If you have been injured and are in the process of applying for social security disability in Elizabeth, NJ, you will need to provide medical proof that your injury is severe enough to keep you from being able to work for at least one full year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires you to meet specific medical and non-medical criteria in order to qualify for benefits. Non-medical criteria include income and work credit verification as well as a review of your work history, skills and educational background. Once your non-medical review is complete, your Elizabeth SSD case file is forwarded to the New Jersey Disability Determination Services for a medical review.
The DDS determines if you do in fact have a disability that qualifies you for social security disability benefits in Elizabeth by reviewing medical information received from your doctor. As such, it is extremely important that you are getting regular medical attention to document your condition. If there is enough evidence to support your disability claim, the DDS will inform the SSA of your eligibility. If there is not enough evidence to support your claim, it may be denied.
If your claim is denied, you can ask the SSA to reconsider your case. If your appeal is denied, you can Request a Hearing and have your Elizabeth social security disability case heard before an administrative law judge (ALJ). At the hearing level, however, 58.7% of all SSD claims heard by a New Jersey ALJ are awarded.
Elizabeth Health Resources
Your medical records will be important in determining the outcome of your Elizabeth social security disability case. So it is important that you see a doctor as soon as you are injured. The DDS uses the information in your medical file to render a decision on your disability case. If you are currently uninsured or under-insured, there are reduced-cost and free health care facilities in the Elizabeth area.
Elizabeth Health Center – Elizabeth, NJ
1150 Dickinson Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(908) 351-5384
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
225 Williamson St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
Neighborhood Health Center Elizabeth
250-54 Second Street
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07206
(908) 355-4459
Elizabeth Area Mental Health Resources
The New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health Services offers an extensive list of mental health resources for anyone in need of treatment for mental illness. For a list of self-help centers, community groups, and other services, contact the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health Services.
Trinitas Regional Medical Center
225 Williamson St.
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
New Beginnings
516 Morris Ave
Elizabeth, NJ, 07208
(908) 352-7830
Elizabeth Supplemental Social Security Benefits
If you receive social security benefits, the State of New Jersey will pay supplemental state benefit in addition to the federal benefits you receive. Currently, the Federal social security disability benefit rate is $943 for an independent individual and $1,415 for a couple.
When to Find a Elizabeth Social Security Disability Attorney
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), 43.5% of the initial New Jersey disability claims filed with the SSA are awarded, a significant bump over the national average of 31%. Even still, more claims are denied than are awarded. If you apply for disability benefits and your initial claim is denied, the appeals process can extend your case past the one-year mark. To improve your chances of being awarded your social security disability claim, you may benefit from the advice of an Elizabeth social security disability attorney.
So often, people don’t seek professional counsel until after their disability claim has been denied when they would actually improve their chances of winning their initial claim by taking advantage of an attorney’s representation. Many attorneys only charge if they win your case for you. If your attorney wins, a standard fee of 25% of your award is collected from past due benefits or through a fee petition. The maximum an attorney can collect is $6,000.
