It’s difficult to know where to go when you want to make a disability benefits claim with the Social Security Administration (SSA), but when you come to Osterhout Berger Disability Law, you’ll work with a law firm that has more than 50 years of experience between all of the attorneys. We’ve won thousands of claims and appeals for applicants in Greene and surrounding areas, and we would love to help you attain a positive outcome on your claim.
Applying for SSD Benefits
When it’s time to apply for SSA disability benefits, you could apply online at home, and some people try this option because it’s convenient doing the paperwork from home. But when you’re applying for something as important as disability benefits, going with the most convenient option isn’t necessarily the best because you could make a costly mistake because you have no one to turn to when you have a question. The second option is to go to the SSA office in your area so that you can ask the office workers at the SSA when you have a question. Unfortunately, the SSA office workers aren’t the best people to ask because they’re not invested in seeing your claim to success even if they understand the process. The third option is to come to us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law. We’re knowledgeable and invested in helping you get a positive outcome on your claim or appeal.
When you start a claim, there are several types of information that you need to submit, including a full list of all of the medical facilities and doctors that you’ve seen about your condition. This will include facilities and doctors that you saw for scheduled appointments and any emergency visits you had. You’ll also need to make a full list of all of the ways that your condition restricts your ability to go to work and do everyday activities.
Some people are also required to go to a consultative exam, which is a doctor’s appointment where the doctor is chosen by the SSA. You have to go to this appointment in order to continue to be eligible for disability benefits through the SSA if you receive notice that this exam is required. This appointment might consist of additional tests, or you might simply talk to the doctor. The purpose of this exam is to gain better insight into your condition and how it affects your life and ability to work.
Appealing a Denial
When you aren’t successful with your claim, you have the option of appealing the denial, and there are several instances in which this might be your best option. For instance, if your claim was denied because of a mistake made by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). One of the more common ways that an ALJ might make a mistake is by missing a recent ruling on a case at the federal district court. It’s also possible that your claim was denied in error if the listing for your condition recently changed in the Blue Book. If this is the case, you might not have submitted information and evidence that wasn’t relevant at the time of submitting the claim but is relevant at the time of the hearing. This is one of the few times that you might submit more evidence for your appeal.
In general, you won’t submit more evidence when you appeal. Some people believe that you’re trying to show that you have a particular condition and that it impedes your ability to do work and live a regular life, but this belief is false. Instead, when you apply to appeal a denial, you’re trying to show that the ALJ didn’t correctly review the information that you gave. When you make an appeal, you should be aware that you only have 65 days from the time that you were denied to complete the appeal.
Additionally, you should understand that there are a few levels of appeal, but you must start with the Appeals Council, which is the only level of appeal under the SSA. If your appeal is denied by the Appeals Council, you might have one more opportunity to appeal at the federal district court level. It’s uncommon to win a case at this level, but if you make an appeal with the federal district court, you can be certain that your case will be taken seriously.
What We Do To Win Your Case
When you work with us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law, you can be sure that you’ll get the ultimate in service with your SSA disability benefits case. We understand that the process can be lengthy and confusing, so we’ll continually communicate with you on the status of your case. We’ll also explain the process from the start, and we’re willing to answer any questions that you have along the way. There are several forms of communication that we use, including email, traditional mail, phone call, and text.
We’ll also help you build your case by helping you determine which pieces of information you need to submit. Plus, we’ll make sure that evidence is submitted to the ALJ in time so that it can be considered in your claim.
If you’re concerned about the hearing, you’re not alone. Many people worry that they won’t know what to say when the judge asks them a question. We can help alleviate those fears by asking you all of the questions that the judge is likely to ask you before the hearing. We’ll also help you come up with responses that will put you and your case in a positive light. Finally, we’ll tell you what’s important about your case so that you can put more focus on those details.
When you’re making a claim or appeal, a judge might use technical wording that you’re unfamiliar with, but we’ll represent you on the day of your hearing so that you never have to worry that you missed out on disability benefits because you didn’t understand something. We’ll also help you with the process of starting the appeals process if you’re denied. You have 65 days from the time of your denial, and we’ll get started on it as soon as we determine that it’s in your best interest.
What You Need To Do
When you work with us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law, there are a few things that we’ll need you to do to ensure the best possible outcome for your claim or appeal. First of all, we need to return our communication. There are some things that only you can do, such as filling out the release form for your medical records. If this form isn’t submitted in time, there’s no way for the judge to be able to determine that you actually have the condition that you claim, and they won’t know the level of severity and the degree to which it impacts your ability to work and go on with your everyday life.
We also need you to continue with your treatment plan and go to your medical appointments. When you fail on either of these fronts, you send the message that your condition isn’t as serious as you say it is. You also might make the judge wonder if your condition would improve if you did all of your treatments. These issues are even likely to lose you your case.
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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.
