Are you struggling to move forward after a denied Social Security Disability claim or worried about getting your first application right? The experienced St. Louis Social Security Disability attorneys at Crowe & Shanahan help people pursue benefits through severe impairment claims involving physical and mental health conditions.
Our St. Louis law firm has helped people across eastern Missouri and southern Illinois with Social Security Disability claims since 1985. Our lawyers understand what the Social Security Administration, or SSA, looks for and how to build a well-supported case. We can guide you through each step of the disability process, from the first application through an appeal.
If you are considering applying for Social Security Disability or need help after a denial, our attorneys can review your situation and explain your options. We offer free consultations without pressure.
Social Security Disability Insurance, commonly called SSDI, is a federal program that provides monthly benefits to people whose qualifying medical conditions prevent them from working. To qualify, you generally must have worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security.
SSDI eligibility is not based on your current income or assets. Instead, the SSA considers your work history, medical evidence, and ability to perform sustained work.
The SSA evaluates whether your condition prevents you from performing your past work or adjusting to other work based on factors such as your age, education, skills, and work history. If your claim is approved, you may also qualify for past-due benefits based on the established date of disability and other applicable rules. Eligible SSDI recipients may qualify for Medicare after the applicable waiting period.
You must meet medical and work-history requirements to qualify for SSDI in Missouri or Illinois. First, you must have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from performing substantial work. The condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 continuous months or be expected to result in death.
Second, you must have earned enough Social Security work credits. In general, applicants age 31 or older need at least 20 credits earned during the 10 years immediately before their disability began, along with enough total credits based on their age. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
The SSA does not consider only whether you can return to your most recent job. It may also consider whether you can adjust to other work that exists in the national economy. A St. Louis Social Security Disability attorney can help explain how your medical limitations, age, education, and work history may affect that analysis.
A diagnosis by itself does not guarantee approval. The SSA considers the medical evidence, the severity and duration of your symptoms, your response to treatment, and the specific ways your condition limits your ability to work. Examples of conditions that may support a disability claim include:
Even when a condition does not meet the exact requirements of the SSA’s Listing of Impairments, you may still qualify based on your residual functional capacity. Residual functional capacity means the most you can still do in a work setting despite your physical and mental limitations.
You may apply for SSDI online, by telephone, or through a Social Security office. A legal representative may also assist you with the application process. You will generally need information such as your Social Security number, medical conditions, medications, treatment providers, recent work history, and job duties.
During the process, you may need to explain your daily activities and how your symptoms affect tasks such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, concentrating, remembering instructions, or interacting with others. Your responses should be complete, accurate, and consistent with your medical records.
A state Disability Determination Services office generally reviews the medical portion of the claim for the SSA. Processing may take several months depending on the available evidence, the need for additional examinations, and current workloads.
If your claim is denied, you generally have the right to appeal. A St. Louis Social Security Disability lawyer at Crowe & Shanahan can help identify missing evidence, correct application problems, prepare an appeal, and present a clear account of how your condition prevents sustained work.
Many SSDI applications are denied during the initial review. Common reasons may include:
An experienced disability attorney can review the denial notice and determine which medical, vocational, or procedural issues need to be addressed.
If the SSA denies your SSDI claim, you may challenge the decision. The appeals process generally includes the following stages:
Appeal requests generally must be filed within 60 days from the date on the applicable decision or notice. Because missing a deadline can affect your rights, many applicants work with a Social Security Disability lawyer during an appeal.
A mistake or missing record in your SSDI application may lead to delays or a denial, even when you have a serious condition. The attorneys at our St. Louis law firm can help by:
Our disability lawyers serve clients throughout St. Louis, eastern Missouri, the Metro East, and southern Illinois. Our law office provides personal attention and keeps clients informed as their claims move forward.
If you need help with an SSDI application or appeal, contact Crowe & Shanahan to schedule a free consultation. Our St. Louis attorneys serve disabled individuals and their families throughout Missouri and Illinois. Our lawyers can review your situation, answer your questions, and explain the next step in the process.
Crowe & Shanahan is a St. Louis Social Security Disability law firm focused on helping people pursue the benefits they need. Speak with our law office today to learn how an experienced disability lawyer may assist you.
To qualify, you generally must satisfy both medical and work-history requirements. You must have a condition that prevents substantial work and has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 continuous months or result in death. You must also have enough recent work credits based on your age when the disability began.
A denial does not necessarily mean you cannot qualify. An appeal may allow you to submit updated medical evidence, correct errors, explain your limitations more fully, and present your case before an administrative law judge. Appeal requests generally must be filed within 60 days after you receive the decision.
Some people may be eligible for one program or may qualify for benefits under both programs, depending on their circumstances.
Yes. You may still qualify if the evidence shows that your condition prevents you from performing past work or adjusting to other sustained work. The SSA may assess your residual functional capacity and consider your age, education, work experience, and combined medical limitations.
Crowe & Shanahan offers free initial consultations. Crowe & Shanahan does not require any money up front. Disability representatives commonly use fee agreements under which a fee is charged only after a favorable result that produces past-due benefits. The fees are regulated by Social Security. Social Security allows for a fee of 25% of past due benefits with a statutory maximum fee which changes each year. Any representative fee for work before the SSA is subject to applicable federal rules and SSA approval.
An initial decision often takes several months, but processing times vary based on the medical evidence, requests for examinations, agency workloads, and other factors. An appeal may substantially extend the process.
No. You do not have to wait until you have been unable to work for a full year. You may apply when the medical evidence supports that your condition has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 continuous months or result in death.
We take pride in the strong professional and personal relationships we build with each client. You will meet with the attorney early on and that same attorney will be with you throughout the process. You can rely on us to give you honest advice about your options because this is the right thing to do.
As your advocates, we will remain by your side throughout the process, developing a strategy that fits your specific circumstances. Your legal and financial issues are unique, so we tailor our advice according to your situation. Many individuals and families have benefited from this legal approach.
