social security disability - social security
disability lawyer - supplemental security income - social security disability benefits
This is the ultimate Social
Security Disability web site.
The purpose of this site is to provide free SSDI and
SSI information. I provide information all in one place that you will have a hard time finding on the Internet
anywhere. This site should help those who are contemplating applying for Social Security Disability or Supplemental
Security Income and those individuals who have already applied for Social Security Disability benefits, no matter
what stage they are at in the process. The information in this site should be used as a helpful guide to the Social Security Disability process. It will also provide information on how to win your disability claim. If you have any questions that are
not answered in this site or want a free consultation feel free to e-mail me. I will try to answer any questions you might have about Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI). This site is the best place to go for free Social Security Disability information. If you read
this site you will know how to apply for disability benefits and how to win SSDI (SSD) and SSI. In addition
to this site, available to you are other sites which can further help you in your claim for benefits.
Websites are
a dime a dozen and we caution you to be careful when choosing which ones to utilize. There are many web sites out there that
are very good. We caution you to be careful of websites where the identity of the firm or author is hidden.
They are solely to generate clients. They offer only enough information to confuse you or convince you that you need
a lawyer. Other sites are constructed by individuals who have never handled a Social Security Disability claim
nor ever intend to. They are marketing people who are looking to sell leads to lawyers. In fact, there are some
websites out there using titles similar to mine don't be fooled. Here you will find Social Security Disability
information, answers and advice on how to apply, am i disabled, how to appeal and how to win SSD, SSDI, and SSI.
I do not hide who I am on this site and I will try to answer any questions you may have but I will
not pressure anyone to retain me as their lawyer. My sincere hope is that the information in this disability guide is
helpful to anyone seeking disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). I will try to update
the information in this site as often as possible including an almost daily blog. In addition to the Blog on this site
please visit my other Social Security disability Blog for more SSDI and SSI tips. So be sure to bookmark this site for the latest news. This is a free disability
guide and will help with Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security claims. Please note that it is my
intention to provide accurate and up to date information on this site and I make great effort to do this. However, the
information on this site is not guaranteed and no lawyer client relationship exist. This site is not a substitute for
consultation with a lawyer.
How to Use this site. If you are new to
the process of Social Security Disability I recommend you start be reading the disability process. This page will give you an overview of how your claim is processed and what procedural steps you have to take.
To understand how SSA determines if you are disabled you should read the page "am I disabled?". After you read this page you should follow the different links to get a better understanding of what it
takes to prove your disability. I also strongly suggest you read "how to win" and "key to SSDI and SSI". There is a lot more information on this site but this should give you a good starting point to help your claim.
I provide this free information on Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security
Income so that everyone who is disabled has the tools they need to win disability. If you need tips on how to win
your SSDI or SSI claim continue to read this site and bookmark it so you can come back and use it as a reference while you
take on the Social Security Disability process.
1-877-527-5529
Here is what one person had to say about my website "Thanks for the site, absolutely a "Bible"
for all who have fear, doubt or lack of knowledge." Christopher. To see what other have said
about this website read the website testimonials on the page called "Best Social Security Disability Website".
If you need a lawyer for your Social Security Disability or SSI claim or just want to ask a few questions you can also
call me at 1-877-527-5529 and ask for Karl. Or you can click on the following link and fill out the
form if you prefer a local lawyer note that on form.
Whether you are represented by an attorney or not take it upon yourself to learn as
much about the Social Security disability process as you can. You have already taken the initiative by researching on-line and reading this site.
I also recommend that you visit the Social Security Administration's web site. It is a bit confusing but can be
a great resource for your claim for benefits.
If you choose to get your benefits without an attorney, this guide will help you learn the process used to determine if one
is disabled. This is not a complete site about Social Security and should not be considered legal advice.
You should also use the SSA's website in conjunction with this site. This will increase your chances of giving your
case the best chance to win your benefits. Remember the law in these cases is confusing and convoluted.
Statistics show that those claimants that are represented by an attorney are more likely
to win their claim for benefits than those who are not. In my opinion, the reason for this is because the lawyers
that handle Social Security Disability claims have a better understanding of how the Social Security Administration decides your case and they develop your case accordingly.
Remember this web site
is my attempt to give you the tools you need to win your SSDI or SSI benefits with or without a lawyer. If you decide you need a lawyer for your disability case or just want/need
to ask some questions, feel free to contact me. I also offer a free case evaluation for Social Security Disability and Supplemental
Security Income.
This site is full of free information and practical advice
on Social Security Disability. If you study this site you can learn the following: How to apply for Social Security Disability. What is the process by which SSA determines if you are disabled. How to win SSDI or SSI. What are the GRID rules? What you can expect and how to handle a Social Security Disability hearing. What are the medical listing of impairments? Do I need a lawyer for my disability claim. The definitions of common terms used. Helpful tips to help win your disability claim. What are Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) forms and why are they so important? What does your past work have to do with disability? What is
child's SSI? How to win Child's SSI. What is the difference between Social Security Disability and
SSI? What are the most important things to know and do when trying to get benefits. Are you disabled? What is an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and what is his or her role in the process? What is the Appeals
Council? What can you do to help your Social Security Disability or SSI claim. How to get Social Security Disability
and SSI.
