DePaolo & Zadeikis Blog Posts

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in Chicago and the rest of Illinois are not subject to state tax, but you may have to pay federal income tax on them if your combined income is above certain thresholds. The rules governing the taxation of SSDI benefits can be confusing. Below, you’ll learn more about tax thresholds and regulations to help you identify whether your benefits are taxable and plan adequately to avoid unforeseen tax liabilities and paying more taxes than necessary.

An SSDI attorney helps you get benefits by ensuring your initial application is meticulously prepared, reducing your risk of making mistakes in the paperwork, gathering and providing compelling medical evidence, communicating with the Social Security Administration on your behalf, and providing representation during the appeals process. Although it’s not mandatory to hire an attorney to represent you in a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim, statistics show that doing so increases the chances of your claim getting approved.

Social Security disability programs have strict guidelines on requirements for receiving disability benefits in Chicago, including claimants having qualifying conditions for Social Security Disability. The Social Security Administration’s Blue Book lists the conditions eligible for disability and the criteria you must meet for each condition. You can still qualify with an unlisted condition if it’s similar to a listed condition. Understanding the qualifying conditions can help you navigate the disability claims process better and increase your chances of getting a successful outcome.

If you’re applying for disability benefits, a question you likely have is, “How much does Social Security Disability pay?” The amount of money you’ll receive will primarily depend on the type of disability benefits for which you qualify. Depending on the kind of benefits you apply for, other factors will come into play, such as your average lifetime earnings, whether you have other sources of income, and where you live. Below, you’ll learn how the SSA calculates benefit amounts, the maximum you could get, and the average monthly amounts in Chicago to give you a good idea of what to expect.

If your claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is denied, you can initiate the appeals process and have the SSDI denial decision overturned by giving accurate and complete information, following the Social Security Administration’s guidelines, and meeting all the set deadlines.

Applying for disability benefits in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois requires that you gather certain personal, medical, and work records and fill out and submit the application materials on time. It’s not a straightforward process. As a matter of fact, the majority of applications are denied. It takes adequate knowledge and preparation to apply for benefits successfully.

Knowing how to prove you can’t work can improve the chances of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim becoming successful. You can prove you can’t work by providing detailed and accurate medical records, including doctor’s notes and reports, X-rays and imaging reports, surgical notes, and diagnostic test results.

You should hire a lawyer for Social Security Disability (SSD) to significantly increase your chances of winning benefits. Studies have […]

Is it easier to get disability after age 55? The odds of winning Social Security disability when you’re over 55 […]