Social Security Disability benefits are insurance benefits you pay premiums for with every cent of FICA withheld from your paycheck, or, if you are self–employed, with every cent of self–employment tax you pay on yourself. When you become too ill to work, you are entitled to these benefits.

Social Security Disability is not welfare! You have earned it buy paying in.

Typically, there is a five year "grace" period where coverage continues after you have stopped working. You remain insured for benefits during this period. If you decide to apply benefits after your coverage has expired, you may still be able to win if you can show that you were ill while you still had coverage.

You might wonder what is meant by disability. In the world of Social Security Disability, a disability is an impairment or combination of impairments, physical or mental, that stop a client from working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Often, a good claim is denied for "boiler plate" reasons such as your not being disabled before your coverage expired, or your being able to do work other than your past work. You should not take these "reasons" as a statement of fact. When your claim is denied no matter the reason, call a lawyer right away to review your circumstances while you were still insured. There is often very good evidence available showing that you are disabled, but it takes the skill of an experienced advocate to find it and present it.

Call my firm at (503) 620–3171 or contact us online for a free consultation.