California Social Security Disability Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Most attorneys do not handle Social Security disability and/or SSI cases because attorney fees are set and limited by law and the field is highly technical. This requires experience with many different types of Social Security claims and a continuing and exhaustive study of the changes and modifications in the law as they occur.

The outcome of your Social Security disability claim will affect the rest of your life, for better or for worse. Therefore before you hire a Social Security lawyer, take time to make certain that he/she is an expert. Do not hesitate to ask frank and probing questions about the nature and extent of their Social Security claim representation.

Social Security Disability (SSD):

Social Security provides disability insurance benefits to those who have worked and paid Social Security taxes and have become disabled. In order to receive benefits, the claimant must establish 1) that the disabling condition makes it impossible to perform any substantial work, and 2) that the disability is expected to last at least a year, or until death.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):

Social Security provides SSI benefits for those who are severely disabled but not eligible to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits, usually because they did not work long enough in Social Security covered employment to establish eligibility. SSI differs substantially from Social Security disability. The benefits are lower, there is no provision for dependent or survivors benefits and the disabled person cannot own substantial assets or have substantial income from any source.

Cessation:

This involves the involuntary termination of Social Security disability or SSI benefits based usually on a determination that the disabling condition does not exist or no longer exists and/or, in the case of SSI, that the disabled person's income and/or assets are too substantial to warrant benefits.

If you or someone you know in Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, or the surrounding areas of Whittier, La Mirada, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Downey and Cerritos, needs the assistance or trusted legal advice of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer, please call the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing today at (866) 639-3365, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free initial consultation.