If you’re unable to work due to a prolonged or permanent medical condition, you may become eligible for financial benefits from Social Security disability programs. Because these programs have strict technical and medical eligibility requirements, consulting an experienced Social Security disability attorney can help you determine whether you may qualify for benefits and how to maximize your likelihood of a favorable result if you file a claim with the Social Security office in Olean or the surrounding Cattaraugus County region. An experienced New York social security disability attorney can help you determine if you may qualify for benefits and how to maximize your likelihood of a favorable result.
If you have questions about Social Security disability benefits, a disability lawyer from Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo, PLLC, can provide answers. Contact us today for an initial case evaluation with our legal team serving New York and Pennsylvania to learn how we can help you pursue the financial benefits you need after a medical condition has left you unable to work.
The Social Security Administration manages two programs that provide financial benefits to individuals unable to work due to prolonged or permanent disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial benefits to workers who become disabled and cannot continue working. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides financial benefits to low-income individuals with a disabling condition. Both programs pay monthly benefits to qualifying individuals. The benefits paid in the SSDI program will depend on an individual’s income and work history. SSI pays benefits equal to the federal monthly benefit amount minus any qualifying monthly income a recipient earns.
Although an individual can receive SSD benefits until retirement or for the rest of their life, the Social Security Administration will periodically review a recipient’s medical condition to determine if they have recovered and can return to the workforce. The Social Security Administration also has programs that allow recipients to attempt to return to the workforce while preserving their benefits eligibility if they cannot return to work.
You may qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you have a medical condition that the Social Security Administration considers a disability. You may have a qualifying disability if your medical condition prevents you from performing basic work tasks, like standing, sitting, lifting, remembering, or following directions, to the extent that you cannot engage in substantial gainful activity, defined as earning at least a minimum amount of income per month. In addition, a qualifying disability must last at least 12 months or result in death.
Beyond requiring a qualifying disability, SSDI and SSI have different technical requirements. When applying for SSDI, you must have earned sufficient quarters of coverage prior to the onset of your disability. You earn a work credit when you earn a specific amount of taxable income, up to a maximum of four credits per year. People typically need 40 work credits, with 20 earned in the 10 years preceding their disability, to qualify for SSDI, although younger workers may need fewer credits.
When applying for SSI, you must have limited income and assets. You must earn less countable income than the federal monthly benefit to qualify for SSI, although your income may reduce your SSI benefit. You must have less than $2,000 in countable assets or $3,000 in countable assets for married couples.
You may apply for SSD benefits online, in person, or over the phone. Applications for SSI are conducted by telephone. If you prefer to apply in person or need to drop off documentation, the local Olean Social Security Office is located at 1618 West State Street, Olean, NY 14760. An SSD/ SSI benefits application will include information needed to determine your eligibility, such as medical information, asset and income information, and work history. The Social Security Administration will review your financial information and work history to determine whether you qualify for SSDI or SSI.
We proudly serve clients throughout the Southern Tier, including Olean, Salamanca, Allegany, St. Bonaventure, and Franklinville.
The Administration will also request and review your medical records to determine whether you meet medical criteria. The Social Security Administration may have you undergo a medical examination to provide additional information for the disability evaluation.
Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income can give you critical financial support when you cannot work due to a prolonged or permanent medical condition. However, the Social Security Administration maintains strict technical and medical eligibility requirements for disability benefits. Hiring an experienced disability lawyer can help you present a compelling benefits application. Choose an social security disability lawyer from Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo, PLLC, to guide you through the process because:
Applying for SSD benefits can become a complex, time-consuming process. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration denies most SSD/SSI applications on initial review. Turning to the social security disability lawyers of Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo, PLLC, can help you pursue the financial benefits you need for your disability by:
The Social Security Administration’s Jamestown field office is located at 321 Hazeltine Avenue, Jamestown, NY 14701 (at the intersection of Baker and Hazeltine). As of January 2025, SSA requires an appointment for most in-person services, including new disability applications — you can schedule one by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Heading to the Social Security office about a disability claim? The staff there can help you file paperwork and check your claim status, but they don’t represent your interests if your claim is denied or if you need help building the strongest possible case. That’s where our SSD attorneys come in — we handle the medical documentation, deadlines, and appeals so you don’t have to navigate it alone.
