Social Security Disability
Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or end in death. As Lancaster, PA’s first choice for representation in social security disability cases, our specialists, including Social Security attorney Gabriella Hashem Farhat, will be able to facilitate and prepare the necessary claims to support your case. Our expert Social Security lawyers are here to help.
Our experienced Social Security lawyers are highly skilled in:
- Investigating,
evaluating and filing of claims with proper government agencies
- Preparation for
and appearance at agency hearings
- Helping you
through any appellate process
*A contingency fee arrangement applies
Before you decide to retain us as your Social Security attorneys, here are a few self-help guides. We hope that this provides you with some general guidelines concerning Social Security law, answers some of the many asked questions about the process and familiarizes you with the Social Security system.
Do I Qualify for Disability?
We’ve put together this helpful tool to help you determine if you may qualify for disability.
Fill out this brief form for a free case evaluation from the attorneys at Pyfer Reese Straub Gray & Farhat PC:
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IF:
- You were
employed and have earned 40 credits, with 20 credits in the last 10
years (roughly 5 years in the past 10 years); and
- You have a
severe medical impairment, physical, mental or both, which has
lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months; and
- Your medical
impairment prevents you from being substantially gainfully employed.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS IF:
- You are an
individual and have less than $2,000.00* in assets and monthly
income; or
- You are a
married couple and have less than $3,000.00* in assets and monthly
income; and
- You have a
severe medical impairment, physical, mental or both, which has
lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months; and
- Your medical
impairment prevents you from being substantially gainfully employed.
*may vary from year to year
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS OR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY BENEFITS YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY:
- Apply in person at your local Social Security office located at
- Social Security Administration
Greenfield Corporate Center
1809 Olde Homestead Lane, Suite 104
Lancaster, PA 17601;
or …
- Social Security Administration
- Complete and submit an online application at ssa.gov.
IF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DENIES YOUR APPLICATION
You have 60 days (plus a 5 day grace period) from the date of the decision to file an appeal. It is recommended that you immediately obtain counsel to review and assist you with the appeals process.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS ALONG WITH SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS
- You are required to wait for a delay period (4 to 6 months from your date of disability onset) before you become eligible for medical coverage.
- You may be required to pay a portion of your monthly medical bills before you are eligible to receive medical coverage.
YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS AS OF YOUR DATE OF DISABILITY IF YOU RECEIVE $1.00 OR MORE A MONTH IN SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.
IF YOU ARE NOT SUBSTANTIALLY GAINFULLY EMPLOYED YOU CAN WORK ON A LIMITED BASIS AND STILL COLLECT SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY OR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY OR REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY OR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME CLAIMS, HOWEVER:
- The initial
Social Security consultation is free of charge.
- It is
recommended that you contact an attorney to prepare your appeal.
- Your appeal may
require an informal case review or a more formal hearing before an
administrative law judge.
- Your social
security attorney will gather, organize and present evidence
to the Administrative Law Judge and in some cases can obtain
favorable decisions without going to a hearing.
- Your attorney
only gets paid fees if you receive a favorable decision and obtain
benefits, however, you will be required to reimburse any
out-of-pocket costs.
It will be our pleasure to assist you in any way possible.
Lancaster’s Social Security Disability Attorneys
Gabriella H. Farhat
Social Security Disability Resources
- Social Security Administration – Philadelphia region social security office