Since Social Security disability benefits were implemented in 1956, dozens of changes have been made to the program. Many of the changes that have occurred over the past few decades have been wildly beneficial to Social Security attorneys and advocates. Here are some of the biggest improvements that have been made to the Social Security program:
People of All Ages Can Receive Disability Benefits
When the program first started, only people between the ages of 50 and 65 were eligible for disability benefits. Today, people of all ages can receive either SSDI or SSI benefits. This means that more families have access to life-saving resources, and your firm can represent a much larger audience.
The Blue Book is Constantly Expanding
Every year, the SSA adds new disabling conditions to its medical guide known as the Blue Book. The Blue Book also has “reserved” sections that will likely be used for new conditions that will medically qualify in the future. As more conditions are added to the Blue Book, your clients will have better chances of getting approved for SSDI benefits without having to meet grid rules or be approved through a Medical Vocational Allowance. More Blue Book conditions give younger applicants a better chance of being approved as well, meaning your firm can be a little less picky when choosing which claimants to represent.
More Conditions are Fast-Tracked
The Compassionate Allowance program was started in 2008 to fast-track conditions that were clearly disabling and warranting immediate approval. What started with 88 conditions has now grown to well over 200 Compassionate Allowance Conditions.
While people who have conditions that qualify as Compassionate Allowances may not be entitled to a high amount of back pay, they are often entitled to retroactive benefits, which can be the equivalent of a full year of back pay. Additionally, SSI applicants with a Compassionate Allowance could receive back pay if it takes longer than just one month to approve their claim.
The Average Payment is Steadily Increasing
In May 2017, the average SSD attorney fee was $3140. This is up from $3,028 in May of 2016, and $2,951 in May of 2015. SSDI back pay is rising yearly because people are earning more in the workplace, and claims are taking a little longer to process due to an influx in baby boomers becoming disabled. This means that your firm can expect higher settlements than ever before.
Increase Your SSD Caseload Today
Now is a great time to increase your Social Security caseload. More Blue Book conditions are added every year, and your expected attorney’s fees should continue to increase as time goes on. If you would like to sign more SSD clients by purchasing eGen’s high-quality Social Security disability leads, give us a call today at 617.800.0089. We’d love to help your firm win more SSD cases and increase your revenue.