Social Security Disability Advocate Tennessee
If you are unable to work due to a disabling condition, you may feel like you have limited options for keeping a roof over your head and paying the bills. However, Social Security offers a safety net for Tennesseans with disabilities through two benefit programs: Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. If your condition is connected to military service, you may also be eligible for VA disability benefits.
National Disability Alliance can help you navigate the complex disability claims process. We’re backed by former Social Security Administration professionals, so we know the application process inside and out. If you are disabled in Tennessee, contact our disability advocates today, and get SSA Experience on Your Side.
On this Page
- National Disability Alliance Is the Team You Need To Get the Benefits You Deserve
- Federal Benefits for Tennesseans with Disabilities
- What Disability Benefits Can You Get in Tennessee?
- How to Apply for Disability Benefits in Tennessee
- Why Disability Claims Are Denied in Tennessee
- How a Tennessee Disability Advocate Can Help
- FAQs About Disability Benefits in Tennessee
- Get Help from an NDA Tennessee Disability Advocate Today
National Disability Alliance Is the Team You Need To Get the Benefits You Deserve
At National Disability Alliance, we are dedicated to helping Americans with all types of disabilities get the benefits they need. We handle SSDI, SSI, and VA claims in Tennessee, and we have a proven track record of successful results.
Our team includes former Social Security staff with inside knowledge of the system. With decades of combined experience, we know the administrative law judges and staff at the hearing offices in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Kingsport.
Our Tennessee disability advocates will do the following for you:
- Provide caring, personalized guidance
- Confirm your eligibility
- Help you get the medical proof you need
- Handle the paperwork
- Guide you through the process
- Keep you up-to-date until your benefits are approved
You’ll pay no out-of-pocket costs for our services. If your claim is approved, our fee will be paid by Social Security out of your past-due benefits. If you don’t get approved, we don’t get paid. Contact us today for a free case review.
Federal Benefits for Tennesseans with Disabilities
If you are disabled in Tennessee, you may be entitled to one or more of the following benefit programs: SSDI, SSI, and VA Disability Compensation.
SSDI Benefits & Eligibility
SSDI pays monthly benefits to individuals who can no longer work due to a disability. The SSA considers you disabled if you meet the following criteria:
- You have earned the minimum number of work credits required for your age.
- Your condition is severe enough to limit daily activities.
- Your disability is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- You cannot perform any type of work amounting to more than the substantial gainful activity limit.
Workers accrue work credits by paying payroll taxes from their earnings and can earn up to four credits per year. The requirements vary based on the applicant’s age at the onset of the disability. However, you generally must have accrued at least 40 credits, with at least half of them earned over the past five years.
Once you have received SSDI for two years or turn 65, whichever comes first, the Social Security Administration will automatically enroll you in Medicare.
SSI Benefits & Eligibility
SSI is a needs-based program that pays monthly benefits to low-income individuals who are blind, disabled, or 65 and older. The definition of disability for SSI purposes is the same as for SSDI.
Unlike SSDI, no work credits are required. Instead, your income and assets must not exceed certain thresholds. If you receive SSI, you are automatically eligible for TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program.
VA Benefits & Eligibility
You may be entitled to VA Disability Compensation if you served in the military and meet the following criteria:
- You served on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training and did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
- You have a physical or mental condition that affects your daily functioning and ability to work.
- Your condition was caused or exacerbated by your military service.
You must have a medical diagnosis and documentation showing your condition is linked to your military service. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledges that certain conditions are more prevalent among military veterans who served in specific combat zones. If you have one of these presumptive conditions, the VA will presume it resulted from your military service, and you will not have to prove a service connection. Presumptive conditions are commonly long-term illnesses associated with toxic exposures.
The VA will assess your condition and assign a disability rating ranging from 0% to 100%, reflecting the degree to which the condition affects your daily functioning. The amount of benefits is based on this rating.
What Disability Benefits Can You Get in Tennessee?
When you tap into all of the available benefit programs in Tennessee, you gain access to resources that can help you live a full life as independently as possible.
Financial Support
Direct financial support is available through the following programs in Tennessee:
- Social Security Disability Insurance
- Supplemental Security Income
- VA Disability
- SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps
Health Care Coverage
Tennessee residents with disabilities can access health care coverage from multiple sources, including the following:
- Medicare: Available to those who receive SSDI or are over 65
- TennCare: Provides comprehensive health coverage to those receiving SSI
- Medicare Cost-Sharing Programs: Assist with Medicare premiums and other medical costs, depending on your income
- Extra Help: Assistance with Medicare Part D premiums and drug costs for people with low incomes
Community-Based Support
Tennessee offers many hands-on programs to help people with disabilities live independently and access services, including the following:
- CHOICES: Case management and supportive services for adults 21 and older with low income who require assistance with daily activities
- Tennessee Technology Access Program, or TTAP: Provides access to assistive technology devices and services to people with disabilities
Savings Opportunities
ABLE TN is a savings program that helps individuals who become disabled before turning 26 save money for qualified expenses without affecting their SSI or TennCare benefits.
