Alpharetta SSI Application Process
Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI), administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), can provide financial aid to disabled and blind individuals to help with essential living costs. Furthermore, a recipient of SSI benefits will also be eligible for Medicaid.
However, the Alpharetta SSI application process can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for an underprepared applicant. If you are trying to determine your eligibility for SSI or are already eligible and want to file an application, consider reaching out to a dedicated SSI disability attorney to guide you through each step of the process.
The Initial Steps of the SSI Application Process
Filing for SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are very similar and essentially involve the same application. The primary difference, however, is that the SSI application requires more questions about an applicant’s resources. While the medical questions remain the same for each form of insurance, the SSA pays particular attention to a person’s household income when determining SSI.
The SSI application process may contain: an initial filing, a reconsideration, a hearing level, and the Appeals Council level. Generally, a person should try to file an SSI claim as soon as they realize that they are will not be able to return to work. For example, if a person has a condition that prevents them from engaging in full-time work for at least 12 consecutive months, they may benefit from filing an SSI claim. From these beginning stages of a case, a social security disability representative could help by assessing a person’s eligibility for SSI and, once determined, help to get a claim started.
Essentially, the SSI application process asks for information on both the person’s impairments and medical providers. Furthermore, the application will require general background information such as the applicant’s name, social security number, marital status, any divorces, and whether the person has minor children. Additionally, information will be requested regarding the applicant’s household resources and income. While medical records are not required at this stage, adding them into an application early may help to expedite the process, as well as a daily function report regarding the applicant’s impairment.
The Duration of an Application Process
For an initial application, the SSA tries to respond within six to eight months of filing. However, from the initial filing of an SSI application all the way to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the process can last three years. Naturally, the stage that a case is in will affect the associated duration. For example, a reconsideration may vary from one to eight months, while a hearing could take between 15 and 18 months. For more information about the Alpharetta SSI application process, contact a social security disability appeal lawyer.
Where Can People File an Initial SSI Claim?
In Alpharetta, an individual can file a claim at a local social security office by phone or in person. If they have an Alpharetta address, the case may be routed to the Gwinnett SSA office or to the Marietta social security office.
Generally, people can also file initial claims online by visiting www.ssa.gov and clicking the “file a new application link.” If an individual does not have internet access, however, then they can call the toll free number 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person or phone appointment with a claims representative to file the initial application.
How an Attorney Can Help with the Alpharetta SSI Application Process
If you are looking to file for benefits under SSI, you may benefit from working with a compassionate and well-practiced disability claim attorney. Throughout each step of the application, a social security disability lawyer could help to ensure your claim is as thorough and persuasive as possible.
Instead of navigating the claims process alone as you seek aid, call an SS disability attorney for help with the Alpharetta SSI application process. To begin working on your claim, call today.