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While you may be unable to work, that fact alone won’t guarantee you Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration is a large and complex government agency. They use a complex legal system to decide who deserves benefits, and you can only win benefits if you meet their strict definition of “disabled.”
We’ll help you determine whether you do. Contact us for a FREE evaluation of your disability claim and find out if you qualify for benefits.
The first step is to file your initial claim with the Social Security Administration. You can take this first step yourself, but we’d be happy to help you with it if you’d like.
There are many ways to apply: On the web at socialsecurity.gov/, through the mail, over the phone, or in person. You can call the national Social Security office at 1-800-772-1213 and set up the option that works best for you. While the staff at the national office is great at setting up appointments and doing basic tasks, they sometimes get the tough questions wrong. Call our office or go into your local Social Security office to get answers for the more complex questions.
Strictly Strictly speaking, you don’t need a Social Security lawyer to win disability benefits. However, we can help you build the strongest possible case.
Social Security has complex rules to determine disability, and these rules change depending on your age, education, training, and work experience. Our office will evaluate all aspects of your case to determine the best course of action.
If your initial claim is denied (and most are), legal representation is advisable. Social Security’s own statistics show that people win benefits more often when they have legal representation. We’ll help you set up your appeal, gather evidence, and prepare for your hearing. Some cases go all the way to federal court. If our firm represents claimants at the administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing, we may be willing to represent them at the federal court level as well.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in federal court, and we’re well qualified to handle your case.
The most important thing you can do is to visit your doctor regularly and maintain a record of the hospital visits and day-to-day problems you encounter. These records will serve as evidence in the event your claim is denied.
Probably. You’ll have a better idea after you contact our office for a free consultation. We’ll review the reasons for denial and help you determine whether an appeal is likely to succeed. You only have sixty days to file an appeal, so don’t wait to contact us.
As a general rule, the sooner the better. If you are filing an initial application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you’ll want to do that directly with Social Security or possibly through your local DSHS office if you qualify for Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) benefits. You’ll want to contact an attorney as soon as you get an SSI denial.
If you are filing an initial application for Retirement, Survivor’s, and Disability Insurance (SSDI), our office can hep you from the very start.
If you’ve been denied for either SSI or SSDI, contact us immediately.
To qualify as disabled under Social Security rules, you’ll need to be able to prove:
By reviewing your documentation. That’s what the administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing is for. The Social Security Administration will examine your medical records, your employer records, and any personal or expert testimony in deciding whether you’re unable to work for at least one year.
The Social Security Administration is a vast government agency, and they can take as long as a year or more to make their decision. We can help you avoid errors that can slow your appeal. We’ll be on the lookout for ways to shorten your wait. And of course, we’ll be with you throughout the process to make sure the Social Security Administration is doing everything it can. But in the end, we can’t make them move any faster. No legal firm can.
You don’t have to wait at all. In fact, it’s best to file your claim immediately, while evidence is still relatively easy to obtain. You might decide not to file a claim if your health issues are minor, but if you expect to be unable to work for a year or more, you should file your claim immediately. Keep in mind that the Social Security Administration does have an income threshold that you cannot exceed, if you are still managing to work.
It could be any number of reasons. Doctors don’t always know what constitutes a disability under Social Security rules, so we make sure they describe and present your information in a way that makes sense to the Social Security Administration. We’ll help you collect, evaluate, and present your evidence for the maximum chance of success.
When you first contact our office, all you’ll need is your most recent denial letter from Social Security. After that, we typically help clients obtain two types of information…
Physical documentation of your condition is important to proving a disability as defined by Social Security’s rules and regulations. We’ll help obtain the medical records Social Security missed and see to it that they’re thorough and complete.
The Social Security Administration often hires expert witnesses to testify that claimants are not disabled. To counter that testimony, we’ll review your doctor’s records and often request their medical opinions regarding your functional limitations, asking the specific questions that the Social Security Administration needs answered.
First, be honest and thorough when reporting your condition to Social Security. People are sometimes embarrassed to report psychological difficulties or learning disabilities, even though both can be important factors in receiving benefits. As you fill out forms regarding your limitations, think in terms of what you can’t do, not what you can do. Hiring a lawyer will also improve your chances; Social Security’s own statistics show that people with legal counsel are much more likely to win benefits. Contact our office. We’d be happy to talk.
The Social Security Administration has complex rules and regulations. A skilled representative can help by looking into all the facts and setting up the strongest case based on your medical condition(s), age, education, and work experience. Our attorneys have successfully represented thousands of claimants and have the skills it takes to win your case.
You should file immediately after an injury, as delays tend to lessen your chances of winning benefits.
Insufficient Proof -Be sure to visit your doctor and specialists regularly and maintain a record of the hospital visits and day-to-day problems you encounter. These records will serve as proof to substantiate your claim.
If your initial claim is rejected, you should appeal the decision. Many people make the mistake of filing a fresh application, which causes serious delays.
The Social Security Disability system is set up with the understanding that you don’t have a lot of money for a lawyer.
You don’t pay an attorney fee up-front for your Social Security disability claim. You only pay a fee when you win benefits, and that fee comes out of back benefits that build up while you’re waiting for a decision from Social Security. The attorney fee is generally paid directly by Social Security to the attorney.
For this reason, working with a lawyer is low-risk for you. You get the extensive training and experience of a disability lawyer and only pay when you win.
The Social Security Administration considers your impairment severe (and therefore eligible for benefits) if it interferes with such basic work functions as:
Get help locally. We’re local Social Security lawyers, and only serve Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Learn why that makes a difference.