Disability Attorney Fort Collins, CO: Getting You the Financial Assistance You Need

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI provides monthly payments to individuals with a disabling condition that prevents them from working. Here are the criteria: 

• Paid Social Security taxes for a predetermined number of years

• Have a medical condition that meets the Social Security’s disability definition

• Be unable to work for a year or more due to a long-term disability

The official Social Security Administration (SSA) website guidelines state that you must be unable to perform substantial gainful work. “Substantial” means significant and productive physical or mental activity. “Gainful” means work that’s done for pay or profit. Even if you cannot do the job you did before your disabling condition, the SSA does not consider you disabled if you can still do other kinds of work. 

In addition to meeting the disability definition, you must have worked long enough to qualify for SSD benefits. Social Security work credits are based on your yearly income, and you can earn up to four credits each year.

To receive Social Security Disability benefits, you need 40 credits, 20 of which must have been earned in the last 10 years. If you qualify for SSDI, you’ll receive your money in the sixth full month after the date your disability claim decision was made.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with disabilities whose income falls below specified limits. The difference between SSDI and SSI is that SSDI benefits are funded by Social Security. 

This is not the case with SSI, a needs-based program funded by the Treasury Department. You can receive disability payments from this program even if you’ve never worked a day in your life. SSI is for short term and long term. Each case varies. We can help you figure out what your next steps are with our expert legal advice.

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits in Fort Collins, CO

There are three ways you can file a disability claim in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States:

• Complete the initial application online.

• Call the SSA’s toll-free telephone number: 1-800-772-1213. If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, contact them at TTY 1-800-325-0778.

• Call or visit your local Social Security office. If applying in person, make an appointment. 

Here are the documents you need:

• Social Security number and proof of age 

• Names of medical professionals who provided care for you and visit dates 

• Medical records that you already have on hand, including Workers Compensation documentation

• Names and dosages of all medications

• Laboratory and test results

• A comprehensive work history

• Your most recent W-2 form or, if self-employed, a copy of your federal government tax return

• Social Security numbers and proof of age for each family member who is applying 

• Proof that you're married if your wife or husband is also applying for benefits and dates of previous marriages 

The Disability Determination Services (DDS) reviews your Social Security disability claim and makes the decision for the SSA. Sometimes, this agency needs more information before making a determination. If that’s the case, the DDS will ask you to have a medical examination paid for by the SSA.

Gathering and presenting compelling medical evidence is crucial in disability claims. A lawyer specializing in Social Security Disability law–like the ones at Impact Disability Law–can work with healthcare providers to obtain detailed medical records and expert opinions supporting your claim. 

What You Can Do if Your Disability Case Is Denied by the Social Security Administration  

If your SSDI or SSI application is rejected, you have the right to appeal, but you must do so within 60 days. Here are the four stages of the application process: 

Reconsideration

Reconsideration means a party not involved in the initial disability claim decision reviews your file. Your chances of winning benefits at this stage are low. In 2023, only eight percent of Social Security disability cases succeeded at this level.

Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)

The next step is a hearing with an administrative law judge–the fact finders and decision-makers in administrative hearings. At this stage, over 50% of applicants are awarded benefits. 

Appeals Council Review 

If you don’t succeed at the hearing stage, you have the right to a hearing before the Appeals Council. The Council will review the administrative law judge's decision but not your disability claim because it doesn’t consider new evidence. 

Federal Court Civil Suit

If you disagree with the Appeals Council’s decision, you can file a civil suit in a federal district court. This is the last stage of the claims process.

The appeals process can take months–or even years. In 2023, the approval rate for initial SSDI applications was 38%. 

If you’ve been turned down for SSDI, you are not alone. Most disability claimants are rejected on their first try. 

To maximize your chances for a successful appeal, you need an attorney not only specializing in Social Security disability law, but also, ready to be a staunch defender of your rights for varying types of disability.

At Impact Disability Law, our CO lawyers do not see clients as just another paycheck. We recognize that every person seeking legal representation is an individual whose rights deserve to be protected. Our mission is to help them secure the benefits they need, even when the process is challenging.

Get Help with Your Disability Claim in Fort Collins, CO at Impact Disability Law 

When people try to get SSDI benefits on their own, it can feel like they’re smashing into a brick wall at every turn. The paperwork seems endless, and every time it looks like they are getting somewhere, another letter shows up in their mailbox stating their application is missing crucial information or that they need to wait just a little bit longer. Our legal assistance can help with this overwhelming disability process.

If you're experiencing this frustration, help is just a phone call away. At Impact Disability Law, we know that the pain of dealing with a severe health condition can be exhausting, leaving you with little energy to do anything else.

The nightmare of mounting medical bills and not having a steady income only compounds the problem. We empathize with your predicament, which is why one of our Social Security Disability Lawyers with extensive experience in this field will help you steer you through the bureaucratic maze. That way, you can get the monetary help you so desperately need as a disabled worker. 

To say that the SSA’s rules are difficult to understand is an understatement. To cut through the confusion, you need to have an experienced disability attorney on your side. We will help you collect the information you need to make a convincing case for your disabling condition and arrange for medical experts to testify on your behalf and any other legal issue.

One of our compassionate and understanding Fort Collins, CO disability lawyers will patiently explain each step and provide regular updates as your application makes its way through the system. Furthermore, we’ll do it in a straightforward, jargon-free way.  

Our law office handles all communications with the SSA, so you do not have to. And if your application is rejected, one of our Fort Collins disability lawyers will vigorously defend your rights during your appeal. 

Contact us today for a free consultation or free case evaluation if you are sick and tired of trying to navigate a hopelessly complicated system just to get the benefits you are legally entitled to! Our legal services are here for you.