Social Security Lawyers in Oakley, California | Oakley, CA Social Security Attorneys | Contra Costa County, California SSI SSDI Law Firms

Should You Speak with a Social Security Attorney in Oakley, California?
 

If you have already applied for Social Security benefits and your claim was denied, you are among the majority. Roughly 65% - 75% of Social Security applications are not approved annually. You do not have to be among the number of people who fail to qualify for benefits. If you are disabled, you can increase the chances of qualifying for Social Security benefits by contacting an experienced Oakley Social Security attorney. Your Social Security lawyer can help you make a winning case for SSI or SSDI benefits. You do not have to go through this process alone. Being forced to live with a disability can make it practically impossible to function in society. If you are disabled and qualify for social security benefits, you will be entitled to monthly payments from the government. You may also qualify for medical coverage through Medicaid or Medicare, if your circumstances necessitate it. Social Security is an essential security blanket for those not able to work due to disability. The consequences of not qualifying can be severe.
 

How Much Should I Expect to Pay a Qualified Oakley Social Security Attorney?
 

Social Security attorneys are not necessarily as expensive as think. Most Social Security attorneys work on a “contingency” basis: meaning that they only get paid if your claim is successful. That means, in most cases, you have nothing to lose by working with a Social Security lawyer. The Social Security system oversees the amount a lawyer can charge for representing a client in a Social Security matter. Legal fees for Social Security cases are capped at 25% of the back pay awarded to you, up to a maximum of $6,000. Contact an experienced Oakley Social Security lawyer today by filling out the form on this webpage.
 

What Does the Typical Oakley Social Security Attorney Charge?
 

Since the people who need a Social Security attorney usually do not have a source of income, Social Security lawyers charge fees that make their services affordable. Most all Social Security lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they only get paid if your claim is successful. Social Security regulations set a cap for attorney fees of the lesser of the following: $6,000 or 25% from past due benefits awarded to you. What this means is that the most a Social Security attorney can charge is the smaller amount of 25% of your past due benefits or $6,000. All you have to do to contact an Oakley Social Security lawyer is fill out the questionnaire on this site.
 

SSDI and SSI Eligibility
 

There are two separate Social Security programs that provide disability payments to injured Americans: SSI and SSDI (Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance, respectively). In order to earn disability payments under either program, you must suffer from an injury that (1) prevents you from working for a year or more, or (2) results in death. In general, short-term injuries are not covered by the social security system.
 

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

Federal Workers Insurance for the Disabled - Contact a Knowledgeable Oakley, CA Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Lawyer Today
 

SSDI provides disability payments to Americans who can demonstrate a work history of paying taxes into the Social Security system. To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must prove (1) you have a disability that prevents you from working for at least one year, and (2) that you worked and paid social security taxes over the course of the previous years (the number of years depends on your age). SSDI recipients may also qualify for Medicare. Contact an experienced Oakley SSDI attorney today to learn more about qualifying for SSDI.
 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Experienced Oakley Disability Lawyers Help
 

SSI is truly a last line of defense for those who are disabled and have no money. SSI is welfare-based, which means that it is paid out regardless of your work history (unlike SSDI). SSI recipients receive monthly checks, and may also qualify for aid from the state, food stamps, and Medicaid. Don’t wait. Contact an experienced Oakley SSI lawyer today.
 

How do I Apply for Social Security and What Can I Expect? - Oakley, CA Social Security Disability Application and Appeals Attorneys
 

You can begin the application process for Social Security benefits online, in person, or by phone. The process can take a while because the number of applications is generally very high. Usually, you have to wait anywhere between three and six months, maybe longer before you will receive a decision on your eligibility for Social Security. 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 an Oakley Social Security lawyer can represent you.
 

The following are a few examples of the types of injuries and illnesses that have previously qualified as a disability for Social Security:

Local SSA Office of Oakley, CA
 

Low Cost Hospitals near Oakley, California
 

Pharmacies in and near Oakley, CA
 

Oakley Weather (Monthly Averages)
 

Serving clients throughout Western Central California, including Alameda, Alamo, Antioch, Benicia, Berkeley, Canyon, Castro Valley, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Dublin, El Cerrito, Hayward, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Martinez, Moraga, Oakland, Oakley, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Richmond, San Leandro, San Pablo, San Ramon, Tassajara, Vallejo, Walnut Creek, West Pittsburg, and other communities in Contra Costa County.