A Columbus Social Security disability lawyer can help you with the Social Security Administration
Getting your Social Security disability claim started is relatively easy, and most people do it on their own. You can do it online, or call the Social Security Administration toll-free telephone number, or go down to the local Ohio Social Security office. For help, read Tips for applying.
However, approximately 65% of the applications for Social Security disability benefits are denied. At that point, the way to proceed is through an appeal, and the process becomes much more difficult.
The Social Security disability benefit claim process is complicated
The Social Security Administration is a huge bureaucracy, and the disability benefit process is governed by extensive complex regulations. Even though the filing process for the initial application has been simplified, once the case goes to appeal things are much more complicated.
At the appeal hearing the judge will be analyzing your case through a five-step sequential evaluation process. Each step in this process is proscribed in detail by the Social Security regulations, and includes technical definitions that can be both confusing and frustrating if you are not used to them.
A Social Security disability lawyer can help with the paperwork
The Social Security Administration has specific documentation needs to decide whether you qualify for disability benefits. After you file the initial application for disability benefits the Social Security Administration should gather all the necessary papers showing your work history and your medical condition. However, sometimes the Social Security Administration file is incomplete or out of date.
One of the things that a Social Security disability lawyer may do for you is check the Social Security Administration file to see whether it has the types of things that will help you prove that you are entitled to disability benefits.
An experienced Social Security disability lawyer knows both what to look for and how to get anything that is needed. Making sure that the Social Security Administration has all the right information is critical to your case.
A Social Security disability lawyer can help your doctors
The written reports from your doctors or therapists are an important part of the evaluation of your claim by the Social Security Administration. Unfortunately, sometimes the doctors or therapist don’t understand exactly what the Social Security Administration wants because they are not used to dealing with these issues.
These reports explain your disability and prognosis, and the Social Security Administration relies on them to decide whether or not your impairment prevents you from working and thus qualifies you for Social Security disability benefits.
An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can help your doctors and therapists understand the types of things that the Social Security Administration is looking for when it evaluates your disability claim.
A Social Security disability attorney may also decide that it would be helpful for you to be seen by a specialist. Sometimes people who are seeking Social Security disability benefits have not found the right kind of specialist to evaluate and explain their disability.
A Social Security disability lawyer can help you get ready for a hearing
Another important element of an appeal of a Social Security disability claim is the judge’s evaluation of the honesty and credibility of the claimant. This means that your testimony in front of the judge can have a lot to do with whether or not you will be awarded disability benefits.
You can be your own best witness because you know your condition and your limitations better than anyone else. However, you may also be very nervous and unsure about how to explain your disability in this context.
An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can both prepare you in advance and sit next to you in the hearing to give you support. Before the hearing the lawyer can explaining the process so that you know what to expect. The lawyer can teach you how to describe your disability so that a Judge will understand how it prevents you from working.
I am available to help with your Ohio Social Security disability claim
Your Social Security disability claim is too important to your future to do without help.
If you are not already represented by a Ohio Social Security disability lawyer, consider getting an evaluation from me about your claim. Give me a brief description of your claim using the form to the right, or e-mail or call my office at:
Matthew A. Weller
Columbus Social Security disability attorney
Weller Steele Miller, LLC
8001 Ravines Edge Ct., Ste. 301
Columbus, OH 43235
