We Represent Clients Across the Country in Social Security Disability Cases.​

It’s helpful to gather the following documents and have them available when filling out the application for disability benefits:

• Birth certificate or other proof of birth.
• Passport or other proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status.
• If you served in the U.S. military, copies of your discharge papers.
• W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for work done in the past year.
• Medical documentation that you have in your possession.
• If you receive workers’ compensation benefits, have award letters or other documentation of them available.

If you are divorced, having a copy of the judgment or decree of divorce available can provide information you may need when applying for disability benefits.

The amount of SSDI benefits that you receive depends on the average earnings you had from working at jobs or self-employment, subject to payment of Social Security taxes. The maximum monthly SSDI benefit payment in 2025 is $4,018, with an average benefit payment of $1,582. The maximum and average benefits available through SSDI change each year. 

The Social Security Administration determines the types of medical conditions that meet the specific definition of “disability” used to evaluate a claim for disability benefits. To be disabled, a person must be unable to do substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death.

The definition of disability generally excludes temporary or partial impairments. Unlike state disability programs that pay benefits for short-term disability, Social Security Disability benefits are reserved for those medical conditions causing impairments lasting longer than one year.

SSDI is a federal program, so moving to another state generally does not affect your benefits. However, the Social Security Administration must have a correct mailing address and telephone number for you, so notify Social Security of the move as soon as you have a phone number and address. If you don’t, and Social Security tries unsuccessfully to contact you, your benefits will stop until they hear from you.

If you receive disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program alone or concurrently with SSDI, you must notify Social Security when moving to another state. Most states supplement the federal SSI benefits with a state-funded payment, so you must notify Social Security when you move to another state while receiving SSI.

SSDI benefits are based on your work history and earnings record, so an inheritance would not prevent you from receiving benefits or affect how much you receive each month. However, if you receive SSI benefits alone or concurrently with SSDI, money or property that you inherit must be reported to Social Security.

SSI is a needs-based program with income and resource limitations. Money or property that you receive as an inheritance could put you over the resource limit of $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for couples.

Yes, you can work and continue receiving disability benefits during a Trial Work Period. The trial period is for nine months, but you have up to 60 months to use them. Any month that you earn a specific amount of money from working counts as one of the months of the trial work period.

You can keep all of the money you earn, regardless of the amount, while continuing to receive your monthly SSDI benefits. At the end of the trial work period, you may continue to work during a 36-month extended period of eligibility.

As long as your monthly earnings do not exceed a specified amount, which is subject to annual changes, you can keep the money from working and your SSDI benefits. If you go over the earnings restriction during a month and lose your disability benefits, you may request reinstatement of them without filing a new application or going through the disability determination process.

You have the right to challenge an unfavorable decision, including a denial of a claim for disability benefits, through a four-level appeal process. The levels or steps of the process include the following:

• Reconsideration
• Hearing with an administrative law judge
• Appeals Council review
• Federal court review

If you succeed I obtaining a favorable outcome at any of the four levels, you need not continue the appeal process.

No, you do not need a disability attorney to apply for Social Security Disability. However, the experience and knowledge a lawyer has can make it easier to navigate a process controlled by complicated and confusing federal laws, regulations, and procedures.

According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, a federal agency, claimants with representation were allowed benefits at a rate almost three times greater than claimants without it. An application may appear simple and easy to complete on your own, but an omission or mistake could result claim being delayed or rejected. You have too much at stake not to rely on the assistance of a skilled disability lawyer.

The year 2025 brings several changes to the SSDI program, including:

• SSDI monthly benefits increased this year thanks to a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment effective at the start of the year.
• The amount of wages that determines whether a person can do substantial gainful work activity increased from $1,550 in 2024 to $1,620 for beneficiaries with disabilities other than blindness and from $2,590 to $2,700 for those who are blind.
• The option of receiving SSDI benefits in check form no longer exists. All disability benefit payments are now done electronically.

A Keener Law disability lawyer can explain how these changes affect you and your Social Security benefits.