Social Security Disability FAQS

Your initial Social Security Disability application can take up to 90 days or more to process. Providing accurate medical information during the initial Social Security Disability application will result in a quicker decision.

You need to file a request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge within sixty (60) days of receiving your Notice of Disapproved Claim. At this time, you should also consider contacting an experienced attorney for assistance with your case.

Hearings in Pennsylvania may take 12 to 15 months to be scheduled.

Statistics show that individuals are more likely to win a Social Security Disability claims when represented by an attorney.  There are thousands of Social Security Disability rules and regulations that you must navigate during your claim. Having legal representation makes the process easier and more predictable. Attorney Barbara Welton has 17 years of experience helping injured and disabled people get the benefits they deserve, including Social Security Disability benefits. 

Your minor children can qualify for a payment based on your earnings record, but your spouse does not. 

Yes. The Social Security Administration’s definition of disability does not require total disability, as in the inability to do any work.  You can work in a part time capacity and still qualify for Social Security Disability income (SSDI) benefits. You cannot, however, make more than $1,090.00 per month in gross earnings to remain eligible for Social Security Disability income (SSDI).

The ability to earn money is more tightly controlled in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases.  If you are earning any wages, it will likely reduce, or eliminate your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment.

Don't give up! Continue filing new applications for benefits. Attorney Barbara Welton has a proven track record of obtaining Social Security Disability benefits for clients who were rejected many times before reaching to her. 

Absolutely. Many medical providers believe that a person must be totally disabled from all work in order to qualify for Social Security Disability. This is not true. Attorney Barbara Welton often wins benefits for clients who do not have any statement from a doctor stating they are “disabled”.

While it is preferred to represent a client as early in the disability application process as possible, Welton Law will take on clients at all stages of a disability claim.  

You’re right. The system is unfair in the sense that individuals (claim reviewers, Administrative Law Judges, and Federal Judges) are reviewing each applicant’s claim and each reviewer views cases a little differently. Your neighbor might have won his case in front of a Judge who has a higher approval rating than others. There are very deserving people who deserve benefits but their cases are heard by someone who takes a tougher review of the Social Security Disability rules and don’t win on their first (and sometimes second) try.

The law allows you to collect both Social Security Disability benefits and Workers’ Compensation. Unfortunately, you cannot collect both in the full amounts awarded.  If you are receiving Workers’ Compensation lost wage benefits at the time you are awarded Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, your monthly Social Security Disability payment will be reduced based on the amount of your Workers’ Compensation payment. It is not a dollar-for-dollar reduction. Instead, the reduction is based on a calculation determined by the Social Security Administration.  

If you are awarded Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits, you will be eligible for Medicare once you’ve received benefits for two years.  Medicare is the federally funded and administered health care system for both disabled and retired Americans.

Medicaid, the state run health insurance program, is available to those who are receiving Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. 

It is possible for a recipient of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits to qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.  That determination is made by the Social Security Administration and the person’s financial situation.

Both Medicare and Medicaid benefits stop if a recipient is no longer eligible to receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.