If you satisfy the criteria the SSA has set forth in order to be eligible to receive benefits, the benefits you receive will be those established as the Federal Base Rate. Some states offer disability benefits in addition to the Base Rate, but New Mexico is not one of those states.
If you live in Albuquerque, or anywhere in New Mexico for that matter, you can visit your local Social Security Office to receive the forms necessary to file a claim. Or, you can visit the Action Disability office in Albuquerque and discuss your claim with one of the representatives, should you feel the need for assistance. If you already have filed a claim and it has been denied, and you wish to either refile or appeal, the Action Disability representative can help you there as well.
Whether you need assistance or not, there are some things you need to know to determine whether or not you qualify for benefits in the first place. The criteria the SSA has set forth seems to be reasonably straightforward, at least on paper, but you may find instances in which it will be to your definite advantage to seek professional guidance or assistance.
Nearly 70% of all initial claims for disability benefits are turned down. In some instances, perhaps most instances, the claimant simply does not qualify, but has submitted a claim without fully understanding the criteria for acceptance. In other instances however, claimants are perfectly qualified to receive benefits, but their applications have been turned down, either due to technicalities or due to incomplete paperwork.
The criteria that must be satisfied to receive disability benefits are summarized here:
In order to qualify for disability benefits you must meet the following conditions:
1. You must be totally disabled. No benefits are provided for a partial disability.
2. You are unable to do the work you did before.
3. Your doctor will not allow you to do other work.
4. Your disability is on the Social Security Administration’s list of disabling conditions.
5. You have worked long enough and recently enough under Social security to earn the credits necessary to qualify you to receive benefits.
6. You can qualify because you are legally blind, are a worker’s widow or widower, are a disabled child, or are a wounded warrior.
Disability representatives are always on hand in the Albuquerque office to help you qualify for those benefits you are entitled to.
You may wish to get in touch with a Social Security Disability representative in the Action Disability office in Albuquerque. There. You can receive useful and valuable tips free of charge, or you may choose to hire one of their representatives to represent you throughout the entire process.
