Getting legal help is important if you’re applying for Social Security disability benefits, and Osterhout Berger Disability Law can help you. We have a combined experience of over 50 years, and we’ve helped thousands of clients get the disability benefits that they need, including plenty of people in Crawford.
Applying for Disability Benefits
When it’s time to get disability benefits, there are a few avenues that you can take. Firstly, you could apply at home, which some people like because it’s convenient. The unfortunate part is that you don’t have the ability to talk to anyone who is knowledgeable about the process if you choose to go this way. The second option is to go to the SSA office in your area to talk to an office worker and fill out some of the forms in person. This gives you the benefit of someone to talk to, but you won’t be talking to someone who is truly invested in your case. The third option is to come to us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law. We have experienced attorneys who are invested in helping you get a positive outcome on your claim.
Applying for benefits will require that you submit some information. For instance, you’ll need to give a full listing of all of the doctors and medical facilities that you’ve gone to, and you’ll need to sign forms that allow the medical facilities to release information about your condition so that the judge that can make a decision on your claim. You’ll also need to provide information on how your condition affects your everyday life and your ability to go to work and do your job.
Additionally, while some people won’t be asked to complete any extra exams, the SSA will ask that some people do something called a consultative exam, which is an appointment with a doctor that the SSA has chosen. This exam is used to gain a greater insight into your condition and how it affects your everyday life. If you’re called upon to do so, you have to go in order to be considered for benefits, and you might be asked to undergo more tests or simply talk with the doctor.
Appealing a Denial
If your initial claim is denied, you might choose to do an appeal, and there are a couple of different levels that you can have an appeal at. The first route that you must try is to go through the Appeals Council, which is the only level of appeal that’s within the SSA.
When you make an appeal, there are a couple of things that you must do to start the process. First of all, you need to make the appeal within 65 days of initially having your claim denied. Secondly, you’ll need to submit a reason as to why your claim was denied in error. This point can confuse some people because it might seem like you should be giving more evidence as to why your condition makes it impossible for you to work. In actuality, you need to show that the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) made a mistake when making a judgment on your claim. This means that you probably won’t be submitting any new evidence on your condition. Instead, you’ll need to show that the ALJ made a mistake, such as failing to apply a relevant judgment at the federal court level to your case. One of the few times that you might have to submit more evidence about your case is if there was a recent change to the SSA Blue Book. If there’s a change with how your condition is classified or what types of medical evidence are relevant, you might not have submitted this evidence at the time that you applied even though it’s now relevant and could make a difference in the judgment on your claim.
If you are denied at the initial appeals level, you might have another opportunity to make an appeal at the federal district court level. Not everyone is granted this second appeal, and most cases are denied at this level, but if you make an appeal with the federal district court, you can be certain that your claim will be looked at seriously. Again, in order to be considered, you’ll have to file the appeal within 65 days of being denied at the Appeals Council level.
What We Do To Win Your Case
At Osterhout Berger Disability Law, we understand that it’s important to you to get the benefits that you need, and we’re fully here to help you by ensuring that you understand the process from the beginning. We’ll explain everything when you initially meet us, and you can come and ask us questions whenever you feel it’s necessary.
We’ll also update you on your individual case regularly; you can count on us to communicate through mail, text, phone call, and email so that you’re regularly informed about all of the developments in your case.
Knowing that you have all of the right medical information and evidence submitted is of utmost importance, and we’ll help you build your case by telling you which pieces of information are important and which ones aren’t relevant. We’ll also actively help you build your evidence by ensuring that you know how to request for your medical records to be released to the judge. Plus, we’ll make sure that all of the evidence is submitted on time so that the judge has time to review the information.
Preparing you for the hearing is one of our most important jobs because it’s nerve-wracking for most people to appear before a judge and be questioned. That’s why we’ll fully prepare you by having a mock hearing with you. We’ll ask you all of the questions that the judge is likely to ask you so that you can know what to expect.
If you’re uncomfortable about talking with a judge on your own behalf, that’s very reasonable, but we can help you through this process. We understand what the judge is going to expect, and we already understand the legal wording that many people find confusing. Finally, if you aren’t awarded benefits, we can start the appeal process as soon as we determine whether or not it’s in your best interest.
What We Need From You
Whenever you work with Osterhout Berger Disability Law, we’ll do everything that we can to make the process as simple as possible, but there are still a couple of things that we need you to do. The first is to remain in communication with us by returning any phone calls, text messages, emails, or other forms of communication that we might send. We need you to do this in a timely manner so that your case isn’t unnecessarily stalled because we aren’t able to send in the information and evidence that the judge needs to make a decision on your case.
We also need you to continue doing everything that your doctor asks of you. Going to appointments, taking your medication, doing your therapy, and doing anything else that you doctor prescribes to you is of utmost importance because you need to show that your condition impedes on your ability to live a normal life. Plus, if you don’t go to your appointments and do the things that you doctor prescribes, it sends the message that you might still get better if you actually did the things that the doctor prescribed.
What You’ll Need To Do
When we file a claim or appeal, there are a few things that we’ll need you to do to make the entire process go smoothly. First of all, you need to be available so that we can fulfill all of the paperwork that we need you to fill out. There are many times that we will need to give your consent to have your medical records released, or we might need another piece of information. Answering our phone calls, emails, and texts in a timely manner is integral to having the process go smoothly.
Additionally, we’ll also need you to comply with the medical treatments that have been prescribed by your doctor. This includes taking medications, going to therapy, and complying with lifestyle changes that your doctors prescribe. When you don’t comply, it gives off the impression that your condition isn’t that serious. We also need you to go to all medical appointments so that your case isn’t hurt by your lack of compliance.
How We Can Help
There are several ways in which the team at Osterhout Berger Disability Law can help you receive the benefit you deserve. We help individuals who need to…
- Apply for Social Security Benefits and want to ensure everything is done right the first time
- Appeal a denial of Social Security Disability Benefits
If you are facing one of these situations, please do not hesitate in reaching out. Our team of experienced attorneys are here to help, and your consultation is free.
