Hudson Disability Benefits Attorneys

Hudson Social Security Disability Attorneys

Drawing on over 108 years of combined experience, the Hudson social security disability lawyers of Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers advocate day-in, day-out for the rights of disabled Hudson residents and workers who deserve full Social Security Disability benefits. Our strong track record of success in SSDI and SSI cases reflects the depth of our skill and resources in disability cases. A wide range of conditions, which we review below, can entitle you to SSDI and SSI benefits.

Contact Nicolet Law today online or by phone at our Hudson office, (715) 226-6158, to find out how we can help you secure them.

Hudson Social Security Disability Benefits – What You Need To Know

The Social Security Administration pays benefits to people who are unable to work due to a long-term, permanent, or fatal medical condition. While some programs offer assistance to people with partial or short-term disability, SSA does not. However, qualifying family members of disabled workers may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.¹

You may file for SSD benefits if you:

• Are unable to work for a year or longer
• Have a medical condition expected to end in death
• Have a condition so severe it prevents you from working
• Meet certain age, education, and experience requirements
• Are an eligible family member of someone meeting these requirements

Types of Social Security Disability benefits:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)²
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)³

The primary difference between the above two programs relates to an applicant’s work experience. If you have not accumulated enough work hours to qualify for SSDI, you may still qualify for SSI. The two programs, while both administered by the Social Security Administration, are completely separate and have slightly different eligibility requirements. It may be possible, in some instances, for eligible applicants to qualify for both SSDI and SSI benefits.

Which Medical Conditions Qualify for Hudson SSD Benefits?

• Anxiety disorder: Anxiety is a normal bodily reaction to stress that results in feelings of fear or apprehension about what is happening. However, for some individuals, the extreme bouts of anxiety last longer than six months and interfere with normal daily activities.
• Asthma: Asthma is a condition in which an individual’s airways narrow, swell, and fill with mucus. This causes difficulty breathing, including shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. This condition can range from a minor nuisance to a life-threatening asthma attack.
• Autism: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad range of conditions that are characterized by repetitive behaviors, deficits with social skills, and difficulties speaking or understanding nonverbal communication.
• Back injuries: The muscles, tendons, vertebrae, spinal discs, and the spinal cord in the back can incur injuries. Back injuries can result in home treatment consisting of rest and over-the-counter pain medication, or they can cause paralysis, permanent disability, and can even lead to death depending on which part of the back incurred the injury.
• Bone marrow failure: Bone marrow failure syndromes are rare diseases in which the individual’s body does not make enough red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection, and/or platelets that aid clotting.
• Cancer: Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in a part of the body. This abnormal cell growth can produce tumors and spread to other parts of the body, including the bone marrow, blood, or lymph nodes. An individual’s prognosis with cancer depends on the type of cancer he or she is suffering from, how much the disease has spread, and the patient’s response to widely accepted treatment options.
• Cerebral palsy: Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by abnormal brain development or damage to a developing brain that affects an individual’s ability to control his or her muscles. Mild forms of the condition can require crutches to help the person walk. More severe forms of cerebral palsy result in the need for lifetime care.
• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease in which the airflow from the lungs is obstructed. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, increased mucus production, and wheezing. This condition is often the result of exposure to gases or particulate matter or smoking cigarettes.
• Coronary artery disease: Coronary artery disease is the narrowing or blockage of the arteries that carry blood to your heart. This condition is generally caused by a buildup of cholesterol or fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, which limits or stops the flow of blood.
• Depression: Depression is a mood disorder in which the individual suffers a persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Depression can cause a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, as well as slowed thinking, sleep disturbances, and suicidal ideations.
• Dermatitis: Dermatitis is a general term to describe skin irritations such as a dry itchy rash, blisters, oozing, crusting, or flaking. Itching dermatitis can cause an infection or pain.
• Epilepsy: Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and can affect people of all ages. It is characterized by seizures, which are bursts of uncontrolled electrical activity between brain cells that result in stiffness, twitching, or limpness along with sudden changes in awareness including full loss of consciousness.
• Hearing/vision loss: People rely greatly on their ability to see and hear. The loss of hearing and/or vision can present difficulties in the ability to communicate with others, freely move about, or achieve complete independence. Because these two senses are so important and there are so many conditions that can result in hearing or vision loss, many treatments can help the individual cope with the loss but also can even correct the issues that led to deafness or blindness.
• Heart failure: Also known as congestive heart failure, this condition occurs when the heart fails to adequately pump blood. Heart failure is often caused by a weakening of the muscle through coronary artery disease or high blood pressure.
• Hemolytic anemia: This is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made. Without a plentiful supply of red blood cells, your blood cannot supply your organs with an adequate amount of oxygen.
• HIV/AIDS: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the cells that help the body fight off infection. If left untreated, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Currently, individuals in the U.S. who have HIV often live long and healthy lives and avoid AIDS through the use of medications that prevent the disease.
• IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease is a broad term used to characterize conditions that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
• Intellectual disorders: Formerly known as mental retardation, intellectual disorders are characterized by below-average intelligence or mental ability, and a lack of skills to handle day-to-day life independently.
• Kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease describes a gradual loss of kidney function that can cause dangerous levels of fluids, electrolytes, and waste to build up in your body.
• Liver disease: Many conditions can damage the liver. Liver disease produces symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain and swelling, itchy skin, dark urine, chronic fatigue, and other symptoms.
• Lupus: Lupus is a condition in which the immune system attacks tissues and organs, producing inflammation in different bodily systems. The condition can mimic other disorders, but produces one unique feature: a butterfly-shaped rash across both cheeks.
• Marfan syndrome: This inherited disorder affects the connective tissue that anchors your organs and other structures in place. This condition most commonly affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels, and skeleton.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): This is a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) in which the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers your nerve endings, creating communication issues between the brain and the rest of the body.
• Parkinson’s disease: Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that results in shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balancing, and coordination. The symptoms are generally mild in the beginning, but worsen as time goes by.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: This condition causes the tissue that lines the joints to become inflamed and thickened. The fluid buildup in the joints that this produces can cause the joints to erode and degrade.
• Sjogren’s syndrome: This is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the glands that produce tears and saliva. This can lead to a dry mouth and eyes, as well as negatively impacting the joints, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.

