Social security Disability & Workers Compensation
WHAT ARE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
Social Security Disability is a benefit received from the Social Security
Administration by disabled workers and in some cases their dependents, similar
to those received by retired workers.
WHO QUALIFIES?
To receive benefits under the Social Security Disability program, you must
have a physical or mental health problem (or a combination of problems) severe
enough to keep you from working in any regular paying job for at least one year.
The test isn't whether or not you are able to go back to your old job, and the
test isn't whether or not you have been able to find a job lately. Rather, the
test is whether you are capable of doing any job available in the national
economy. By using an extensive set of regulations, the Social Security
Administration takes into account your medical condition, your age, your
abilities, your training and your work experience in deciding your case.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
If you are found eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, you will
get paid retroactive benefits beginning 5 full months after you become disabled,
but only for a maximum of 12 months before you applied for benefits. (Please see
below for additional information on duration and amount.)
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I RECEIVE IF I QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
BENEFITS?
A disabled claimant will receive the same monthly benefit that he would
receive had he retired at full retirement age (65 years old or more depending on
age). The sum of money received will depend on one's previous work record.
HOW LONG WILL I BE ABLE TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
You will receive Social Security Disability benefits as long as you remain
disabled and unable to work. Your benefits will not run out because you did not
contribute enough into the Social Security system.
WHEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
You should apply for Social Security Disability benefits as soon as possible
after you become disabled and unable to work. You do not need to wait 12 months
to apply, your disability need only be expected to last for at least one year or
will result in death.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
You can fill out an application for Social Security Disability benefits at
the local Social Security office nearest to your home or by telephone. The
address and telephone number of your local Social Security office can be
obtained by calling 1-800-772-1213. When applying you should be prepared to give
Social Security a list with the names, addresses and phone numbers of all the
doctors, hospitals or clinics who have treated you for your condition. You
should also bring a list of where you have worked in the past 15 years.
You will also need to provide Social Security with an original or certified
copy of your birth certificate, your last earnings documents (W-2, last pay
stub, statement of your employer, etc.) and copies (keep the originals) of any
medical records you may be able to obtain.
Please note, however, that you should not delay filing for benefits if all
documents are not immediately available.
WHAT DO I DO IF I AM DENIED BENEFITS?
Appeal! Many disabled people become disheartened and frustrated after they
receive a disability benefits denial notice and do not appeal. This is often a
mistake. Nationally, about 75% of all applicants are denied intially and about
90% are denied at the first appeal stage--Reconsideration. But many of these
people ultimately receive their benefits, nationally about 70%.
What may be most frustrating about applying for Social Security Disability
benefits is the process itself. Those who apply are often made to feel like they
are asking for something that they do not deserve, and nothing could be further
from the truth. Social Security Disability is not a welfare program; these
benefits are paid for by you and were intended to act as a financial buffer in
case you or a family member became seriously ill or injured. Therefore if you
are unable to work, but you have been denied benefits, you should appeal.
DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY?
You have the right to have an Attorney represent you in your Social Security
Disability case. Statistics have shown that claimants represented by Attorneys
have been much more successful than people without representation. You should
seriously consider the advantages of having an Attorny represent you by
examining what an Attorney would do in your Social Security Disability case.
WHAT WOULD MY ATTORNEY DO TO REPRESENT ME IN MY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
CASE?
Every case is different. Your Attorney's role depends on the particular facts
of your case. However, a few of the things an Attorney may do are:
- Gather medical and other evidence
- Analyze your case under Social Security Regulations
- Contact your doctor and explain Social Security Regulations to obtain a
report consistent with those regulations
- Obtain documents from your Social Security Disability file
- Ask that a prior application for benefits be reopened
- Advise you how to best prepare yourself to testify at your hearing
- Protect your right to a fair hearing by objecting to improper evidence
and procedures
- If you win, make sure that the Social Security Administration correctly
calculates your benefits
- If you lose, request review of the hearing decision by the Social
Security Administration's Appeals Council
- If necessary, represent you in a Federal Court review of your case
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY?
Most Attorneys who handle Social Security Disability cases will accept them
on a contingent fee basis of 25% of past-due benefit or $5,300 whichever is
less. That is, there is no fee if you lose, although you will be obligated to
pay any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Attorny in your representation.
Such expenses usually involve charges for photocopying and payments to doctors
and hospitals for medical records and reports, and other miscellaneous charges.
Total expenses usually are less than $100.
WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT AN ATTORNEY?
As soon as possible, preferably as soon as your inital application is denied.
An Attorney will then be able to start assisting you in determining if you are
disabled, as that term is defined by the Social Security Act. You will then be
able to decide whether or not you want to pursue the first appeal
stage--Reconsideration; and your Attorney can begin developing ways to prove to
the Social Security Administration that you are disabled.
Attorneys in Social Security Disability cases do much more than sit in at a
hearing and ask a few questions. Much pre-hearing preparation, analysis and
evidence gathering go into adequate representation for your case. For this
reason you should not wait until a week or two before your hearing to contact an
Attorney. The earlier an Attorney is able to start working on your case, the
better your chances of winning.
Please note that not all Attorneys practice before the Social Security
Administration. You will do best to find an Attorney familiar with the complex
Social Security Disability regulations and the somewhat unusual Social Security
Disability procedures.
Author's resource box:
Sheri R. Abrams, is an Attorney who practices Social Security Disability Law
in Virginia, DC and Maryland. Ms. Abrams graduated from the George Washington
University Law School and the Boston University School of Management. For more
information please see Ms. Abrams's web site athttp://www.sheriabrams.com
sheri@sheriabrams.com
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