If you suffer from a permanent disability that affects your ability to maintain full-time employment, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. However, these benefits can be difficult to get. In fact, you may have already been denied.
An Irmo Social Security disability lawyer from George Sink, P.A. Injury may be able to assist you with the application process and appeal any adverse decisions you receive regarding your benefits claim.
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Give Us A Call »The Stages of the Social Security Disability Application and Appeals Process
To receive Social Security disability benefits, you will have to submit an application and be approved at some point during the following sequential process.
Initial Application
All claims begin at the application stage. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), to apply online for disability, you must submit an application that includes the following information:
- Your contact information
- Your personal identifying information
- Your employment history
- Proof that shows you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is terminal in nature or has lasted or is expected to last for a minimum of one year
- Information about how your physical or mental condition prevents you from working
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you must have worked a minimum amount of time and paid enough into the Social Security system, based on your age and recent work history.
To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must be disabled, blind, and/or over the age of 65 and be able to show that your countable income is less than the federal benefit amount, which is set at a different threshold each year, and that your countable resources are also less than a certain amount.
Reconsideration
Your initial application may be denied. However, you can request reconsideration from the SSA as your first level of appealing a decision. This must be done within 60 days of receiving your denial. Reconsideration is a complete review of your claim by someone who was not part of the original determination.
The person reviewing your appeal will look at the original evidence you submitted, as well as any additional documentation you have submitted since your denial.
Hearing
If your reconsideration is also denied, you can appeal the decision to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at a hearing held either in person or online. During the hearing, your lawyer and the judge will ask you questions about your medical condition and the limitations on your life.
You (and your South Carolina Social Security disability lawyer) will have the chance to tell your story and try to convince the ALJ to grant your request for Social Security disability benefits.
Appeals Council
If you are not happy with the results of your hearing, the next step of the appeals process is going to the Appeals Council. The Council will consider all requests for review, but it may deny a request if it finds that the ALJ’s decision was supported by the record and in accordance with relevant procedures and laws.
If the Council decides to review your case, it may review your case itself or it may remand it for the ALJ to further review. Your Social Security disability attorney in Irmo will guide you through every step of the appeals process if necessary.
Federal District Court
If you do not agree with the Appeals Council or if it refused to review your claim, you can file a lawsuit in a federal district court, which is the last level of the appeals process.
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How Our Lawyers May Be Able to Assist With Your Social Security Application
The process to apply for and receive Social Security disability benefits can be quite complex. An Irmo Social Security disability lawyer from our team may be able to help you with your claim by:
Reviewing Your Claim
Our lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, so we do not get paid unless your claim is approved and you receive disability benefits. This means that, if we take you on as a client, we have just as much interest in seeing your case through to success as you do. We can carefully review your circumstances and inform you if you have a good claim.
Reviewing Your Application and Supplementing It
After you hire us, we can review your application and ensure it is complete. Your lawyer can collect and sort your medical evidence. This may consist of thousands of pages. Your lawyer can help identify the most important evidence and present it in a way that is easy for the SSA representatives to understand.
If you do not have enough medical evidence to support your claim, your lawyer may be able to help supplement it. He or she may suggest seeking an additional medical opinion from a specialist or getting a specific report from your treating physician.
Handling Communication With the SSA
Your lawyer can also handle communications with the SSA, respond to requests for evidence, and submit paperwork before any deadlines pass.
Filing Appeals
Filing at least one stage of appeals may be necessary before you are approved for benefits. Your lawyer can follow the proper formalities to appeal your decision.
Representing You at Disability Hearings
Many claimants are ultimately approved at the disability hearing level when their lawyer is able to better present their claim and explain the real limitations their medical conditions have on them to the ALJ.
A Social Security disability lawyer in Irmo, SC, will make sure you are prepared for your hearing, practice with you, and give you a better idea about what to expect. Additionally, your lawyer may ask you relevant questions at the hearing and cross-examine witnesses like vocational experts.
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(888) 612-7001Contact Our SSDI Lawyers in Irmo, SC, for Help With Your Claim
If you need help applying for disability benefits, an Irmo Social Security disability lawyer from George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers may be able to help. We can assist you with your initial application and all stages of your appeal if necessary.
We offer a free consultation so you can learn more about the process. Get started today by reaching out to us for your free case review. Help is just a call away. Our SSI disability attorneys are here to answer your questions.
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