Blog

Social Security Benefits for Injured Clients - Nov. 8, 2010

By Jannett Coats, MBA

Working in the legal profession most of us have dealt with clients who have been severely injured in an accident and it is clear to see there is no way this person is capable of going back to work any time soon or in some cases, ever again.  By the time the client realizes this, they have already exhausted all of their resources and they have no clue on what to do next.

There are a lot of people who would never have thought about filing for Social Security benefits.  Many of my clients wait years after their date of disability to apply for the benefits because they do not think they would qualify.  Then there are those who find out about it a little too late.  If Legal Assistants are familiar with the signs of what to look for, we may be able to help the client even more.

I feel it is important for all of us to familiarize ourselves with the signs to look for in case this situation comes across our desks.  This will not only benefit the client with their monetary situations, but it will also show the client that we care for their well being. 

Therefore, there are a few signs we must keep an eye out for.  They are:

• Client’s health problems must keep them from doing any kind of substantial work and last or be expected to last for at least 12 months in a row, or result in death.
• If applying for disabled worker’s social security benefits, you must have the required work credits

If you come across a client who has at least one of these signs, have them contact their local Social Security Office to complete an application.  One can find their local office on-line at www.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. 

Generally, as a rule of thumb Social Security will have you apply for two programs, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  SSDI pays benefits to the claimant and certain family members if the claimant worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.  SSI program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.  It is also payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits (Social Security, 2010).

People have this misconception of what Social Security is and how one can qualify for it.  Truth is, if you have worked and contributed into the Social Security system, it’s your money that you are applying for.  It is our job as Legal Assistants to comfort and assist in any way possible in getting our clients through all their hard times.  By recognizing the signs of a potential Social Security claimant, we may be able to help our clients even more than ever.

Source: Social Security On-line, www.ssa.gov

By Jannett K. Coats, MBA