Atticus offers free, high-quality disability advice for Americans who can't work. Our team of Stanford and Harvard trained lawyers has a combined 15+ years of legal experience, and have helped over 10,000 Americans apply for disability benefits.
Many Americans have health problems that affect their ability to work. In fact, around 47,000 Nebraska residents receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). These benefits are incredibly helpful in giving you financial stability, but getting approved isn’t always easy. In this guide, you’ll learn all the information you need about how to apply and qualify for benefits.
Like most states, Nebraska doesn’t have a state disability program. However, residents can still qualify for the following federal and private disability programs:
For the rest of this guide, we’ll focus on SSDI and SSI because they’re the disability benefits Nebraska residents receive the most.
There are medical and technical requirements you have to meet when qualifying for SSI and SSDI. The technical qualifications are different for each program, but the medical qualifications are the same.
To medically qualify for SSI or SSDI, you’ll need to provide evidence that you have a medical condition that leaves you unable to work for at least one year, if not for the rest of your life. Some conditions are automatically approved, specifically chronic, severe, or life-threatening ones. The SSA’s compassionate allowance list details what conditions fall under these categories.
Age also plays a role in how you qualify for disability benefits. If you’re over 50, the rules are less strict. Instead of proving you can’t do any type of work (in any industry) because of your disability, you only need to show that you can’t do the type of work you’ve done before.
There are two technical criteria for SSDI applicants:
Learn more about the technical qualifications for SSDI.
SSI applicants must meet two technical criteria:
For more information, see our guide to the technical SSI requirements.
Hundreds of conditions qualify for disability, as long as they leave you unable to work for at least one year.
Based on the number of disabled people in Nebraska with disability benefits (by condition), the most common qualifying disabilities are:
You can also qualify for disability benefits if you have a mental health condition, though there are stricter requirements. The three most common mental health conditions for Nebraska residents on disability are:
Related: How Hard is it to get disability for mental health?
When you’re ready to apply for benefits, the first step is completing the main Social Security disability application. In addition to that, you’ll need to fill out some other forms, like a work history report and a function report.
Completing all the required forms can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. A disability lawyer will provide valuable guidance as you fill out the application, making the whole process easier and less stressful. Not only can they help you answer questions, they can fill out the forms for you and then handle SSA communications.
We’ve also created guides to help you apply for disability benefits for your child or another loved one.
It’s important to give yourself enough time as you’re applying for disability benefits. Gathering the necessary documents and filling out all the forms will take longer than you’d expect. Here are steps you should take:
For more help getting started, here’s our step-by-step guide to the disability application.
There are three ways to file the disability benefits application:
If you’re not working with a disability lawyer, applying for benefits in person is a good option. The SSA staff can’t tell you if your answers are strong or answer personal questions (that’s legal advice and only a lawyer could give that), but staff can explain what a question is asking.
Further reading: How a lawyer can help your disability application
We highly suggest working with a disability lawyer when you file for benefits with the SSA. They’ll work with you during the entire process, from completing the application accurately to filing appeals and representing you in a hearing — which is necessary for most applicants to receive benefits. Guidance from a disability lawyer can make each step a little less stressful and increase your chances of winning benefits.
For help finding a lawyer that’s the right fit for your case, fill out our 2-minute disability quiz. Getting matched is free and you never have to pay the lawyer anything until after you win benefits.
Once you submit your application, the SSA reviews it to check if you meet the technical requirements. For your medical requirements, the Disability Determination Services (DDS) reviews your health-related information.
Sometimes, the SSA may request an in-person interview to learn more about your case. DDS may also request that you undergo a consultative exam, which is a health exam conducted by an SSA doctor.
With all the required reviews, getting a final decision on your application takes just over six months on average.
When you apply for disability benefits, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll be denied initially. About 70% of initial claims are rejected. If this happens, the next step is to file for reconsideration, though around 90% of applications are denied at this stage too. Luckily, your odds increase at the next appeal stage, which is a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ).
