Social Security Lawyers in Foster City, California | Foster City, CA Social Security Attorneys | San Mateo County, California SSI SSDI Law Firms

Find a Skilled Foster City, California Social Security Attorney

Does your disability limit your ability to support yourself? The good news is Social Security can provide much-needed relief to qualifying individual. If you qualify for benefits, you may be entitled to monthly checks from the federal government to help cover expenses while you are unable to work due to your disability. Some may qualify for other assistance, such as: medical care coverage, food stamps, and other assistance from the state government. Foster City Social Security lawyers help the most vulnerable citizens qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
 

Your SSI or SSDI Application: Get it Right the First Time
 

Roughly 65 – 75% of first-time applicants are denied Social Security benefits. The success of your Social Security claim often hinges on whether you effectively laid out the best argument for your disability to the review board. Foster City social security attorneys have experience and knowledge on how to present your case most effectively. By working with a lawyer, you do not have to second-guess whether you are characterizing your disability in the most effective way possible. If you win your Social Security claim, you will be entitled to a monthly benefit payment from the US government. In many cases, you can also qualify for state and/or federal assistance with medical care. For example, SSDI claimants can apply for and potentially qualify for Medicare benefits, while SSI claimants may qualify for Medicaid benefits.
 

Foster City Social Security Attorneys: What do They Charge?
 

Social Security attorneys are not necessarily as expensive as think. Most all Social Security lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they only get paid if your claim is successful. The federal government caps the amount that a Social Security lawyer can charge. They are generally limited to a maximum of 25% of the back pay owed to you (as opposed to future payments). That means that if you are owed $10,000 in payments from the months prior to your decision, the attorney can only make $2,500 – 25% of your back pay. The law goes on to state that a Social Security attorney cannot make more than $6,000 from your case in total. After filling out the questionnaire on the site, an experienced Foster City Social Security attorney will call or email you to discuss the specifics of your case.
 

Learn About SSDI and SSI: Your Federal Social Security Programs
 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) have strict requirements. Both systems provide disability payments to those who cannot work for a year or more due to an injury. Although their purposes are very similar, SSI and SSDI are, in fact, quite different.
 

1.    How is disability defined in Foster City, California? - In order to receive Social Security disability benefits, you must meet the Social Security Administration's
        standard for disability.
        a.    The term disability is defined as being unable to engage in “substantial gainful activity” [SGA] due to a of a physical or mental impairment which has lasted
                - or is expected to last - for a minimum of 12 months, or is expected to result in death.
2.    Is working in Foster City, California a factor in obtaining Social Security disability benefits? - If you are working in Foster City and the work meets the definition of
       substantial gainful activity, you are considered able to work and, therefore, you are not disabled and would not qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
       In 2012, if you earn more than $1010 per month (after taxes), you are probably not eligible for Social Security, unless there special circumstances exist.
3.    Do You Have a Severe Impairment? - In order to be considered severely impaired, you must have a medical problem that significantly limits your physical or
       mental ability to perform basic work activities. The impairment must be expected to last for 12 months or result in death.
4.    Does Your Medical Condition Match One of SSA’s Listed Impairments? - The Social Security Administration (SSA) has promulgated a list of medical conditions
        ["Listing of Impairments."] of such great severity that the SSA considers people who with the conditions disabled;
        1.    If your condition is not included in the SSA's Listing of Impairments, you have to ask yourself the following question in regard to obtaining Social Security
               Disability Benefits:
               1.  Am I able to do the same type of work I was able to do before the onset of the disability? - If the SSA determines that you are able to continue doing the same
                    work as you did before your medical condition you may have difficulty proving eligibility. The measure of how capable you are at doing your job after the
                   onset of your disability as opposed to before the onset of the disability is called the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). In determining your eligibility for
                   benefits, the SSA compares your current RFC with the physical and mental demands of your past jobs. If you are physically and mentally able to do a job that
                   you have held within the last fifteen years, then SSA considers you "not disabled." If you are not able to perform any of your past jobs,
                   then ask yourself:
5.    Despite Your Medical Condition, Can You Do Other Work? - If you are unable to perform work similar to what you have done in the past, then the SSA will
       determine whether you are able to perform other types of work rather than collect benefits.
 

Can Children in Foster City, California Qualify for Disability Benefits? Yes, but What is the Criteria?
 

Financially, needy children under age 18 who have serious medical conditions may be eligible for Children's SSI. A child is disabled for SSI if the child is not working and earning more than the SGA level and has a medical condition or combination of conditions that cause "marked and severe functional limitations." Medical evidence documenting the child's medical condition is essential.
 

Can I qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)? Work with an Experienced Foster City Disability Insurance Lawyer Immediately

SSDI is a federal benefit program that pays disability benefits to people who have paid into the Social Security system. In order to qualify, you must have a qualifying disability as well as a work history of paying Social Security taxes. Thus, not everyone qualifies for SSDI. Those who do qualify may also be eligible for Medicare coverage, depending on the duration of your disability. Contact an experienced Foster City Social Security SSDI attorney to learn if you qualify.
 

Supplemental Security Income: A Welfare-based Program
 

SSI is paid out like welfare, meaning you must earn less than a certain amount of money to qualify. In addition, you need to be disabled and unable to work in order to qualify for SSI. SSI pays out a smaller amount of money than SSDI. Unlike SSDI, however, you are not required to have paid into the Social Security system to qualify for SSI payments. In addition, SSI recipients qualify for medical care through Medicaid. To contact an experienced Foster City SSI attorney, fill out the questionnaire on the webpage.
 

The Social Security Process from Application to Appeal - Foster City SSI and SSDI Disability Appeals Attorneys
 

You can start your application for Social Security benefits online today. You can also apply in person, or start the process over the phone by calling a local Social Security branch office. The initial review of eligibility can take upwards of four to six months. In the event that the government denies your social security application, you have the right to appeal the decision. At the appeal, you can represent yourself or you can hire a Foster City Social Security lawyer can represent you.
 

Below is a list of some of the illnesses and injuries that have qualified for a disability under Social Security:
 

Local SSA Office of Foster City, California
 

Low Cost Hospitals near Foster City, CA
 

Pharmacies in Foster City, California
 

Foster City Weather (Monthly Averages)
 

Foster City social security disability attorneys serve clients throughout Western California, including Alameda, Burlingame, Concord, Daly City, Fairfield, Foster City, Fremont, Gilroy, Hayward, Livermore, Morgan Hill, Menlo Park, Napa, Novato, Oakland, Pacifica, Petaluma, Richmond, Rohnert Park, Salinas, San Bruno, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Vacaville, Watsonville, areas in the vicinity of San Francisco International Airport, and other communities in San Mateo County.