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If you have a brief legal question about social security disability, you can schedule a 15-minute consultation with a legal representative. Please only book this appointment if you have a short question or want to speak with a representative briefly.

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Have you already applied for benefits, but want to talk to an attorney? Whether you have already applied for benefits or just started an application, schedule a meeting with our office today!

Beginning November 30, 2024, the maximum amount an attorney can charge under the SSA fee agreement is $9,200.00.  After this date, all claims that are approved and have a proper fee agreement will be capped at $9,200.00 regardless of when the claim was filed.  Beginning January 2026, attorney fee caps will be evaluated annually and increase as appropriate with the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

This morning, October 10, 2024, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.5% COLA increase for 2025. Also, the maximum SSI payments for an individual will rise to $967.00 a month. Maximum monthly income (SGA) will rise to $1,620.00 a month.  If you make more than $1,620.00 a month pre-tax, you do not financially qualify for Social Security disability benefits.   Maximum monthly income after being approved for SSD will rise to $1,160.00 before a Trial Work Period is triggered.

For the 2024 Cost of Living Adjustment, those on Disability will see an increase of 3.2%. For those looking to file for Disability benefits, the maximum monthly income before taxes will be $1,550.00. This is the maximum one can earn on the job per month and still be below the SGA threshold for Step 1 of the determination process. If you are making more per month than $1,550.00 pre-tax (Gross), you do not qualify for disability benefits, even if your medical condition is severe. For those already receiving Disability benefits (SSDI), the monthly amount that will trigger a Trial Work Period (TWP) will be $1,1100.00 per month. This means that if you are working and receiving SSDI benefits if you make more than $1,110.00 per month before taxes, that amount of income will put you into a period where you can work and still receive benefits for a limited period of time before your SSDI benefits will be stopped. It is important to make sure you understand this before you decide if working and receiving disability benefits is appropriate for your situation. The maximum monthly SSI benefit will rise to $943.00 per individual person. The Government plans on continuing to reduce the SSI benefits for housing and food if you are not responsible for paying for your food and/or housing. The decrease for SSI recipients living with others who are supporting the disabled person will be $311.00 per month. Those who wish to work while receiving SSI benefits will have further reductions of their monthly check and must follow all the requirements or risk having a significant overpayment that will have to be paid back to Social Security.

ese examples do not indicate whether a child is disabled, only how we assign limitations in a child's activities to a domain or domains. Childhood Domains 1 Acquiring and using information This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors. 2 Attending and completing tasks This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors. 3 Interacting and relating with others This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors. 4 Moving about and manipulating objects This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors. 5 Caring for yourself This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors. 6 Health and physical well-being This is your Services Page. It's a great opportunity to provide information about the services you provide. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want to share with site visitors.

It means the highest level of work you can consistently manage despite your physical or mental limitations. Think of it as the most demanding work you can realistically handle throughout a typical workday and workweek. What is Maximum Sustained Work Capability? This term is used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine if you qualify for disability benefits. It means the highest level of work you can consistently manage despite your physical or mental limitations. Think of it as the most demanding work you can realistically handle throughout a typical workday and workweek. How does the SSA measure this? Residual Functional Capacity (RFC): They examine your medical records and doctor's opinions to create an RFC outlining what you can still do (how much you can lift, stand, walk, concentrate, etc.). Comparing to Job Demands: Your RFC is compared to the requirements of Link to SSA Guidelines Link to SSA Guidelines Why is this important for disability benefits? If the SSA finds your impairments prevent you from doing even the easiest types of jobs consistently, you're more likely to be considered disabled and eligible for benefits. If you have milder limitations, the SSA also looks at your age, education, and skills to see if you can adapt to different work. Link to SSA Guidelines Back to FAQ Page

5-Step Sequential Evaluation Process for Assessing Disability 5-Step Sequential Evaluation Process for Assessing Disability 01 Is the individual working above SGA level? At the first step, we consider an individual’s work activity, if any. SGA stands for Substantial Gainful Activity and the amount changes each year. For 2009 it is $980 for the non-blind and $1640 for the blind. If an individual is working and his or her earnings average more than the SGA limit a month, then he or she is found not disabled. If an individual is not working or his or her earnings are less than SGA, the adjudicator goes to step two. 02 Is the individual’s physical and/or mental condition severe? At the second step, we consider the medical severity of an individual’s impairment(s). An individual must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment (or a combination of impairments) that is severe and meets the duration requirement. To be severe an impairment or impairments must interfere with basic work-related activities. To meet the duration requirement the impairment(s) must be expected to last twelve months or to result in death If the impairment(s) are not severe or do not meet the duration requirement, the individual is found not disabled. If the impairment(s) are severe and meet the duration requirement, the adjudicator goes to question three. 03 Does the individual’s medical condition meet or equal the severity of a Listing? At the third step, we also consider the medical severity of an individual’s impairment(s). SSA maintains a listing of medical criteria that are considered to be so severe that an individual is found to be disabled if his or her medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) matches them. An individual’s impairment(s) can be found to meet the listed criteria exactly or to be of equal severity. If an individual has an impairment that meets or equals one of the listings and meets the duration requirement, he or she is found to be disabled. If an individual does not have an impairment that meets or equals one of the listings or the duration requirement is not met, the adjudicator goes to Step 4. However, before going from step three to step four, the individual’s residual functional capacity (RFC) is assessed. This RFC assessment is then used at both step four and step five. 04 Can the individual do any of his/her Past Relevant Work? At step 4 a function-by-function comparison of the individual’s RFC and past relevant work (PRW) is completed. If an individual retains the physical and mental capacity to perform any PRW, he/she Is found not disabled. If no PRW can be done, or the individual has no relevant work, the adjudicator goes to step five. 05 Can the individual make an adjustment to any other work? At the fifth and last step, an individual’s RFC and age, education, and work experience are considered to see if he/she can make an adjustment to other work. If an individual can make an adjustment to other work, he or she is found to be not disabled. If an individual can not make an adjustment to other work, he or she is found to be disabled. Back to FAQ Page