I wish you good luck with your claim and further encourage you
to finish reading this site.
If you filed your Notice of Disagreement after June 20th you can now hire a lawyer to help with your claim for compensation
or pension. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.
U.S. District Court Fees in Social Security Disability Claims
I have recently learned that the Government has begun to file motions to have EAJA (Equal Access to Justice Act) fees
paid to the claimant instead of the attorney in United States District Court Cases. If you are a claimant and not an
attorney you might be thinking this is a good idea. However, if the government is successful this could have the result
of making it extremely difficult to find a lawyer to pursue your claim in Federal Court. Most lawyers who handle federal
court cases for Social Security Disability claims do so knowing that if their hard work is successful and they win they will
get the fee paid by the government and will not have to go to the client to get the fee. Attorneys already know that
if they lose the case they will not get paid for their effort. If lawyers now have to worry that the client may
not pay them there will be less lawyers willing to go to federal court. This all appears to be coming from the Governments
desire to collect federal debts such as student loans and child support. This means the government will offset
any debt out of the attorney's fee. Therefore, the client will have to pay the lawyer the balance or the lawyer
will not get paid. This will most affect the poor and will work against the purpose of the Equal Access to Justice
Act. I will follow this trend and keep you posted.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to set the appropriations for SSA on June 19th. For the past 6 fiscal
years Congress has appropriated less than the President and Commissioner of SSA have requested. Because of this there
is presently a shortfall in appropriations of over 4 billion dollars. Many believe that this shortfall is one of the
main reasons the delays are getting longer for Social Security Disability claimants at hearing. Recently,
the appropriations committee provided 9.7 billion. This amount will not cover what is needed to hire new ALJs and
other ODAR employees which are needed to decrease the backlog at hearing offices. The Commissioner of SSA has requested
10.44 billion. The Congressional Budget Resolution Conference Report suggested 10.1 billion. Hopefully on June
19 the amount appropriated will be increased to a minimum of 10.1 billion. The source of this information comes from
NOSSCR which is the National Organization of Social Security Disability Representatives.
Medical Expert at Social Security Disability Hearing
So you have read your hearing notice and it says a medical expert will be at your hearing. The first thing you may want
to consider at this point is getting a lawyer if you don't have one. The reason I say this is cross examining a
medical expert can be very difficult because many MEs are very set in their ways and don't like to change their opinion.
I have found that many MEs don't like to be challenged and it can take a skilled cross examiner to get the testimony in
your favor. If you don't want a lawyer you should know your medical evidence like the back of your hand. It
is also important to have all your medical evidence in your file including RFC and report if possible from your doctors.
The medical expert will do two very important things in the hearing. They will give their opinion based on the medical
evidence whether you meet or equal a listing. So know the listings that are relevant to your conditions. I would
suggest bring a copy of those listings with you so you can refer to them. The medical expert will also give his opinion
as to what your limitations are given your medical condition. What is important to remember is that your treating doctor's
opinion is supposed to carry more weight than that of the expert so make sure to have your RFCs. Medical experts are
often good to have at your hearing. Like everything else it depends on the expert and the medical evidence. Many
times you may win a case that you might have lost if it were not for the experts opinion. You of-course can also lose
a case you might have won because of their opinion. I have noticed that sometimes the same expert before one ALJ
might act completely different before another ALJ. Just another reason to have a lawyer when there is a ME at your
hearing.
I have made this point before but because I feel it is so important I will make it again. When trying to get Social
Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income the most important thing in your case is the medical records. Do
not rely on SSA to get all your records most of the time it will not happen. It is very important to make sure SSA has
all your medical records that are relevant and that you have residual functional capacity forms filled out by your treating
doctors. If you have a lawyer make sure to provide him or her with all your doctors names and addresses and what they
are treating you for. This includes all hospital visits. Getting all your records and RFCs does not guarantee
that you will win but with out them your chances are much less. There is much more to a disability claim than this as
you can tell by the amount of information in my site but these records are the bricks for building a good case.
I plan to add several new pages to my website this week. One of those pages will be about HIV or AIDS and Social Security
Disability. I will also be adding some information on Hepatitis C. I will also try and add a few more medical
conditions and explain how they are handled by SSA. I will also be updating some of the current pages.
If you are signed up for my newsletter a new one will be going out shortly with some tips to help with your claim and some
other general information. I will post again soon with some more updates.
We have attempted to provide up to date and accurate information, however the information in this site is not guaranteed.
No attorney client relationship exist. The information in this site is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified
attorney.
for
information on social security disability or if you need a social security disability lawyer to assist you with supplemental security income
or social security disability benefits then we are your primary source
