Life for people in Tennessee is unpredictable. Even when one has routines, and one day sometimes feels no different than the last, unexpected things can happen to anyone. It could be a car accident, a workplace accident, they may be the victim of a crime or other things can happen. These incidents also can lead to catastrophic injuries that change a person’s life for a long time or even permanently. The victims may no longer be able to perform the physical or mental tasks that they were accustomed to performing prior to the incident.
This includes preventing the person from being able to work. This can be the most difficult part of the injury, because if they are unable to work, they are unable to earn an income. This means that they may no longer be able to provide for themselves and their families. This can be a very scary position to be in, but people in this situation may be entitled to either Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if they meet the requirements for benefits.
Which one a person may qualify for depends on the circumstances. SSDI is for individuals who have worked for a long enough period of time, have a physical or mental impairment that will last for at least 12 months and had to stop work because of it. SSI is for people who have minimal assets and have not worked long enough to qualify for SSDI.
After a person determines which benefit they may qualify for, then they must go through the application process. This can be a very confusing and complicated process. Also, many people are initially denied benefits. However, there is an appeals process in place, and people may still be able to receive benefits even if they are initially denied.
Many people in Tennessee are disabled in some capacity. Some of these individuals are not able to work because of their physical or mental impairment. People in this situation may be able to pursue SSDI or SSI, but they may need to apply for benefits and go through the process. At McKellar & Easter Attorneys At Law, we have handled many of these cases and understand how to navigate this complicated process. For more information on this matter, please visit our Social Security page on our website.