When you’re looking for a Social Security disability attorney in Harrisburg, PA, know that Osterhout Berger Disability Law will be here for you every step of the way when you need us. We’re proud to represent clients in the Harrisburg area, and we would love to show you how we can help you with your disability claim.
Applying for SSD Benefits
If it’s time for you to apply for Social Security disability benefits, you should contact an experienced attorney because the process can be difficult to navigate on your own. There are several steps that you should be aware of when you decide that it’s time for you to get your disability benefits when you have an illness or other type of serious condition that makes it impossible for you to work.
When you decide that it’s time to apply for benefits, there are a few ways that you can start the process. Some people might prefer to go into the office and apply in person, but you could also apply online or come to our office. We can guide you through every step of the way so that you can be certain that your application will be filled out completely and accurately the first time. While you don’t technically need an attorney to file for disability benefits, such a large majority of disability claims are denied because they are filled out incorrectly or incompletely that it’s in the best interest of many applicants to consult with an attorney before they begin the process and throughout to optimize the likelihood of receiving benefits.
Applying for disability benefits will require that you complete several steps and gather some critical information. First of all, you’ll need to find basic information about your work history and medical history, including relevant medical problems. For instance, you’ll have to provide the SSA with a list of your current and former doctors, and you’ll have to provide a list of the hospitals where you saw those doctors or were admitted into. Additionally, you’ll have to sign medical releases so that the hospitals can release your medical records to the Social Security Administration. You’ll also have to submit records on how your condition affects your everyday and work life.
You should also be aware that you might be asked to go through a consultative exam, which is an exam that’s performed by a doctor with the Social Security Administration.
Appealing a Denial
Most people who apply for Social Security disability benefits are denied the first time. While you can increase the likelihood that you’ll receive a favorable outcome by working with an experienced attorney from us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law, it’s still possible to receive an unfavorable outcome the first time, at which point you’ll appeal it.
When choosing your best course of action, you can greatly improve your likelihood of receiving a better judgement during the appeals process by talking to one of our experienced attorneys. Appealing a judgement on disability benefits is often a long and complicated process, but we can make everything so much simpler with our guidance.
There are several reasons why your initial claim might have been denied, and we’re experienced in looking for ways that you might be able to win an appeal based on the reason that you were initially denied. For instance, sometimes administrative law judges make mistakes, and we’re always abreast of the latest in how judgements have been made in similar cases. We’ll find any mistakes that were made in your case to optimize the likelihood that you’ll have a favorable outcome for your appeal.
Additionally, there are several types of appeals that you could go through, and the first one is the Appeals Council, which is the final appeal court within the Social Security Administration system. The appeal must be placed within 65 days of the initial denial, and a simple form must be filled out. While we can increase the likelihood that you’ll have a favorable outcome at this point, unfortunately, there’s still about an 80% chance that you’ll receive an unfavorable outcome. If your appeal fails, we can still appeal at the federal court level. You’ll need to do this within 65 days of your denial.
When you’re going through an appeals process, one thing that you should understand is that you’re trying to show that the ALJ made a significant error rather than show that you’re disabled. This is a significant difference because it has bearing on what kinds of information you’re allowed to present. Namely, you most likely won’t be allowed to present anything that concerns your condition.
What We Do To Win Your Case
At Osterhout Berger Disability Law, we’re committed to providing you with the best guidance and representation while seeking disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, and we have several techniques that we use to win cases.
One of the first things that we’ll focus on is ensuring that you’re informed throughout the entire process. We understand how nerve-wracking it can be to go through this process, and we can make the entire process run more smoothly by regularly talking to you via email, text, letter, and phone.
We’ll also take the time to explain the entire process to you. From the time that you begin the request for benefits to the time that you’ve won your case or exhausted all options, we’ll be here to make sure that you’re always informed and understand what will happen next.
Ensuring that you have all of the medical evidence that you need is very important, and we’ll work with you when it comes to gathering all of the medical evidence. We’ll also remind you to follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment because doing everything that your doctor has suggested is key to a successful claim. We also ensure that your medical evidence is submitted to the judge in time.
We also take great care to ensure that you’re prepared for the hearing. We’ll go through every questions that the judge is likely to ask you point by point so that you have the opportunity to practice your responses.
Respresenting you during the hearing is one way that we support you throughout the entire process. By representing you, we can ensure that any technical issues are taken care of properly so that you don’t lose your case because of inexperience.
Finally, if an appeal is necessary, we’ll take the initiative to get you started and continue on with the process until you’ve won your case or all options have been exhausted.
What You’ll Need To Do
When you’re going through this process, there are some things that you must do to optimize the chances of making a successful claim. First of all, you’ll need to be available so that we can communicate to you important dates and so that we can continually get information from you. We might also need to get your signature for release of your records.
We also need to know that you’re complying with your medical treatments. If you’re not doing as your doctor has prescribed, there’s no way to know that your condition wouldn’t improve with sustained proper treatment. Without that, you won’t be eligible for disability benefits. You need to take your medications, go to your doctor’s appointments, and take the tests that are required of you for your health and to send the message that your condition is serious. All of your medical information is critical when applying for SSD benefits, and it’s always in your best interest to be able to truthfully say that you have continually complied with what has been asked of you.
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.
