SSI Claims

Proving a Right to Supplemental Security Income in Texas

At the Law Offices of Ed Goldner in San Antonio, our lawyers advise clients about their right to benefits under the Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) and supplemental security income (SSI) programs. If you need advice about your eligibility for benefits under either program, or if you want help with your application or appeal of a denied claim, contact one of our attorneys for a free consultation about your case.

While eligibility for SSDI benefits is based on the applicant's ability to show recent work history and an inability to resume work for at least one year, the qualifications for supplemental security income payments are a little different. A successful SSI claim is based on need and inability to work. In other words, the program is designed to help people with little or no income or net worth who cannot work due to a disability, regardless of work history.

Many people who prove a right to SSI payments have had longstanding health problems, physical disabilities or developmental impairments that prevent them from competing effectively in the job market. Medical disability criteria (listings) are the same for SSI and SSDI claims for adults; their problems are just about the same. SSDI may have an income, though. Many cases include both SSI and SSDI concurrent claims. There are different disability listings for children. Some of our SSI clients are divorced or widowed older women who have never acquired job skills or work experience because they spent most of their lives as homemakers. Other clients are children with physical, mental or developmental problems that interfere with their education and growth.

Our attorneys can advise you about your financial eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, and in borderline cases we can show you acceptable ways of transferring or sheltering assets to protect your eligibility. We also set up living assistant agreements in appropriate cases that can save you 1/3 of your total back payment award. We can also establish your inability to work in an initial application, petition for reconsideration or administrative appeals hearing. If we can't achieve a favorable result at the administrative appeals level, we can also take your case to federal court.

We have achieved outstanding results for our SSI clients whose claims were based on such physical, mental or developmental impairments as the following:

• Cardiovascular problems, including past heart attacks or blood pressure problems that are hard to manage because of other medical conditions
• Cognitive problems ranging from developmental disability to the lasting effects of a brain injury suffered in an accident
• Orthopedic problems such as neck or back pain, leg or hip problems or chronic pain in the wrist, elbow or shoulder
• Chronic or degenerative illnesses such as diabetes, lupus or multiple sclerosis

Supplemental security income can represent a crucially important element of the safety net that protects people who have no other way to support themselves or their families. An important benefit of SSI eligibility is automatic qualification for Medicaid, which can relieve your anxiety about access to health care.

If you think you should be receiving SSI payments on the basis of a long-term disability, or if you need advice about presenting your claim for benefits to the Social Security Administration (SSA), contact an SSI expert at the Law Offices of Ed Goldner for a free consultation.