What is Disability Law? How Do I Get Help With Disability Law?
Hearing the words ‘disability law’ means different things to different people. If you’re disabled and employed, you may be trying to navigate your employee-based insurance or obtain accommodations from your employer for your disability.
If you’re unable to work, you may need assistance in working with the Social Security Administration or need help understanding the ADA, (Americans with Disabilities Act). If so, you may benefit from a consultation with Sinkevich Law Firm. When people hear ‘disability law’, they’re usually thinking of one of the several types of law. Let’s look at some of those below.
Some Types of Disability Law
Navigating Your Disability and Your Job
If you find you’re mentally or physically disabled and need accommodations to perform your job successfully, we can help. We provide accommodations letters to your employer in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to inform them of your disability. We’ll also help you understand how to best work with your employer to get your disability accommodated from a legal standpoint and get you back to work.
Employer-Based Disability Insurance
This is private insurance you purchase through your employer, usually at a reduced cost. Employer-based disability insurance usually focuses on long-term disability benefits, if you become permanently disabled, you would file a claim to be paid. This type of insurance is governed by a federal law known as ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. This law covers almost all areas of employee benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
A type of insurance provided by the federal government for people with physical or mental disabilities so severe that they may never be able to have a career to support themselves until retirement age. That, combined with any additional expenses surrounding their disability is the basis for a monthly payment to offset their expenses.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Most people think SSI and SSDI are the same things, but they’re quite different. While SSDI covers people who most likely can’t work, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is meant to work with lower-income seniors or disabled people to provide extra income to meet their daily living expenses. Qualifications for SSI are strict, you must either be 65 or older or have a severe disability as classified by the Social Security Administration.
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In general, you may qualify for your employer-based long-term-disability insurance, SSI or SSDI if you will be unable to work for a year or longer. For specific questions, Sinkevich Law Firm will help you understand your employer-based insurance plan, or help you navigate the process of understanding and applying for SSI or SSDI.
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This page is provided for informational purposes only and not to be used as legal advice. Contact Sinkevich Law Firm for more information.