DISABILITY OPTIONS IN ALABAMA

Unless you have a private disability insurance policy, your best bet is a claim with Social Security when you become unable to work.

There are two programs at Social Security:

SSDI:  Requires a work history with some work within the past five years.

SSI:  Requires no work history but has very stringent income and financial resource limitations.

Both of these disability programs require the same basic elements to prove disability:

• A severe medical impairment which will keep you from performing any type of work.

• The condition must be expected to last a minimum of 12 straight months OR to end in death.

• You will need objective medical evidence to prove the severity of the medical condition.

The application process for both SSDI and SSI is complicated and can take months or years.  It is common to be denied and required to file two appeals to get approved.  Most applicants choose to have an attorney or advocate help them through the difficult appeal process, which nearly always requires a hearing before an administrative law judge.

The current maximum monthly benefit for SSDI is around $2,800 and the maximum for SSI is $783 per month.

*The average disability check in Alabama is $1,258 per month.  The actual amount is based on your lifetime earnings.

THE FORSYTHE FIRM