Social Security Lawyers in Lake Forest, California | Lake Forest, CA Social Security Attorneys | Orange County, California SSI SSDI Law Firms

Social Security Attorneys in Lake Forest, California Can Assist You
 

Considering applying for Social Security because of a disability? Social Security disability income (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI),were created for individuals who are not able to work due to a disability. The federal SSDI and SSI system is complicated and not easy to understand. Whether you are a first time applicant or you have been previously rejected for SSI and/or SSDI, an experienced Lake Forest Social Security lawyer can help you. By filling out the questionnaire on this site, you can contact an experienced Lake Forest Social Security attorney with whom you can discuss your specific disability and situation. Don’t wait any longer; it is time to get the help you need.
 

Moving Forward: How SSI and SSDI Benefits Can Help You
 

More than half of first-time applicants are denied Social Security benefits each year. Working with an experienced Lake Forest social security lawyer can increase the chance your Social Security claim will be successful because you will be working with someone who understands the criteria that the Social Security review board is looking for and knows how to apply it to your individual circumstances. The consequences of losing your social security claim can have far-reaching impacts for you and your loved ones. Those who qualify will receive monthly payments to help defray the cost of living. In many cases, may also be able to get Medicare or Medicaid. These benefit payments and other potential benefits can often mean the difference between survival and homelessness for people afflicted with serious disabilities.
 

How can I afford an Lake Forest, CA Social Security Attorney When I Have No Income?
 

While attorneys can sometimes be expensive to hire, an Lake Forest Social Security attorney is affordable, even for someone who unemployed due to a disability. Generally, you do not pay a Social Security lawyer unless he or she is able to win your claim and get you benefits. This means they only get paid if you get paid. A Social Security attorney is legally not allowed to charge more than 25% of the back pay/past due benefits awarded to you, up to a maximum of $6,000. Moreover, you are protected because the government must approve the attorney’s fee before you are required to pay your lawyer for his services. After filling out the questionnaire on this page, an experienced Lake Forest Social Security attorney will call or email you to discuss the specifics of your case.
 

Educate Yourself: The difference between SSDI and SSI
 

Disability payments under SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) are contingent upon you proving the existence of a disability. The disability must prevent you from working for a year or more. Disability payments are made monthly to those who qualify. The SSDI and SSI programs are related, but different.
 

1.    How is disability defined in Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest, California a factor in obtaining Social Security disability benefits? - If you are working in Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest, 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.
 

SSDI - Contact a Skilled Lake Forest, California Disability Insurance Lawyer As Soon As Possible
 

You must establish a work history of paying into social security as well as a qualifying disability to qualify for SSDI monthly payments. So, not everyone qualifies for the SSDI program. If you receive disability payments under SSDI you may also qualify for Medicare coverage. Contact an experienced Lake Forest SSDI attorney to learn whether your situation qualifies you for some Social Security benefit.
 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Experienced Lake Forest Disability Lawyers Help
 

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 Lake Forest SSI attorney, fill out the questionnaire on this webpage.
 

The Social Security Process from Application to Appeal - Lake Forest, CA SSI and SSDI Disability Appeals Attorneys
 

To apply for Social Security, you can start an application online, in person, or by calling the social security administration directly. The process can take upward of six months to review your case. You can have your case reviewed by an appeal panel if you are initially denied social security benefits. Having an attorney to represent you in the appeal is very preferable. Contact an Lake Forest Social Security attorney today to discuss your appeal.
 

The list below contains some examples of the types of illnesses and injuries that have qualified previous applicants for a Social Security disability:

Local SSA Office of Lake Forest, California
 

Low Cost Hospitals near Lake Forest, CA
 

Pharmacies in and near Lake Forest, California
 

Lake Forest Weather (Monthly Averages)
 

Lake Forest social security attorneys serve clients throughout Southwestern California, including Anaheim, Artesia, Bellflower, Brea, Buena Park, Cerritos, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Beach, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Kathryn, La Habra, La Mirada, Los Alamitos, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Norwalk, Orange, Placentia, Rossmoor, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Tustin Foothills, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda, and other communities in Orange County.