Making your disability claim with the SSA is easier when you work with us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law. We have experienced attorneys; in fact, we have more than 50 years of experience with all of our attorneys. We also have a track record that involves thousands of successful claims for applicants living in Jefferson and surrounding areas.
Applying for SSD Benefits
When you need to start the application process with the Social Security Administration for your disability benefits, there are a few routes you could take, but not all of them are equal. One direction you could try is to apply online from the comfort of your home. While some people like this option because of the convenience, it unfortunately, doesn’t offer much in terms of guidance when you have a question, making it more likely that you make a mistake. The second option is to go to the SSA office in your area so that you can ask the office worker questions as they arise. Unfortunately, while the SSA office workers might understand the process, they’re not actually invested in seeing you obtain the benefits that you need. The third option is to come to us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law. We’ll work with you to build your case, and we have the experience and investment in your case to ensure the best possible outcomes for you.
When you make a claim, you’ll need to come up with a lot of medical evidence, including a full list of all of the doctors that you’ve seen and the medical facilities that you’ve gone to to get treatment. These doctors and facilities might be from when you went to a scheduled appointment, or they might be from an emergency room visit. You’ll also need evidence that shows how your condition impacts your ability to work.
There are certain cases when you might be asked to go to a consultative exam, which is an appointment with a doctor that the SSA chooses. If you’re asked to go to one of these, you must go in order to continue to be eligible for SSA disability benefits. You also need to understand that this could make or break your case. The purpose of these exams is to fill in information that isn’t already in your file, so you might have to go to another type of test, or you might have to simply talk to the doctor about your condition.
Appealing a Denial
Even if you fill out the paperwork properly and submit it within plenty of time, there’s no guarantee that your claim will be successful. If your claim is denied, you still have the option of appealing at least once, and you might even get a second chance if your first appeal is denied. When you make an appeal, it’s important to remember that you’re not trying to show the SSA that you have a condition that affects your ability to work by giving more medical evidence during the appeal process. Instead, you’re trying to show that the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) made a mistake when judging your claim. When the judge makes a decision, they might make a mistake if they miss a recent judgment made on a case similar to yours at the federal district court level, so you’re trying to show that there was something missed by the judge.
One of the few times that you might have to submit more evidence during an appeal is if you realize that there was a change to the Blue Book. This book is the way that the SSA determines whether or not applicants should receive disability benefits. If there was a change between the time that you initially made a claim and the time that you had your hearing. If you didn’t submit certain pieces of evidence because they weren’t relevant before but are relevant later, then you have to submit this information to potentially win your appeal.
When you make an appeal, there are two places you can take it, but you have to start with the Appeals Council, which is an appeals system that’s within the SSA system. You must submit your paperwork within 65 days of being denied your claim. If your appeal gets an unfavorable outcome, it’s still possible to be eligible for disability benefits if you are granted the opportunity to present your case in front of the federal district court. While it’s not common to be given a positive outcome at this level, you can be certain that you’ll be given a fair hearing.
What We’ll Do To Win Your Case
When you work with us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law, there are several benefits that you can expect. We work with you to ensure the best possible outcome, and we’ll do several things to ensure that everything is done correctly. First of all, we’ll communicate with you at the beginning and throughout the process of your claim. We’ll give you an overview of the process, but you can ask us more questions at any point. We’ll also work with you on your claim specifically. We’ll keep you updated via email, traditional mail, text, and phone call so that you always know where you are at for your case.
If you’re concerned about having all of the evidence together, we can alleviate your concerns by helping you build your case. We’ll tell you all of the paperwork that you need to fill out and where to submit it. We’ll also help you build your case by reminding you to continue with your treatment plan and go to your doctor appointments.
We also understand that going to the hearing and speaking in front of the judge is one of the most intimidating parts of the process. We’ll make the process a little less intimidating by helping you know which questions the judge is likely to ask. We’ll also help you come up with responses so that you know what to say. We’ll even help you understand the most important parts of your case so that you know what to focus on.
And if talking to the judge makes you nervous, let us do it for you. Legal terminology can be confusing if you don’t have any experience with the process and lingo, but we’ll talk to the judge for you. We’ll also question expert witnesses because we know what only medical professionals and other experts can establish.
Finally, there are times when claims are denied, and we’ll get started on the process of making an appeal as soon as we determine that it’s in your best interest.
What We Need You To Do
When you work with us, there are a few things that we need you to do to ensure that your claim proceeds as smoothly as possible. Namely, we need you to return our phone calls and other forms of communication. There are some things that only you can do, and if you don’t get back to us, we won’t have the right paperwork signed in time to get the evidence to the judge in time. In fact, you could even lose your case because the judge can’t determine that you have the condition that you claim to have, and they can’t determine the degree to which it actually impacts your ability to work. We also want to be able to communicate with you to provide you with an experience where you understand what’s going on with your claim and why a particular decision was made by the judge.
We also need you to continue to do any treatments and go to appointments with your doctors. When you fail to do these simple things, it gives the message that your condition isn’t as debilitating as you say. It also gives off the impression that your condition might improve if you actually did the treatment plan and went to all of your appointments.
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.
