also unable to work basically at any job for at least a year.  You must supply medical proof of the ailments that deem you incapable of work. Grass Valley Social Security lawyers will be able to determine if you are eligible if you have proof that shows you can’t really do any sort of work for twelve months or more due to your medical conditions (whether physical or mental or a combination). You don’t need to wait the whole 12 months to apply.

Why contact an Attorney?

With the amount of experience we have in the field, we can make the process easier for you and be there for you every step of the way. Social Security has deadlines, proceedings, and rules that might be hard to follow but that we know all too well. We can work closely with your doctors to get the right documentation to support your case and act as a bridge between your doctors and Social Security.

Not only that, but most of these cases also go to the hearing level.  it is a trial in front of a judge, and an attorney’s input, guidance and support is very important.  Early legal intervention is the key to not only ensuring your case may not have to be escalated to that level, but Grass Valley Social Security lawyers can help represent you in front of an Administrative Law Judge if that were to happen.

No matter what the case may be, make sure to contact Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center as soon as possible, as more likely than not there is a time limit to file or appeal a claim. Time is of the essence, and we will make sure to use this time efficiently to get you the help you need and deserve.

Contact our office for a free consultation or referral at 530-362-7188.

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El Dorado Disability Lawyer

Disability Advocates

If you are injured or diagnosed with a condition that impairs your ability to work, one of the first places it will be suggested that you turn is Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Most Americans have heard of it but many do not realize exactly what it is until we are faced with a need for it. If you need and El Dorado disability lawyer, Gold Country has helped guide thousands of individuals from across California through the process of applying for and receiving SSDI benefits. 

 

What is SSDI?

SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It was established in 1956 by president Eisenhower. It is actually an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1935 which previously did not include insurance for those with disabilities. The program pays monthly stipends to those who qualify to help cover lost income. The amount given is determined on a case-by-case basis and is generally determined based on the amount of Social Security benefits accumulated before a person stops working. 

 

What is SSI?

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income.  If you haven’t paid enough “quarters” into Social Security to qualify for regular SS benefits (including retirement!) then SSI provides a safety net for people who are disabled and cannot work AND have very low resources to support themselves.

How do I apply for SSDI?

The first step in getting Social Security Disability benefits actually should happen before even submitting your application: determining if you are eligible. There are many regulations put in place to help ensure that the program is not abused. This means that recipients must meet very specific benchmarks in order to be considered eligible. The two main requirements are that you have 1) worked long enough and recently enough in a job included under Social Security and 2) have a condition that meets their definition of a ‘disability’. An El Dorado disability lawyer can be especially useful in this step as the conditions to qualify fluctuate yearly and can be purposefully convoluted. Our lawyers have years of California-specific experience and will be able to ascertain if you have a good chance of approval.  YOU CAN APPLY ON LINE on the Social Security website.

 

Once you have resolved to move onto your application, there are a few options for submitting. While there are in-person and over-the-phone processes, the most common avenue for proposals is online. You will be asked to compile an extensive list of medical, financial, and personal documents to be looked over by a state official called a Disability Examiner who works under the Disability Determination Services. 

 

Due to the huge influx of requests, Examiners will be looking for very specific wording within the application in order to approve an individual. Gold Country Worker’s Comp Center knows exactly the information that California Disability Examiners will be searching for. We will make sure that you have everything in place and worded as cleanly as possible in order to make your application appealing, thorough, and straightforward. 

How do I apply for SSI?

To apply, you have to submit a written application.  You can do this by setting an appointment at the closest SS office, or on the phone with a SS representative.

Can I reapply if my claim has been denied for SSDI or SSI? 

Yes! This is called a Reconsideration Filling and is perfectly valid, but they do have a notoriously high denial rate. An El Dorado Disability Lawyer will greatly improve your chances of an accepted Reconsideration. This is because we are able to quickly pinpoint the mistakes in your documents that most likely lead to your refusal the first time around. Oftentimes, the medical documents provided do not clearly or adequately communicate the severity or nature of a person’s condition. This is especially true if your doctor is unaware of your intent to file for disability or if you are using outdated documents. The problem may also simply be a mistake on the part of your Examiner. No matter the reason, Gold Country can help you determine if you have a solid case for reconsideration and help restructure your application. 

 

Gold Country Workers Comp Center knows that disability benefits are the right of every qualifying American. We work tirelessly to provide each of our clients with the best chance of obtaining the compensation they deserve. Contact us for a free consultation and see if you could be receiving assistance. 

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El Dorado Disability Lawyer

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Lake Tahoe Social Security Disability Lawyer

California Disability Case

Life is known to throw the unexpected curveball or two. You may find yourself needing a  Lake Tahoe or Reno area Social Security Disability Lawyer. Many people find themselves in a situation where a new or preexisting disability prevents them from working. This is where the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) can come in. 

SSDI is a government-run Social Security program. It provides monthly assistance to qualified individuals who are unable to work. Filing A SSDI claim can be complicated, and it is imperative that a person gives themselves the best chance for their request to be approved. Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center has a team of lawyers who specialize in Social Security Disability Insurance and are dedicated to seeing their clients receive the assistance they deserve. We are here to help wrangle all of the moving pieces into place and simplify the process of applying for SSDI benefits so you can focus on living your life.  Even if you don’t qualify for SSDI benefits, you may qualify for SSI benefits.

