If you have suffered an injury that keeps you from participating in gainful employment for at least one full year, you may qualify for social security disability benefits in Salem. In considering your ability to secure work, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will look not only at whether your current condition keeps you from performing the duties of your past job, but also whether your condition prevents you from securing work in another field.
You can apply for social security disability in Salem at a local SSA field office or you can submit your application right online. The SSA works in conjunction with the Oregon Disability Determination Service (DDS), a division of the Department of Human Services. Once the SSA conducts a non-medical audit of your income, earned work credits, work history, education and skill set, your Salem SSD case file will be forwarded to the DDS for a medical review. The DDS will contact your doctor, hospitals, your employer, school or any other sources that can be used to get a clear picture of the severity of your injury. If there is sufficient medical evidence available to support your disability claim, the DDS will inform the SSA of your eligibility. If there is not sufficient evidence, your claim may be denied.
Currently, about one-third of all Oregon social security disability claims are awarded on a statewide level. If your claim is denied, you may appeal the decision and ask for reconsideration. After that, you can petition to have your Salem social security disability case heard by an administrative law judge (ALJ) in the Eugene hearing office. At the end of 2011, 46.5% of all cases that went before ALJs were awarded.
Salem Health Resources
Winning your Salem social security disability case requires you to be able to provide medical proof of being disabled. To improve your chances of having the evidence you need, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as you are injured. If you are not currently under the care of a doctor or if you are unable to afford medical attention, you can take advantage of reduced-cost and free health care facilities in the Salem area.
Northwest Human Services
681 Center Street, Northeast
Salem, OR, 97301
(503) 606-3288
West Salem Clinic
150 Kingwood Avenue NW
Salem, OR, 97304
(503) 378-7526
Lancaster Family Health Center
3896 Beverly Ave. N.E. J40
Salem OR 97305
(503) 588-0076
Salem Free Medical Clinic
3850 Portland Rd NW
Salem OR 97301
(503) 990-8772
Salem Area Mental Health Resources
Your mental health is as important to your overall well-being as your physical health. For assistance with mental health issues which have affected your ability to work, seek the counsel of a licensed mental health professional in the Salem area.
West Salem Clinic
190 Kingwood Avenue Northwest
Salem, OR 97304
(503) 588-5816
Mid-Valley Counseling Center
2250 D Street Northeast
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 364-6093
Catholic Community Services Foundation
3737 Portland Road Northeast
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 390-2600
Salem Supplemental Social Security Benefits
Currently, the Federal social security disability benefit rate is $698 for an independent individual and $1,048 for a couple. To apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) contact the Salem Social Security office.
When to Find a Salem Social Security Disability Attorney
You have the right to hire a Salem social security disability attorney at any point during the SSD determination process. Very often people won’t seek legal advice until after their disability claim has been denied. Working with an SSD attorney may help to expedite the process and win your case. If your attorney wins, a standard fee of 25% of your award is collected from past due benefits or through a fee petition. The maximum an attorney can collect for representing you in your Salem social security disability case is $6,000.
