Why contact a Marietta Disability Lawyer?

Why contact a Marietta Disability Lawyer?

Seeking disability benefits ( SSDI / SSI ) in Marietta, Georgia is a challenging and lengthy process.  Most people get turned down when they first apply, but a qualified Marietta Disability Lawyer can offer assistance with navigating this complex system.  When evaluating attorneys, Claimants will want to ensure that they are hiring a firm that dedicates a substantial portion of practice to this complicated area of law, because there are a lot of potential pitfalls when applying.  For help with your claim, contact O’Brien & Feiler, a Marietta Disability Lawyer team who can help you get SSDI and SSI benefits.  O’Brien & Feiler will only be paid legal fees if you receive back benefits, and have been assisting disability Claimants since 1998.  Call 1-844-OBF-WINS (1-844-623-3461) today to speak with an attorney for free.

Getting Social Security ( SSDI / SSI ) benefits in Marietta, Georgia

Disability (or SSDI) works very much like an insurance policy purchased from the government, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does not have work requirements but has rigid financial requirements.  Both programs require proof of a disabling condition – either mental or physical – and they will pay a monthly cash benefit to help ends meet and they will unlock health benefits which can help defray the cost of future medical care.

This process is not fast.  Often a case that requires review by and ALJ will take two or more years to come to conclusion.  Cases that are initiated at the Marietta, Georgia Social Security Office are likely to be denied at the initial and reconsideration levels of appeal, but at the judicial level they have the greatest chance to be paid.  To avoid having your claim denied, it is important to ensure that the documentation is prepared properly, that your medical record is complete for the period of disability, that you continue to seek care during the application period if at all possible, and that you be extremely careful about the amount of work you do (and compensation you receive) should you work after applying.  We recommend seeking help from an experienced Marietta Disability Lawyer when applying for SSDI or SSI benefits.

What factors qualify me for Social Security ( SSDI / SSI ) benefits?

SSDI benefits are available to individuals with a history of work (or in certain cases being a relative of such an individual), and SSI benefits are for people with very low income and resources.  Both programs require documented proof of a medical condition or a severe medically determinable impairment during the claimed period of disability.

SSDI and SSI Require:

  • Proof of a severe medical condition or conditions (either mental or physical)
  • The conditions must last or be expected to last more than 1 year or be a terminal illness
  • You must be unable to perform your past relevant work and in many cases other work

SSDI requires:

  • a robust work history at a job that withheld for OASDI (for you or the wage earner in the case of widows or DAC benefits)
  • people who were self-employed should check to ensure that they paid in to Social Security by opening a mySocialSecurity.com account
  • for many people, working 5 out of the 10 years before becoming disabled is sufficient
  • your benefits are based on your earnings history

SSI requires:

  • very little to no income of any kind
  • resources of <$2,000 for single individuals and $3,000 for married individuals
  • your home and one car are not counted as resources, but family land and other vehicles may
  • your benefits if successful will be a fixed amount

Which disabilities qualify me for Social Security ( SSDI / SSI ) benefits?

Any severe medical impairment can qualify you for benefits if it is provable severe enough to prevent work.  This includes both mental and physical ailments, as well as combinations of less severe ailments that result in functional limitations.  In every case, however, medical records (proof of your disability) are of the utmost value.  To further define this, medical records from the time period in which you were disabled are the most important.  The Social Security Administration maintains a list of medical conditions and criteria that will qualify a Claimant for disability.  This list is called the Blue Book and it can be found here.  Some of the conditions in the Blue Book Include:

  • Joint disease
  • Spinal disease
  • Seizure disorder
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Symptomatic heart disease
  • Digestive disorders
  • Loss of hearing or vision
  • Neuropathy
  • Cancer (neoplastic diseases)

In certain cases though, just having the condition is not sufficient.  You must have the diagnosis for the entire claimed period of disability, and the limitations that the diagnosis causes must be documented and provable.  Having assistance from an experienced Marietta Disability Lawyer can help.

My Social Security ( SSDI / SSI ) benefits claim was denied.  Can a Marietta Disability Lawyer help?

Absolutely.  First of all, know that you are in good company.  A vast majority of claims are turned down at the Initial and Reconsideration levels of appeal.  Do not give up, but know that there are things you can do to improve your chances of securing benefits.

Secondly, talk with a Marietta Disability Lawyer with experience handling Social Security ( SSDI / SSI ) appeals.  There are multiple levels of appeal when fighting for disability or SSI, and you should know that your chances of success are greatest at the Administrative Law Judge Level, but you should never attend a court date unrepresented.  Also, you should focus on seeking medical treatment from providers who will document your ailments as well as the physical or mental limitations that they cause.  This is especially important for individuals under the age of 50 who must meet an even higher standard than those 50 and above.  It is helpful to have an experienced team on your side who has experience making these arguments and properly building cases.  An experienced Marietta Disability Lawyer with an experienced team will know the weak and strong points about your case and will help increase your chances in front of a judge.

Speak with a Marietta Disability Lawyer for Free

Getting approved for Social Security benefits ( SSDI and SSI ) can make the difference between meeting your expenses or falling catastrophically behind.  O’Brien & Feiler would be pleased to help you fight denials, or prepare your case properly from the very beginning.  O’Brien & Feiler is a firm that is knowledgeable and experienced at properly preparing your benefits claims and mounting appeals.  A conversation with a Marietta Disability Lawyer at O’Brien & Feiler will cost you nothing.  Call O’Brien & Feiler at 1-844-OBF-WINS or fill out this form to get your FREE consultation today.