Indianapolis Disability Advocates

Helping Hoosiers Win Financial Relief

Indianapolis can be a great place to live—welcoming, full of activity, a sports hub, but also more manageable and affordable than a lot of cities.

It can also be a great place to work as a center for product distribution, transportation, health care, education, manufacturing and hospitality.

When health problems cut off your ability to work, it’s hard to enjoy this life to the fullest.

Social Security Disability benefits can provide financial and stress relief.

But convincing the government that you are eligible for these benefits is an ordeal.

The Indianapolis disability advocates at Hanley Disability have decades of experience navigating this process and helping people win the disability benefits they deserve in Indianapolis and Central Indiana. We know what Social Security looks for in a disability claim.

Indianapolis has always been our home, and we’re a local team of representatives who believe in providing caring assistance to our neighbors. We’re extremely familiar with the local offices, health care services and resources that people seeking disability benefits need to navigate.

These benefits can help you take back control of your life, and we’re ready to help from the very first steps of this process in Indianapolis.

It doesn’t cost you anything to talk to us, and you won’t pay a fee until you win benefits.

Social Security Disability Is All We Do.

IMPORTANT!

Once you’re denied benefits, the clock starts ticking. Don’t wait too long. You might miss the deadline to appeal.

How Do I Qualify for Disability Benefits in Indianapolis?

To qualify for disability benefits you need to show that you have a health problem, plus more. Your medical issue must keep you from working any job for 12 months or longer.

And Social Security runs two different disability programs with their own qualifications regarding your work history and finances.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program for people who have been working and paying into Social Security for years.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program. You can qualify even if you’ve never worked, but you must meet strict criteria for having few financial resources to draw on.

Here is a breakdown of the requirements for the two programs:

Qualification	SSDI	SSI
Your health problems prevent you from working any job	YES	YES
Your health problems and inability to work will last 12 months or longer	YES	YES
You have worked and paid a qualifying amount into Social Security	YES	NO
Your financial resources (savings, investments, property) are extremely limited	NO	YES

If you aren’t sure which benefits you qualify for, or if you think you could be eligible for both SSDI and SSI, we can help you understand your options.

Get a FREE disability claim evaluation.

Applying for Disability in Indianapolis, Step by Step

The work it takes to apply for disability benefits often surprises people.

This process can be intimidating, so it helps to take it step by step.

Step #1: Gather your medical records.

A claims examiner won’t rely only on your word when you say you have a medical condition that stops you from working.

They need objective evidence, like results of medical tests, doctors’ notes about your treatments, and your doctor’s appraisal of your capabilities and limitations.

It can be tough to gather and organize all of this evidence, especially if you see multiple specialists, and when your health is draining your energy and concentration.

Our disability advocates can help with this crucial step.

Step #2: Be ready to prove your work history (for SSDI) or your financial need (for SSI).

If you’re seeking SSDI benefits, you need to verify your work history and show that you’ve paid into the system.

If you’re applying for SSI benefits, you need to have bank records and other evidence that shows you meet the program’s strict limits on financial resources—$2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

Step #3: Submit your application for disability benefits.

You can apply for disability benefits online, over the phone, or in person at a local Social Security office.

When you work with the Indianapolis disability advocates of Hanley Disability, we’ll make sure your application is complete and backed by evidence that the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks for.

Focus on your health, and let our local disability advocates assist you with your claim.

What Happens if My Disability Claim Gets Denied?

Getting denied disability benefits is a common outcome. Only around 35-40% of initial claims get approved in Indiana.

You do get multiple chances to appeal. If you applied on your own and got denied, our Social Security Disability advocates can help you with your next steps.

Each stage of appeal gets a bit more complicated.

The first step is asking for reconsideration. Social Security will have another claims examiner look at your application for benefits and make another decision.

Chances of winning are still quite low at this stage, so most people move to the second part of the appeals process—the disability hearing.

This gives you the chance to make your case to an administrative law judge (ALJ) in person, but Social Security could also have expert vocational and medical witnesses who give their own assessment of your situation.