A hearing offers your best chance of getting benefits approved. In 2022, 54% of people that received a hearing won benefits. With a disability lawyer by your side, you’re also three times more likely to win your case compared to if you represent yourself.
Learn more about the odds of winning a disability appeal.
Most applicants have to go through several appeals before receiving a final decision, making the process quite lengthy. It takes more than two years, on average, for Nebraska applicants to get approval for benefits.
While the amount of time it takes for your claim to be processed varies, here are the average wait times for each stage:
Your exact wait time for a hearing depends on your local SSA hearing office. In Nebraska, there is one local SSA office that does hearings. Here’s a look at the location and wait time (from request date to hearing date) to expect.
Hearing office | Wait time |
---|---|
Omaha | 12 months |
Aside from responding quickly to all requests from the SSA, there’s not much that speeds up the application process. However, working with a disability lawyer can help you submit a strong application and make sure you’re keeping up with deadlines. While the lengthy process will undoubtedly make you feel discouraged at times, your first check from the SSA includes back pay. This lump sum covers the time it took to get a final decision, sometimes including years worth of payment.
Related: How to Find a Good Disability Lawyer Near You
Your monthly benefit amount is based on your work history, income, and whether you qualify for SSDI or SSI. In some cases, you can receive both at the same time.
On average, Nebraska residents get $1,274.63 per month in SSDI benefits. However, the maximum you can receive is $3,627 per month.
Even though the average benefit amount ranges from state to state, your location doesn’t impact your payment — only work history and income do. To see how much your SSDI check will be, log in to your SSA.gov account:
In Nebraska, the average SSI payment is $602.47 per month, which is slightly lower than the maximum possible payment of $914 per month in 2023.
You can expect to receive the maximum payment if you don’t have any monthly income. If you do have other monthly income, the SSA will adjust your SSI payment accordingly by determining the difference between your income and the maximum amount.
Learn more about how SSI is calculated.
Getting help from a disability lawyer is a choice that benefits you in more ways than one. They can take care of everything application-related, from filling out forms to communicating with the SSA on your behalf. They’ll also represent you at a disability hearing if you require one. Using their expertise, you’ll have a higher chance of winning benefits.
As you’re searching for a disability lawyer in Nebraska, here are three important things to consider:
At Atticus, we understand that finding a good lawyer is overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s why we’ve done the hard work of researching firms across the country for you. We match you with an experienced disability lawyer who will treat you respectfully and as a priority. Best of all, our services are free and you only ever pay the lawyer if they win your case. Get started by filling out our disability quiz. We’ll reach out to learn more about your situation.
To qualify for disability you need to have a condition that prevents you from working for at least a year. You’ll also need to meet certain work history requirements (for SSDI) or be within certain income limits (for SSI). For more on these requirements, read our full write up here.
Any condition that will prevent you from working for a year or more can qualify for disability benefits. Some of the most common conditions include musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, nervous system diseases, and circulatory system diseases. See our full list of conditions that qualify here.
It takes an average of 6.1 months to get an initial disability decision in Nebraska. Most people who apply are initially rejected, and need to appeal this decision. If you appeal and go to a hearing, the process takes around two years on average. Read more: How Long It Takes to Get Approved for Disability Benefits
The average SSDI payment in Nebraska is $1,274.63 per month. The average SSI payment is $602.47 per month. What you’ll earn is dependent on your income or the amount you’ve historically paid into the Social Security program. Read more on what amount you can expect.
Answer the application questions truthfully, consistently, and succinctly. You should also ensure that you gather and submit all your medical records with your application. The SSA paperwork can be complicated, so our legal team has written a full guide to the application here.
No, Nebraska does not have a state disability program. Only five states (California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) have a state program. Residents of Nebraska can apply for federal disability programs (SSDI and SSI). Read more about SSDI and SSI here.
How long has your condition made it hard to work?
Jackie Jakab
Lead Attorney
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