Let a Dubuque Disability Attorney Help you File for Disability Benefits

In the 1940s, the savings of many Americans had been depleted by the Great Depression and World War II. So in 1945, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt created a federal program that today is known as social security. Most people are aware that the Social Security Administration offers benefits for people that are nearing retirement. However it is not quite as widely known that the SSA also provides disability benefits for workers who are unable to work full-time because of an injury or serious illness.

To qualify for benefits, you must have been out of work for twelve months or more and prove to the SSA's satisfaction that you are disabled. Beginning the process can be done by filing an SSD (social security disability) or SSI (supplemental security income) application either at your local SSA office, by phone or via the Internet. However more and more people are turning to social security disability attorneys to help them receive their benefits. Having a trained SSD/SSI lawyer by your side can help you avoid a lot of the red tape that comes with the process of applying for disability benefits. A disability advocate can also increase the chances that your initial claim is accepted.

To apply for Social Security disability benefits in Dubuque, contact your local Social Security Administration office at:


This office also serves clients in Peosta, Durango, La Motte, Sherrill, Epworth, Zwingle, Bernard, Darlington and surrounding areas.

Located along the Mississippi River, the city of Dubuque sits at the crossroads of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. While the city's economy was once centered around manufacturing, it has expanded to include health care, education, publishing and financial services. Yet in Dubuque County, there are more than 13,000 people who are disabled . If you or a loved one falls into that category, you could qualify for SSD or SSI benefits.

There is a difference between SSD and SSI benefits. Social security disability benefits are like an insurance policy that many workers pay into. These payments are generally made through FICA tax deductions in your regular paycheck. If you become disabled and cannot work, you can receive payments from the social security disability fund. Some people have either not worked long enough or not paid enough into the system to be eligible for SSD benefits. In that case, they may be qualified to receive SSI benefits. There are some rare instances where you can receive both, but you must prove to be very low income. However, it is possible to apply for both. In fact, if you apply for SSI benefits, the Social Security Administration is required to accept an SSD application at the same time.

Know that almost three-quarters of initial applications are rejected, but there is a process known as Reconsideration, which allows you to appeal the decision. With the aid of an experienced disability benefits attorney, you will be able to track down all of the necessary paperwork to put together a strong appeals case. Your disability advocate can also help you write letters and create a narrative that can sway a judge or administrator in your favor.

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