Tennessee Programs for Children with Disabilities
Financial assistance, medical care, and community-based support are available to families with children who have disabilities, including the following, with varying eligibility requirements:
- SSI for low-income families with disabled children
- TennCare for low-income families, including those receiving SSI
- Children’s Special Services, which provides comprehensive medical care for children with physical disabilities from birth through age 21
- Employment and Community First CHOICES, which assists families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Family Support Program, which provides up to $6,000 in assistance for families of severely disabled children to help them remain in their homes
Retroactive Benefits
When you apply for disability benefits, the application process typically takes months. Once your application is approved, you may be entitled to retroactive benefits based on the date the Social Security Administration determines you became disabled. You can receive up to 12 months of retroactive benefits.
How to Apply for Disability Benefits in Tennessee
You can apply for SSDI or SSI online through your Social Security account, over the phone, in person at a local Social Security office, or through the mail.
The application generally requests detailed information about your medical condition, work history, household members, and income. When you submit your application, you must include documentation of your identity and residency status and medical evidence supporting your claim.
The most efficient way to apply for benefits is to work with a reputable disability advocate. At National Disability Alliance, we can guide you through every step of the application process and give you the best shot at approval. Call (833) 643-4722 to get started.
Why Disability Claims Are Denied in Tennessee
Disability claims in Tennessee are often denied for the following reasons:
- Errors in the application
- Insufficient work credits for SSDI
- Income and assets above the limits for SSI
- Insufficient medical evidence
- A finding by Social Security or the VA that your condition is not disabling
- Evidence that you are working
If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. Working with an experienced Tennessee disability advocate gives you the best chance of succeeding on appeal.
How a Tennessee Disability Lawyer Can Help
Having a disability advocate on your side makes every step of the application process easier. Our local Tennessee disability advocates know which doctors in each community will provide the best documentation to support your claim, and many local Social Security offices know us by name.
We utilize cutting-edge technology to streamline the process, making it faster and easier. We are here to assist you with the initial application. If your claim is denied, we’ll represent you throughout the following steps of the Social Security appeal process:
- Reconsideration: Your claim will be evaluated by a reviewer not involved in the initial decision.
- Administrative Law Judge hearing: A judge will hear evidence and review your claim.
- Appeals Council review: An administrative law judge’s decision will be reviewed by the Appeals Council.
- Federal Court: You can file a federal lawsuit to appeal an Appeals Council decision.
FAQs About Disability Benefits in Tennessee
Below are answers to questions we frequently receive about disability benefits. Every case is unique, so it is important to contact a knowledgeable disability advocate if you have questions about a specific case.
How Long Do I Have To Be Disabled To Qualify?
It depends on the program. To qualify for SSDI or SSI, your disability must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. If you are applying for VA benefits, there is no minimum duration of disability.
How Long Does It Take To Get a Decision?
The current average processing time for Social Security disability applications ranges from 217 days to 240 days. Certain medical conditions qualify for a compassionate allowance, allowing the SSA to expedite your application.
Can I Work and Still Receive Benefits?
For SSDI, you can work and earn up to the substantial gainful activity limit without losing benefits. However, the SSA may consider it as evidence that you are capable of working. SSDI also offers a trial work period, allowing you to try returning to work without it affecting your benefits for up to nine months within a 60-month rolling period.
SSI does not offer a work trial. Any earnings could reduce your SSI benefits right away. If your earnings raise your income above the limit, you could lose your benefits.
You can usually work while receiving VA disability without any impact on your benefits. However, the VA may view it as evidence that your disability has improved and request a reevaluation, which could result in a lower disability rating and reduced benefits.
Can I Receive SSDI and SSI at the Same Time?
Yes, you can receive SSDI and SSI if your total income does not exceed the maximum for SSI, and you meet the eligibility requirements for both programs.
Will the Social Security Administration Ever Review My Case After Approval?
Yes, the SSA periodically conducts medical reviews to determine whether your condition remains disabling. If your medical condition is expected to improve, this review will take place six to 18 months after your disability began.
If your condition could improve, but improvement is not predicted, the Social Security Administration will review the case every three years. If no improvement is expected, it will review your case every seven years. Your initial award letter will tell you how often Social Security will review your case.
Get Help from an NDA Tennessee Disability Advocate Today
If you are living in Tennessee and have a disabling condition that prevents you from working, you may be entitled to disability benefits, including monthly benefit payments, health care coverage, and other resources.
We focus exclusively on helping Americans with disabilities get the benefits they deserve. We charge no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we are successful.
Call 833-643-4722 or contact us online for your free case review today.
Helpful Resources To Get You Started
Types of Disabilities
Learn which conditions qualify for SSDI and SSI – and how medical documentation plays a key role.
Types of Disabilities
Disability Benefits
Explore the benefits available through Social Security Disability and what you can expect to receive.
Disability Benefits
Application Process
A step-by-step look at how to apply for disability benefits – and how we can help simplify the process.
Application Process
FAQs
Have questions? Find quick answers to the most common disability questions we hear from applicants.
FAQs