An experienced Indiana disability advocate can prepare you for this important step and cross-examine any expert witnesses if they suggest that you don’t need benefits.

Appealing can take a long time, but it’s all worth it when you receive benefits that can return peace of mind and stability to your life.

Why Work with an Indianapolis Disability Advocate?

The team at Hanley Disability can help you from the very beginning of your application for benefits.

We won’t tell you to apply on your own and come back if you get denied, like some disability law firms and representatives do. We’ll be at your side through all of this.

Our Indianapolis disability advocates will:

Meet with you personally
Help you determine which disability benefits you qualify for
Identify evidence that can strengthen your claim
Help you organize your medical records
Answer any questions that you have about this process
Keep you updated on the status of your claim
Support your appeal if your initial application for benefits gets denied
Represent you at your disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge
Point you toward local resources that can help you get by while you wait for your benefits

Getting a Social Security Disability claim approved on your own is difficult, but our team is here to do everything that we can to maximize your chances of winning benefits.

We’ve been helping people in Indianapolis and across the state of Indiana get approved for SSDI and SSI for decades.

We know the local workforce and industries well, and we treat our clients like neighbors, not faceless case files.

We’re ready to put our experience to work for you.

Contact Us Today.

Commonly Asked Questions About Disability Benefits

If you’re applying for disability benefits, you probably have questions. Our Indianapolis disability advocates can listen to you and give you an idea of what to expect from this process.

Schedule a free consultation with our team, and read on to learn the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we hear.

How difficult is it to get approved for disability benefits?

Getting approved for disability benefits is an uphill battle, even when it seems like you have a health impairment that would obviously make it impossible to work.

Social Security has high standards meant to filter out anybody who doesn’t truly need economic assistance. If you don’t have enough medical evidence, or you aren’t clear enough about how your symptoms limit your ability to work, you’re likely to get denied.

Do I really need a disability advocate to seek benefits?

You’re not required to work with an Indiana disability advocate when you apply for benefits, but having help from someone who knows this system well can make a big difference.

Hanley Disability Advocates can help you gather evidence, fill out application forms, and make your disability claim as convincing as possible. If you get denied, we’ll support you and help you appeal Social Security’s decision.

Getting a disability claim approved is hard, and you have other things to worry about. We’ll help you claim the benefits you deserve.

How much do Social Security Disability benefits pay?

Two people can get approved for Social Security Disability benefits and receive vastly different monthly payments.

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your monthly payments are based on your previous income. Social Security applies a formula to your average monthly earnings and determines how much you should receive in benefits.

Your disability benefits won’t replace your full income, but your monthly payment will be higher or lower depending on your past average earnings.

SSI recipients start at a standard maximum payment, the same nationwide. Your individual amount can be reduced from there based on income or other benefits you receive. SSI usually pays less per month than SSDI.

An Indianapolis disability advocate from Hanley would be happy to answer questions about your specific situation and how much you could receive in benefits.

How long does it take to receive disability benefits?

You can expect to wait months or even more than a year to get your disability claim approved or denied.

This process takes so long because Social Security has high standards, a big backlog of claims, and not enough claims examiners.

If you get denied benefits and need to appeal, each stage can add months of additional waiting time.

Apply for disability benefits as soon as possible to get the process started, and get help from an Indianapolis disability advocate who knows how to maximize your chances of winning benefits each step of the way.

How much does an Indianapolis disability advocate cost?

A disability advocate from Hanley Disability won’t charge you an upfront fee when you need help applying for benefits or appealing a denied claim.

We work on contingency, meaning that you pay a fee only when you win benefits.

When you win benefits, you’ll receive a lump sum of back pay to make up for time you waited to get approved by Social Security.

An advocate’s fee comes out of that lump sum and is subject to strict limits.

When should I talk to a disability advocate about my claim?

You should talk to our disability advocates as soon as you think you qualify for benefits.

This process is hard to navigate on your own. Let us guide you through it from the very beginning.