The Social Security Administration also offers the SSI program, which is different than the SSDI program.  SSI (Supplemental Security Income) a minimal safety net for those who can’t work for medical reasons but who don’t have enough credits to qualify for SSDI.  It requires the same medical showing of disability as SSDI, but pays less than SSDI and you must have minimal resources to qualify.

How to know if you qualify for SSDI or SSI:

A citizen who has paid into the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) at some point in their lives may believe that they are automatically eligible to receive benefits. However, this is not always the case. SSDI eligibility is determined by a point system. These points, formally called credits, are accumulated when a person works any job and pays Social Security Disability insurance. You can earn up to four credits per year. This leads some people to believe that they rack up one point quarterly, yet this is untrue. Credits are determined by your income, and the dollar amount that corresponds to one point fluctuates yearly. Depending on how old you are when seeking out disability insurance assistance, the number of points needed to qualify changes. 

Younger applicants require fewer credits, as they have been able to work fewer years.  This is much different than retirement benefits, where a steady 40 credits are needed to qualify. Confusingly, the number of credits needed does not climb linearly with age. There are also restrictions based on when your credits were accrued which muddies the water further. Finally, there are certain medical situations that can qualify you for the program.  If you need assistance in determining if you are a candidate for SSDI benefits, contact a Lake Tahoe or Reno area social security disability lawyer at Gold Country Workers’ Comp Center.

The Gold Country Difference

Hiring a social security disability lawyer is, on average, shown to increase your chances of having a successful SSDI claim. But Gold Country Workers’ Comp brings an additional layer of experience, professionalism, and comfort to the process with our team of California lawyers helmed by Kim LaValley, Gold Country’s founder, and Kyle Adamson. 

LaValley decided to pursue a law degree after growing up in a legal family. His devotion to providing counsel to those who need it most was ingrained in him from his earliest years and has carried him through his 40+ year career. It is also a sentiment shared by Adamson, who applies his years of experience and deep commitment to his clients at Gold Country to each new case. If you are looking to file an SSDI claim, please do not hesitate to contact us or check to see if you live in a county we service!

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Lake Tahoe Social Security Disability Lawyer

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Sacramento Disability Lawyer – 5 FAQ About California Disability

Workers Compensation Help in Roseville

When handling a disability case, it’s in your best interest to find a Sacramento disability lawyer that can help you navigate through the process. California and Federal disability laws are more complex than many people believe.  The rules governing eligibility for California State Disability are very different from the rules governing Federal (Social Security) disability programs.  They are similar in that they both are basically non-profit  insurance programs, but disabled people need to know the differences. 

It’s not at all uncommon for people to have questions regarding their disability benefits. We will try to cover some of the more common frequently asked questions in the article below. If you’re interested in consulting a California disability lawyer about your case directly, please contact Gold Country Comp Center.

What Happens If My Social Social Security Disability Claim Is Denied?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) routinely denies initial applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. 

Both SSDI and SSI require the same medical showing to qualify, but SSDI is a better program available only to those who have paid enough into the Social Security program.  SSI eligibility requires proof that you are medically disabled AND have very low access to resources. 

If your initial application to Social Security is denied, it’s important to know that you will need to respond quickly if this occurs. There are only 60 days following the date on your SSA letter to appeal your denied claim. It’s possible that you can still save your benefits if you act quickly.

California State Disability Insurance is funded by deductions from your paychecks and once your account has enough quarters paid in, you are eligible if a doctor certifies you cannot perform the duties of your regular job.  It is a stopgap measure to provide some income pending a successful resolution of a denied or delayed workers’ compensation claim, or if your TOTAL disability will be for more than one year, pending approval of your SSDI or SSI claim.

If Approved, What Do My Disability Benefits Include?

Disability benefits can include any number of things. Qualifying claimants will receive individual monthly monetary benefits, and for SSDI claims, you will receive Medicare, and for for SSI claims, MediCal/Medicaid), or family benefits. The formula that is used to calculate each person’s SSDI benefits generally provides more benefits than early retirement pays. A Sacramento disability lawyer will be able to help answer your questions in more detail after reviewing your case.

How Do I Know If My Disability Qualifies Me For Benefits?

The Social Security Act defines an eligible disability as the “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months or result in death.” To be certain your disability qualifies, it’s recommended to visit with a qualified physician to be sure you can produce evidence of the nature and extent of your impairments, and to also consult with a disability attorney.

Do I Still Qualify If I Haven’t Worked In Awhile?

In order to qualify for disability benefits, a person will need to have a certain amount of Social Security earnings or work credits within the qualifying time frame. One way to determine this is by counting the number of years in the last decade you’ve worked. You most likely will have enough work credits to qualify if you have worked at least five or more years. A Sacramento disability lawyer can help you calculate whether or not you qualify.

Can I Still Appeal If My Application Was Denied Last Year?

There are no limits regarding how many times someone can apply for disability benefits. This includes if you have an application that was previously denied. If your medical condition has worsened since you were denied, it’s possible that your case will be approved when you apply again. If you’re considering appealing a denied application, speaking with a disability attorney directly will be helpful to you.

For more answers to frequently asked questions about California disability benefits, visit our Social Security Disability FAQ page.

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Sacramento Disability Lawyer