When you cannot work due to a disability or medical condition, you may have the option of applying for Social Security disability/Supplemental Security Income benefits. Hiring experienced legal counsel may make the application process smoother and improve your chances of success. Contact Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo, PLLC, today for an initial consultation with a Social Security disability benefits attorney serving New York and Pennsylvania. We’ll help you understand your legal options for accessing the benefits you need. We have offices in Jamestown, Fredonia, and Olean, NY.
Social Security Disability (SSD) can be a lengthy, frustrating, especially if you are dealing with the local Social Security office in Jamestown, New York, on your own. You can rely on the compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys at Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo, PLLC, to help you understand your options. We can help you with the initial application and with appeals if you receive a denial. Please see the frequently asked questions below, and contact us if you have other concerns.
From our offices in Jamestown, to the Social Security office Jamestown New York, Fredonia and Olean, we serve Southwestern New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania with SSD claims help. Call (716) 484-1010 today.
The Jamestown field office is located at 321 Hazeltine Avenue, Jamestown, NY 14701. You can find current hours and confirm the location through the Social Security Administration’s official field office locator.
Yes. As of January 2025, SSA requires appointments for most services at local field offices, including new Social Security card requests and disability applications. Walk-ins are generally no longer accepted except in emergencies.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is based on your work history and the Social Security taxes you’ve paid; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program available regardless of work history. The Jamestown field office handles applications for both programs, and our attorneys can help you determine which one (or both) you may qualify for.
Our attorneys handle every stage of the SSD process, from the initial application through appeals and hearings, and we work on a contingency basis, so there’s no cost unless we win your case. Call us to talk through your claim before your next step with the SSA.
The field office can process your paperwork and tell you the status of your claim, but the staff there don’t advocate on your behalf if you’re denied. An experienced SSD attorney can help you gather the right medical evidence, meet strict appeal deadlines, and represent you at a disability hearing.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), you are eligible for SSD benefits if you have enough work “credits” from jobs that were covered by Social Security. You need to earn these credits within a certain time frame that ends with when your disability began. Then you must also have a disabling condition that results in you being unable to work for at least a year. There are additional qualifications for getting SSD benefits; please speak with us to learn more.
The majority of SSD claims are denied at first. This does not mean that you should give up, however. We can help you through the appeals process, starting with determining why the SSA denied your initial claim. Then we will correct any problems with the application and apply for reconsideration.
If you receive another denial, we will apply for a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ). If the ALJ denies the claim, we can request a review of the ALJ hearing with the appeals council. Further steps in the appeals process include filing a lawsuit in federal district court and finally taking the case to the Supreme Court, although this is very rare.
There are some very serious diseases and conditions that are fast-tracked through the SSD process under the Compassionate Allowances program. The list of qualifying conditions is long but generally includes adult brain disorders and many types of cancer. Children with certain serious disorders may also qualify for a compassionate allowance.
People who qualify for a compassionate allowance will receive benefits much more quickly, which is critical for the applicant and their family in these cases.
Yes, you may be able to go back to work while receiving SSD benefits. You must alert the SSA if you go back to work while receiving benefits or if your work hours, pay and/or duties have changed.
The SSA can assist you with returning to work by providing work incentives that include a continuation of your cash benefits for a period of time, continued Medicare or Medicaid benefits and help for people transitioning to a new type of work. If your disability prevents you from working again in the future, you will not have to go through the entire application process. Instead, the SSA will expedite your application.
Yes, you can get benefits for certain types of mental illnesses or psychological disabilities, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As with physical illnesses and conditions, you must be able to show that the disability prevents you from working in a substantial gainful activity for at least a year. These cases are often complex, so you need an experienced lawyer who knows how to gather the medical evidence that the SSA requires.
