Columbus Supplemental Security Income Lawyers

How to Apply for SSI Benefits

Before applying for SSI benefits, you should first ensure that you meet the SSA’s eligibility requirements. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you do not need to have earned any work credits to qualify for SSI. In fact, you do not necessarily need any work history to be eligible for SSI benefits. 

To be eligible for SSI, you must: 

• Be at least 65 years old, blind, or disabled
• Have limited income and resources, as defined by the SSA
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or qualifying alien 

You may also need to meet additional requirements before qualifying for SSI benefits. 

Once you have determined that you are eligible for SSI, you can apply in one of the following ways:

• Online on the SSA’s website, here. 
• By calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 
• By calling your local SSA office and scheduling an in-person appointment 

You will need to submit various documents with your application, such as medical records, proof of citizenship or qualifying alien status, proof of residency, and information regarding your resources and/or income (if you earn any), among others. We recommend that you work with a Columbus SSI lawyer at our firm for help preparing your application. 

Although most first-time SSI applications are denied, properly preparing your claim can help you avoid errors, missed deadlines, and other mistakes that could negatively impact your claim. Our attorneys have extensive experience preparing and filing SSI claims. We know what to do and what to avoid when submitting a claim, and we can assist you in taking the next steps if your application is denied. Throughout the process, we will remain consistently available to you, ready to answer your questions and address all of your concerns regarding your benefits, your claim, and more. 

Why Does the SSA Deny Disability Claims? 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies most—about 60%—first-time Social Security disability claims. 

The SSA denies claims for many reasons, including but not limited to: 

• Eligibility issues 
• Insufficient evidence
• Application errors 
• Too much income
• Too many resources
• Medical condition does not qualify as a disability 
• Ability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) 
• Missed deadlines 
• Inability to locate the claimant 
• Missing or insufficient medical records or information 
• Lack of cooperation from the claimant 
• Failure to attend a consultative examination (CE) 
• Failure to follow prescribed treatment/therapy 

The SSA will also deny claims where the individual’s disability or impairment is based on alcoholism or drug addiction, or when the claimant has been convicted of certain criminal offenses. Evidence of fraud will also result in a claim denial and/or termination of benefits, as well as possible criminal prosecution.

For help with your claim, call our Columbus, GA Supplemental Security Income lawyers at (404) 990-3945 or contact us online. Your initial consultation is completely free.