Social Security Lawyers in Watsonville, California | Watsonville, CA Social Security Attorneys | Santa Cruz County, California SSI SSDI Law Firms

Find a Skilled Watsonville, California Social Security Attorney

Does a disability make it difficult to find or keep a job? You may be entitled to monthly checks from the government while you are disabled. An experienced Watsonville Social Security lawyer can increase the chance that you will win your Social Security application. Qualifying individuals may be entitled to monthly payments as well as medical care and additional resources from your state government. To speak with an experienced Watsonville social security attorney as soon as possible, fill out the form on the site. You’re just a click away from getting the Social Security help that you need to survive.
 

Why You Should Seek Assistance when Applying for SSI or SSDI Benefits
 

More than half of first-time applicants are denied Social Security benefits each year. 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 Watsonville 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. 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.
 

How Much Does Hiring an Experienced Watsonville, California Social Security Attorney Cost?
 

While attorneys can sometimes be expensive to hire, a Watsonville Social Security attorney is affordable, even for someone who unemployed due to a disability. Social security attorneys are generally paid according to a strict fee schedule on a contingency basis. This means they can only be paid if they prevail in your claim. That makes sense because claimants often are not able to afford an attorney with the money they have. 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. All you have to do to contact a Watsonville Social Security lawyer is fill out the questionnaire on the website.
 

SSDI and SSI Eligibility
 

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 Watsonville, 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 Watsonville, California a factor in obtaining Social Security disability benefits? - If you are working in Watsonville 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 Watsonville, 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.
 

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) – Contact a Knowledgeable Watsonville, CA Disability Insurance Lawyer Now

If you have a work history of paying into Social Security, you may be eligible to receive SSDI payments. SSDI is a natural insurance program that pays those who are disabled and have a qualifying work history (the duration you are required to have worked to qualify depends on your age). SSDI recipients may also qualify for Medicare. Learn more by contacting an experienced Watsonville SSDI lawyer and learn about whether you qualify for Social Security.
 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Experienced Watsonville, California Disability Lawyers Help
 

The SSI system provides monthly payments, of a minimum amount, to disabled Americans. These benefits are paid regardless of whether the disabled person had previously paid into the Social Security system. Although the benefit payments are generally lower under SSI than SSDI, the funds help those who critically need it. Successful SSI claimants may also qualify for Medicaid. Fill out the form on the site to contact an experienced Watsonville SSI attorney and begin the process to get the benefits you need to live.
 

From Application to Appeal: The Social Security Process - Watsonville, CA Social Security Disability Appeals Law Firms
 

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 a Watsonville Social Security attorney today to discuss your appeal.
 

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

Local SSA Office in Watsonville, California
 

Low Cost Hospitals in and near Watsonville, California
 

Pharmacies in and near Watsonville, California
 

Watsonville Weather (Monthly Averages)
 

Watsonville social security disability attorneys serve clients throughout Central Coast California including Capitola, Santa Cruz, Amesti, Aptos, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, Corralitos, Davenport, Day Valley, Felton, Freedom, La Selva Beach, Live Oak, Lompico, Mount Hermon, Paradise Park, Pleasure Point, Seacliff, Soquel, Twin Lakes, Zayante and other communities in Santa Clara County, Monterey County and Santa Cruz County.