Social Security Disability

Under the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSD or SSDI), workers who have worked long enough and earned enough wages can be entitled to disability payments if they have a severe physical or mental health condition that is expected to last for 12 months or more or result in death. For SSDI benefits to be approved, your condition must prevent you from being employed in any gainful employment, not just your regular job.

To establish your eligibility for benefits, proof may be necessary from doctors, vocational experts or psychologists, and our lawyers can help you gather the necessary proof and documents to present your case. They will use their experience and skills to prepare you case and ensure that it moves through the social security system as quickly as possible.

A claim for social security disability benefits may have to go through numerous steps before you receive an award of benefits.

• Initial application – Your initial application must be filed with the Social Security Administration and can be filed in person at the local social security office or online. Click here for information on filing your application and for instructions for filing online. Click here to find the social security office closest to you. Call 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778 to make an appointment at your local Social Security Office.
• Reconsideration – If your initial application is denied, you are allowed 60 days to ask for reconsideration, which is a complete review of your claim by a person who did not handle the first decision.
• Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing – If you do not agree with the decision rendered after the reconsideration, you have 60 days to request a hearing by an administrative law judge. You will be notified of the time and place for the hearing, and you will need to attend the hearing and bring relevant witnesses and evidence to present your case.
• Appeals Council and Federal Court – If you disagree with the decision of the administrative law judge, you can request a review of the decision by the Social Security Appeals Council. If you do not agree with the Appeals Council decision, you can file a lawsuit in federal district court.

If your SSDI claim is initially denied, our skilled lawyers will assist you through the appeals process and appear at the ALJ hearing to present relevant testimony of witnesses, including your testimony, and ensure that the necessary medical and vocational evidence is introduced. To be successful in your claim for social security disability benefits, you must be able to present medical proof and sufficient documentation to establish that you are entitled to benefits. Because of the complex rules and regulations applied to the process, you can benefit from having trained and experienced attorneys representing you at the ALJ hearing to ensure that all of the necessary and relevant evidence is presented and properly introduced.

If you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits or long-term disability benefits, you can still file for social security benefits, and some long-term disability policies require you to file a social security disability claim. Our lawyers can help you determine your rights and your responsibilities regarding each type of claim and can represent you in your claims for all benefits.

No fee charged unless you receive a favorable decision on your social security claim.

You pay no attorney fees unless you are awarded disability benefits, but case expenses and court costs will be the client’s responsibility.

No fee charged for our attorneys to evaluate your social security disability case.

To talk with one of our experienced lawyers about a free evaluation of your disability case, call our office. Or, you can e-mail us to arrange an evaluation of your claim.