Ensure a Successful Claim By Using a Social Security Disability Lawyer

Individuals with Disabilities most often are not able to work to support themselves. The reasons for Disabilities vary, and can be as the result of an accident,  or an illness or even date back to a person’s Birth.  The requirements to be eligible for social security disability payments are very specific. When applying it is important to organize all of your medical history, work and educational history, your relevant personal information and proof of all income.

If your claim for disability benefit payments is approved, the Social Security Administration may grant back pay dating back to when you first were unable to work.  In other cases you may be granted back pay from the date you applied for SSDI payments.  You must be honest in presenting your information when your claim is reviewed.  Presenting false information most often results in a denial of disability benefits.

Social Security requires a clear reason why you need social security

disability benefits payments.  Those reasons must be within their regulations and requirements.  Certain disabilities may not meet the SSDI requirements and your claim will be denied.  You can resubmit your information for reconsideration, but without the help of a qualified Lawyer, in most cases your claim will be rejected again.

Hiring a qualified social security disability benefit lawyer will greatly improve the chances of your case being approved when it’s brought before a disability Judge in court.   The success rate when using a Lawyer gives you a 40%-60% better chance of being granted benefits, than with no Lawyer. An attorney will be able to look at your rejected claim and help you prepare for your court hearing with the Judge. Most Lawyers handling social security cases do not get paid unless you are granted benefits.  Their fee is usually paid directly from The Social Security Administration before your payments are disbursed to you; giving you the added benefit of having no out of pocket costs when hiring a Lawyer.

Social Security Disability List of Impairments

Social Security Disability List of Impairments

Many people every year find themselves unable to work, because of an injury or illness. They know they are disabled, but don't know how the Social Security Administration "deems" them disabled. Aside from their application and medical records there is a list of impairments that the SSA references.

This List of Impairments, or the Blue Book, as the SSA calls it is broken down by each major body system. Within each system the Social Security Administration will list impairments or conditions that are so severe they commonly keep people from working. In order for the impairment to make the list it must keep people from participating gainful employment and generally be a permanent condition that could also result in death.

Part A of the Listing of Impairments discusses all the conditions and medical criteria that must be met for an adult to be approved for Social Security Disability Insurance. Part B concerns children's conditions and criteria.

The Part A Listing is broken down into 14 different systems and disorders. New systems and disorders are added from time to time, so be sure you keep a close eye on the list. As of right now the list includes; the Musculoskeletal System, Special Senses and Speech, Respiratory System, Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Genitourinary Impairments, Hematological Disorders, Skin Disorders, Endocrine Disorders, Impairments that Affect Multiple Body Systems, Neurological, Mental Disorders, Malignant Neoplastic Diseases, and Immune System Disorders. Within each system/disorder the SSA will break it down into sections.

The first section is a general information section that defines the disability and any symptoms that it can cause. It will also list important definitions and medical issues that may arise. The listing will then discuss all of the steps a person must take to be evaluated and diagnosed.

Within the Listing of Impairments you will also find acceptable Medical Sources that will stand up in court. The Blue Book also discusses what kind of medical evidence is allowed as well. Not all people realize how much documentation needs to be provided when they fill out their Social Security Disability application or attending an appeals hearing.

If you think that you are suffering from a condition that has rendered you disabled, but it is not listed in the Blue Book, this does not mean that you will be denied. Many people reach out to Social Security Disability attorneys to help them win their case. These experienced attorneys can help you collect the correct medical documentation, fill out the required forms, and also represent you at an appeals hearing. If you find the right attorney he or she can be a great person to have on your side. They know all the ins and outs of the Social Disability system.

Mental Health & Social Security Disability

Mental Health & Social Security Disability

Despite the massive number of individuals in the United States that suffer with mental illness, only a small fraction of sufferers actually seek treatment. In order to apply for social security disability, a diagnosis and ongoing treatment is necessary. It is not uncommon for people to think of disabilities only in the term of physical illness or injury. However, there are several mental illnesses that can render a person disabled.

