Social Security pays five types of disability benefits. Disabled adults who have worked five out of the last ten years may qualify for Disability Insurance Benefits. Most people who receive Disability Insurance Benefits also qualify for Medicare.

Disabled adults with a more limited earnings history may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Disabled children, under the age of 18, may be entitled to SSI Child’s Disability Benefits. Individuals who qualify for SSI also qualify for Medicaid.

The Social Security Disability application process can take two years and more to complete, and many claimants have to apply several times before they receive benefits.

At the first stage of the application process, 63% of all claims are denied. At Reconsideration, the second stage, 85% are denied. Only about half of the appeals heard by an Administrative Law Judge are approved. Statistically, claimants represented by attorneys are awarded benefits far more often than unrepresented claimants.

SEMA E. LEDERMAN represents claimants at all stages of the Social Security Disability application process.