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If you are a member of a workers’ union who has become disabled, you may wonder if your union membership impacts your ability to receive Social Security disability benefits.

Your union membership doesn’t keep you from qualifying for benefits and many unions offer support for workers who have become unable to work because of illnesses or injuries.

While some unions have their own benefit programs, there are many labor unions that help members apply for disability benefits offered by the government or for benefits that are offered by their employers.

Each year the Social Security Administration receives millions of disability applications. Some applicants choose to work with a Social Security Disability attorney while others choose not to. If you are considering applying for disability benefits you may be wondering whether or not you really need a disability attorney in order to apply for the benefits you need.

The likelihood that prostate cancer has touched you or someone you know is quite high. With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. In fact, one in every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. During the month of September, many people don light blue ribbons to bring awareness to this common disease.

September is generally the time of year that evokes thoughts of fall and back to school. However, it is also significant for another reason. September is the month that we bring awareness to cancers involving the blood and bone marrow. Specifically, we recognize September as National Leukemia, Lymphoma, & Myeloma Awareness month.

The Social Security Administration requires you to meet the specific qualifications and requirements under law, not necessarily if you believe you are disabled or even if your doctor labels you as disabled. The SSA's Disability Determination Services (DDS) will evaluate your claim or appeal to establish if you meet the SSA's definition of disabled. This means you must be unable to to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medical condition. This needs to continue for at least twelve months. 

The Social Security disability process can vary in length. The disability claim process can be long for some than others. Although the disability determination process can take a long time, many applicants don’t have any choice but to stick it out and fight for SSDI or SSI Benefits.

After all, these benefits can mean the difference between just scraping by each month and being able to cover the rent and pay other bills.

Whether you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the length of the process varies from person to person depending on where they live and the severity of their condition.

For example, those with serious illnesses could be eligible under the Compassionate Allowance Initiative, which drastically reduces the waiting time. Unfortunately, it is also possible for an individual to have their claim rejected, forcing them to appear at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

Anyone who has applied for Social Security Disability benefits understands that medical records play a crucial role in the decision that is made by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Without the right medical evidence you have no way of proving the extent of your disability, and therefore have no way to support your claim for Social Security Disability benefits.

If you are unable to work due to illness or injury for a year or more, you may consider applying for Social Security Disability benefits. The unfortunate reality is that the large majority (over 70%) of those who apply for these benefits have their claims denied, even after paying into the Social Security system for many years.

Although some of these disabled workers may be approved for benefits at a later stage in the appeals process, this can involve a long, stressful wait.

More often than not you will be told it can take a year or more for disability benefits to be awarded. Why does it take so long for the Social Security Administration to approve most of the disability claims it receives, and why are some people approved for benefits more quickly than others?

Many disability applicants send their applications to the Social Security Administration expecting the process to be short and to be approved in just three to four months. Sometimes that happens. Most frequently, however, it does not.