How Do I Apply For Hudson Social Security Disability Benefits?

There are three ways to apply for Social Security Disability benefits:

1. Submit your claim online at https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/.
2. Call the Social Security Administration’s toll-free hotline at 800-772-1213.
3. Go to your local Social Security office to request an in-person appointment.

Before you submit your application, you will need to gather documents related to both your medical history and work history. If you haven’t been seeing a doctor regularly, you should schedule a medical appointment as soon as possible. If you are unable to pay for your medical visit, SSA can schedule you an appointment at no cost to you. However, this oftentimes delays the processing of your claim, so it is usually in your financial best interest to see a doctor now.

Talk with your doctor about your disability and discuss how it might continue to impact your ability to work into the future. He or she may order a series of lab tests to determine the best medical path forward. Keep records of any medical visits or lab tests; SSA will want to review those medical histories with you.

If you have documents from current or past employers, assemble those as well. Pay stubs, tax returns, and W2’s are a good place to start. Having relevant copies of financial award letters, agreements, and other proof of any temporary or permanent workers’ compensation benefits can only help speed up the claims process. Electronic copies of these documents should suffice, but make sure to have physical copies of things like your birth certificate or naturalization papers.

How Much Will My Monthly Benefits Be On Social Security Disability in Hudson?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. There are a number of factors that ultimately determine your personal benefit amount, including how long you have been active in the workforce, your average yearly earnings over the course of your career, and how long you expect to be unable to work (usually confirmed by a doctor).

If deemed eligible for Social Security benefits, you will earn a percentage of what you would have ordinarily earned had your disability not impacted your ability to work.

How Much Can I Earn While Receiving SSD Benefits in Hudson?

This question also comes with a complicated answer. The amount a person is able to earn and still receive SSD benefits changes every year, and it depends largely on a person’s retirement situation. For the most up-to-date numbers, explore the SSD webpage dedicated to working beneficiaries.

The following information is based on the 2020 figures released by the Social Security Administration.

If you have not reached retirement age: SSA will deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above $18,240.

In the year you reach full retirement age: SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above $48,600.

If you have reached retirement age: Your earnings no longer impact your benefit amount, regardless of how much you earn.

Retirement ages vary based on when a person was born, but for everyone born after 1959, the current specified retirement age is 67. Once you reach that benchmark, your benefits will be recalculated, and your monthly distribution will likewise be adjusted.

What Are My Options If My Hudson SSD Claim Is Denied?

In the event of a claim denial, the best course of action is to speak with a trusted Hudson attorney who routinely practices in the area of Social Security Disability. An experienced disability lawyer can help you make sense of the appeals process and set you on a path toward greater financial stability. At Nicolet Law, our attorneys are prepared to meet your legal challenges head-on and provide you the peace of mind you deserve.

If your disability claim was recently denied, please reach out to our Hudson Social Security Disability lawyers at Nicolet Law Office. Our firm has worked tirelessly to fight for disability clients in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota since 2007. We have built our reputation on providing experienced, compassionate, and affordable legal representation to clients experiencing financial hardship. Allow one of our attorneys help you make sense of your complex legal situation.

Call us at 715-377-2141 or use the provided contact form to reach a dedicated attorney today.

Hudson Office
517 2nd Street
Unit #205
Hudson, WI 54016
Phone: 715-377-2141