There are two government programs that can provide you with benefits in the event you have a condition so disabling you are no longer able to work. SSI is a needs-based program where individuals are granted funding if they have a disability, a lack of other resources (personal savings funds, spousal/parental support, and work quarters–to name a few). SSI is usually given to people who (have a financial need and) have not worked enough to qualify them for the second program: SSDI. This second program, SSDI, takes into consideration how much you have been able to work over the course of your life before your condition became disabling. You are eligible for more money, more healthcare savings options, marriage rights (your benefits are not at risk should you decide to get married), and the ability to earn a small, part-time, income on top of your monthly benefits without it impacting your healthcare. This paragraph only includes the most commonly talked about differences between America’s Social Security Disability system. Please do your own research (using the helpful links provided) to see how to apply for disability, what type of disability program you may qualify for, and whether a lawyer would be beneficial to your case or not.

Disability Lawyers & Information:

Should You Hire a Disability Lawyer to Get Social Security? Why? | AllLaw - An article outlining the benefits of having a lawyer assist you through the appeal stage of an initial disability denial.

Your Maine Social Security Disability Lawyer | Woodruff & Mathis - Woodruff & Mathis is a highly ranked disability attorney located in Auburn, ME. They serve from Augusta-Rumford, and Farmington-Portland.

Social Security Administration Information:

Compassionate Allowances Website Home Page - Information from the SSA about compassionate allowances. If an individual has any of the conditions listed, they will see a reduced waiting time to receive disability benefits, as SSA recognizes the conditions on this list to be the most severe.

SSA | Listing of Impairments | Blue Book - The Social Security Administration has a list (nicknamed the Blue Book) of conditions which they deem to be severely limiting. If you have a condition that fits the Blue Book criteria, you are more likely to qualify for disability benefits based on medical criteria. If you do not meet Blue Book criteria for a single listing, you may still qualify for benefits, but additional medical (and non-medical) information may be needed.

FAQ | Disability (SSDI) - The SSA’s Frequently Asked Questions section for SSDI applicants.

Helpful Articles:

How SSI & SSDI Benefits Differ | National Council on Aging - This is a good article that introduces the differences between the two Federal Disability Programs: SSI and SSDI.

The ALS Association | ALS Disability Insurance Access Act Become Law, Work Remains to Implement - This is a blog article by the ALS Association explaining the process it took for the “ALS Act” to become law in 2021. The ALS Act removed the 5 month waiting period for people with ALS that are filing for SSDI. While this isn’t specifically a resource, it is a great article, and may be a good thing to know if you or a loved one has ALS and is filing for SSDI.

Cannon Disability Law | What is the Five Month Waiting Period? - This is a helpful article from a disability law office which describes the 5-month waiting period for SSDI recipients.

Disability Determination: The SSA Sequential Evaluation | SOAR Works! - A very well written article about the disability determination process, put out by SOAR Works: a national program dedicated to helping “states and communities end homelessness through increased access to Social Security disability benefits.”