Mental health issues may be brought on by substance abuse, stress, emotional trauma suffered while on military duty, and much more. In some cases, there is no known cause for mental illness. Depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses may appear seemingly out of nowhere. In all cases, medical attention and treatment is needed. Those who have friends or family members that are suffering from mental illness and are not seeking treatment are advised to either ask the individual to seek help, or contact mental health services on behalf of the individual.

The link between mental health and social security disability is a clear one. Moderate to severe mental illness can strip any sufferer of the ability to work. This may be the result of many different problems ranging from the inability to socialize with co-workers to feeling completely drained due to depression. There are also illnesses that make it unsafe for the sufferer to be around others. For all of these reasons and more, many lose the ability to be a productive part of the work force.

Over thirty million Americans are disabled at this time. This people range from 21 years old to 64 years old. In 2008 alone, over 2 million individuals filed disability claims. While cancer, heart disease, and diabetes remain the most common reasons for being disabled, musculoskeletal disorders, mental illness, and illnesses related to lifestyle choices are also very common.

There are government programs in place to help those with mental illness. The goal of many of these is to help disabled individuals be able to work, carry on normal relationships, and have a happy home life. During the recovery process social security disability may help with the expenses of daily life. For some, recovery will be a lengthy process, but it may be achieved over a period of time. For others, mental illness is a lifelong battle that must be fought day in and day out. Mental health services are available to many. Contact your local health service branch to learn more about the services that are currently available.

The Benefits of Obtaining Legal Help in Your Area When Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits

If you find yourself in the process of applying for Social Security disability benefits, you may benefit by obtaining a legal advocate from your area If you plan on going it alone, there are some disturbing facts that may make you want to change your mind. According to the Social Security Administrations Annual report in 2006, less than 33% of workers that were disabled actually obtained the awards for the claims they were seeking. This means that over 66% of disability claims are declined the first go around. The denial rate actually increases at the reconsideration level.

What is the Social Security Disability Program? This program typically awards benefits for those that have become disabled in their line of work. Since they are disabled, they are now limited in their ability to perform the required job functions. This is what the Social Security Disability program deems "substantial gainful activity." In other words, because of the disability, a person is no longer able to work at full capacity to earn an income.

In order to be considered for Social Security disability claims, you must be able to show that you have previously been insured. Generally, if you have worked long enough, you should have contributed enough money to be Social Security program. The Social Security program then determines your eligibility.

Working with Social Security Disability Attorneys from your area can help increase your chances of successfully receiving benefits. They can help you and keeping your medical records and other documents together. Without them, it may be difficult to prove when you have actually become disabled on-the-job. You must be able to prove that you have been unable to obtain gainful employment due to physical health problems or mental impairment for 12 consecutive months just to be considered for disability insurance. That means that if you have other issues like alcoholism or substance abuse you will not be considered.

A claim for Social Security Disability Insurance is approved by an Administrative Law Judge or the Social Security Administration, and if you are approved, you will likely receive regular payments. There is also a term called the "five-month waiting period" that signifies the first benefit payment because of this set around the time that a person's disability has surpassed five months. There are other scenarios where you may also receive smaller awards if you received the disability at a younger age.

Since the economy has been in the doldrums in the past couple years, there has also been an increase in Social Security Disability Claims. This means that the barriers to receiving benefits have been increased. If you are denied benefits from your initial claim, you have 60 days to request an appeal that must be in writing. If your claims were denied based on medical issues, there is an option to apply for an appeal over the Internet.

There are four levels in the appeal process. They are:

Reconsideration

Hearing by an Administrative Law Judge

Review by the Appeals Council

Federal Court Review

When you go through the reconsideration process, you must know that reviews by people that were not involved in the first denial decision. By working with Social Security Disability Attorneys, you have the opportunity to submit new evidence that may have been omitted the first time. Their expertise will help you get around the hurdles you may experience yourself. It is better to rely on their expertise so that you get the best representation that you need.