Those who are struggling financially because of a medical disability may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is provided by the federal government. You need to be disabled and have very few assets in order to qualify for SSI assistance. The typical processing time for an SSI application in Colorado is 73 days but the Social Security Administration indicates average processing time can run as much as 3-5 months. It may take a few more months if your case requires one or more appeals. However there are numerous reasons that might either speed up or slow down the approval process for SSI benefits.
What is Supplemental Security Income or SSI?
For adults and kids with disabilities or blindness who fall below certain income and resource thresholds, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program offers monthly compensation. Those 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial requirements can also get SSI payments.
SSI is means-tested which means you must possess and earn fewer financial resources than the program’s threshold to qualify. If your income or financial resources exceed one or both thresholds, you become ineligible for SSI benefits. This can be a concern for our accident clients who receive SSI. If you receive a settlement or verdict for your accident injuries, your compensation is an asset that can count for SSI qualifications. There are special procedures to preserve those resources to avoid disqualifying your SSI benefits. If you receive SSI or have applied for SSI when you are in an accident, you should talk to a Denver personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement on your case.
People with disabilities may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits instead of or in addition to SSI benefits. Qualification for SSDI is different from SSI and not means-tested. If you believe you may qualify for either SSI or SSDI you should talk to a disability attorney about your rights to benefits before applying to SSA. If a recent workplace accident resulted in a disabling injury that may qualify for SSDI, you may have a workers’ compensation claim to pursue in addition to SSDI. You should talk to a workers’ compensation attorney about your potential workplace injury claim.
Supplemental security income application timeline
Like most government procedures, applying for SSI benefits involved a lot of paperwork and waiting. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), you should expect the application process to last on average 3-5 months. The timeline can depend upon the backlog at the SSA, problems with your application, agency funding and staffing and other factors that may be completely out of your control.
Your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office is where you should start by submitting an SSI application. As soon as you receive a disability diagnosis, you should apply for Social Security benefits since, in most cases, the SSA will not pay Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for the time you were disabled and unable to work but did not submit an application.
Your initial application will be processed by your field office and forwarded to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. The DDS office in Colorado oversees all of the SSI applications in the state. The medical documentation you provided will be examined by this office to determine whether or not you are medically impaired. The application will then be sent back to the SSA field office to finish processing.
If the DDS finds that you have a disability, the field office will complete processing the paperwork. It will then determine the correct benefit amount and begin paying you. From the time you submitted your SSI application, the complete procedure typically takes three to five months. However, the appeals procedure may add further time if the SSA or DDS reject the application.
When the SSA accepts your SSI benefits, you can anticipate receiving your first payment at the beginning of the following full month. For instance, if your application is approved on May 23, you can anticipate your SSI benefits to start on June 1. However, the payment processing center can need one or two months to actually issue your check. As a result, you may get a lump sum payment to offset any past-due SSI benefits.
Can you speed up the process to receive benefits?
Although the processing time for an SSI case is roughly 73 days on average, no two SSI applications are comparable. The notification of your acceptance or rejection may arrive earlier or later than this typical schedule. Inadequate medical documentation, clerical errors, missing, incorrect, or incomplete information on the initial paperwork, as well as the need to appeal a denial of your application, are all things that could slow down the processing of your application.
Just about a third of all Supplemental Security Income applications that are submitted to the SSA are first accepted. Almost all applications are first rejected. Do not think that receiving a rejection entails that you are not qualified for benefits. Instead, discuss the possibility of appealing with a lawyer. Your chances of approval can be increased by working with an SSI attorney from the very beginning of your case, and you’ll also be able to move the claims process along as quickly as you can.
If your SSI application is denied by the DDS office, you can file an appeal to reconsider the application. There is more than one procedure you can pursue for reconsideration, including:
- request for reconsideration
- on the record decision
- request for hearing
- attorney advisor decision
Each of these procedures differ in the time, reason and process. Whether to pursue particular procedures and when to pursue them depends on particular facts of your SSI application and reason for application. It is easy to get lost in the SSI approved process which can result in a delay or ultimate denial of your benefits. Hiring an experienced attorney can give you the best chance to receive benefits as quickly as possible.
How a Lawyer Can Help With an SSI Claim in Colorado
An attorney with knowledge of SSI benefit applications and appeals can assist you with your case by completing challenging paperwork on your behalf and assisting you in obtaining medical records, letters from your doctor and employer, and other supporting documentation. By avoiding frequent errors on claims form, your attorney lowers the likelihood that the SSA will reject the initial claim.
In the event that the Social Security Administration rejects your original application, your attorney can start the appeals procedure right away to expedite the procedure as much as possible. The SSA will be more likely to quickly review your application for SSI benefits and approve benefits the first time around if you have a lawyer fighting for your rights. Contact a skilled disability lawyer in Denver, Colorado immediately to speak with them about SSI benefits, applications, and appeals.
Colorado Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
If you sustained a workplace injury or illness, Colorado law gives you the right to file a work comp claim to obtain medical care and recover lost wages. Our experienced Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers help clients pursue claims for workplace accidents, repetitive use injuries and work-related illnesses. At Front Range Injury Attorneys we advocate for clients across Colorado and across a wide range of industries and occupations.
Contact our law firm for a free consultation to discuss your claim. You can speak with our attorneys at no cost and no obligation to understand your legal rights.
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