Getting the disability benefits that you need is a lot easier when you have an attorney from Osterhout Berger Disability Law working for you. We have over 50 years of combined experience, and we can help you through the application or appeal process for Social Security Administration disability benefits.
Applying for SSD Benefits
When it’s time to apply for disability benefits with the SSA, there are a few ways that you can start the process. The first is to simply go online and apply on the SSA website. This way is quick and efficient, but you don’t have anyone nearby to answer questions. The next way is to go to the SSA office in your town and fill out the application in person. This option lets you fill out questions in an area where there will be people around to talk to if you’re unsure of something. A third option is to come to us at Osterhout Berger Disability Law. This is a great option because you’ll have an attorney that can help you through the entire process of applying for benefits, and we can ensure that you have every advantage possible.
When you’re applying for benefits, there are several pieces of information that you’ll have to provide the SSA. For instance, you’ll need to give a complete list of all of the doctors that you’ve seen in connection to your condition as well as all of the hospitals and clinics that you’ve visited. This will include any hospitals and doctors that you’ve seen that are part of your normal team of physicians and those that you might have seen for any emergency visits. Another piece of information that you’ll need to provide is a detailed description of how your condition affects you at work and on a daily basis.
When you’re done filling out the initial paperwork, you might receive notice that the SSA wants you to go to a consultative exam. This type of exam will be given by a doctor chosen by the SSA, and you have to do the exam if you’re chosen in order to receive benefits. Most often, the SSA needs the doctor to run additional tests to get a better understanding of your condition and how it affects your ability to work.
Appealing a Denial
There are times when even a well-laid claim is denied, and there are times when you should consider appealing the original decision on your claim. For instance, if we determine that the administrative law judge made a mistake when making a decision on your claim, this is often an excellent time to appeal the denial.
The first step that you’ll take when appealing a denial is to begin the process within 65 days of receiving the denial. When you choose to appeal a denial, your appeal with go before the Social Security Administration’s Appeal Council. It’s important to remember that at this point in the process, the purpose isn’t to show that you have a condition that prohibits you from working. Rather, the purpose is to show that the ALJ make a mistake when making a decision on your case. It sounds like these two things are one and the same, but they’re actually quite different. With an appeal, you probably won’t be allowed to submit any more information about your condition unless it’s information that wasn’t available at the time that you originally made your claim. More often than not, you’ll have to show that some piece of information was missed, such as a prior ruling on a similar case that went to the federal district court. The great thing about working with Osterhout Berger Disability Law is that we keep up to date on the latest rulings at the federal district court level so that we know when you might have a good chance of winning an appeal.
If you still don’t receive a favorable outcome at the Appeals Council level, you might also be able to appeal at the federal district court. While there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive a favorable outcome at this level, there’s still plenty of reason to believe that it’s possible because the federal court looks thoroughly at each of the cases that come before it.
What We Do To Win Your Case
When you hire Osterhout Berger Disability Law to help you with your SSA disability benefits claim, there are several things that you can expect from us. First of all, we will also make sure that you’re informed and understand what’s coming up in the future. We can explain the entire process to you when you initially hire us, and we’ll continue to tell you all about what dates you need to be aware of and what we’ll need from you.
We also know that’s important for you to continue your treatment plan, and we’ll help you by continuing to remind you to go to all of your doctor appointments and to take all of your medications, and do other activities related to your wellness.
Knowing what to include in your claim can be difficult, but when you work with us, we can help you get together all of the necessary paperwork. We’ll also represent you on the day of your hearing. There’s a lot of legal jargon and processes that you need to understand in order for your hearing to run as smoothly as possible, and we can make your hearing day much simpler and less stressful for you.
One of the things that people worry about the most is whether or not they’re going to be able to answer the questions that the judge asks them correctly and to their best interest. The biggest challenge to overcome is knowing what questions the judge will ask, and we’ll go through all of the questions that they’re likely to ask you. We’ll also help you figure out the answers to the questions ahead of time so that you feel fully prepared.
What We Need from You
Although we do everything that we can to make the process of applying for SSA disability benefits as simple as possible, there are some things that we need you to do to ensure that your disability claim goes as smoothly as possible. First of all, we need you to remain in contact with us by returning phone calls, texts, and other forms of communication back to us as quickly as possible. There are some things that only you can do. For instance, you’re the only one who can fill out paperwork to release your medical records to the SSA. Without these forms filled out completely and on time, hospitals and clinics aren’t legally allowed to release your medical records, and this can cause forms to be sent out too late. Answer our communication quickly to get the best possible results on your claim.
We also need you to continue going to your medical appointments and doing the rest of your treatment plan. For instance, it’s important that you continue to take your medications and do any therapy that you’ve been assigned to do. When you don’t do the medical treatments that you’ve been told to do by your medical provider, it gives the impression that your condition isn’t that serious and that you don’t actually need disability insurance. We can remind you to do your treatment plan, but you’re the only one who can actually carry it out.
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.
