The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to individuals who cannot earn an income to support themselves and their families. If you are considering an application for SSI benefits, having an experienced SSI attorney to represent you can help ease the process.
Your first obstacle to receiving benefits can be eligibility, which includes establishing your inability to work or disability. A Kansas City SSI eligibility lawyer at BurnettDriskill can advise you on what can disqualify you from being eligible and what you will need to know as you apply.
There are several different factors that can affect your eligibility for SSI benefits, but those factors generally include your resources and your disability. The SSA will evaluate your resources, not just traditional income, to determine if you have the required need for government assistance. Resources can include, among other items:
In order to qualify for SSI benefits, your resources must be less than $2,000 a month, though the SSA does exclude certain resources from being counted (such as the house you live in).
Beyond showing your limited resources, you will also need to establish that you have a disability, meaning that you have a medically supported physical or mental impairment that prevents you from gainful work activity. You also must establish that the disability is expected to last for at least a year before applying for benefits or establish that you expect the disability to result in death.
Documentation of your resources and your disability will form the foundation for your SSI eligibility, and our Kansas City attorneys can help you gather that evidence for your benefits application.
Speaking with an attorney can clarify your status, both in terms of your available resources and your disability. Your lawyer can explain your potential SSI eligibility based on your current situation. Once you understand your eligibility, you can then apply for SSI benefits with the help of your attorney.
Your application will include documentation of your resources (such as financial statements and records of property) and of your disability (such as medical records), and your attorney can ensure that those records sufficiently demonstrate your eligibility.
Your lawyer can also represent you during the application process if the SSA requires additional information or makes a negative decision. If the agency denies your application or grants you a lower level of benefits than you deserve, your attorney can appeal on your behalf.
When the issue concerns eligibility, your attorney will be ready to argue against the SSA if the agency determines that you either have too many resources or that you are not disabled. Our Kansas City lawyers can ensure that the SSA follows its own rules and regulations when evaluating your SSI eligibility and considers your application appropriately.
SSI benefits may be a lifeline for you when you are unable to get income from working and your resources are too limited to sustain yourself. Discovering if you are eligible for benefits can start with the application process, and a Kansas City SSI eligibility lawyer can aid you in that initial determination.
Contact our team at BurnettDriskill today to schedule a free consultation to review your eligibility and get started.
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