Erie Lupus Disability Lawyer

Lupus can attack different parts of the body, so each case is different. Yet Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are available for people with the autoimmune disease who meet the criteria. If you have lupus that interferes with your ability to hold a job and work long-term, our Erie lupus disability lawyer can help. 

We help disability claimants who want a legal representative to manage their case. Our experienced Social Security Disability attorneys can complete and file your initial SSD application and pursue an appeal if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your claim. It costs nothing for a free, confidential consultation, and our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront fees or costs. Contact Berger and Green today to get started.

Our Pennsylvania Lawyers Have Represented Disability Benefits Cases for 40+ Years

The Social Security Disability team at Berger and Green has worked on thousands of cases for people with disabilities, including lupus. We know how hard it is to go about your daily life with an autoimmune disorder, let alone fill out complex government paperwork or navigate an appeal. 

Our Erie Lupus disability benefits attorneys, therefore, want to emphasize our compassion for you in addition to our experience. Our client reviews don’t just speak to our knowledge, but they also highlight how we go out of our way to accommodate our clients’ needs:

• “If you are in a situation where you are unsure of your future, but you’re disabled, and you’re not sure how you’re going to make it to the next day, they can step in and make things happen for you.”
• “They were just very compassionate and understanding, and they let me speak. They let me explain what was going on. They took the time. They took the effort.”

How Do Our Erie Lupus SSD Attorneys Work to Recover Your Benefits?

Accessing the disability benefits you deserve for an autoimmune condition is, unfortunately, a long process. But with our help, it can feel less overwhelming. When you hire us, we can do all the following as we work for you:

• Explain the medical evidence you need to prove your condition and support your case
• Describing the benefits programs available and their criteria
• Reviewing your work and income records to verify eligibility 
• Filing your application so you can avoid common errors
• Filing your complete application 
• Analyzing the reason the SSA denied your initial claim
• Gathering additional proof of your condition or eligibility to fight a benefits denial
• Representing you during the the appeals process

We go through this in more detail with you as we plan your case’s logistics. In addition to the tasks we listed, we can offer specific counsel about your situation as we work on your claim. 

How Can Our Social Security Lawyers Prove Your Lupus Condition Is a Disability?

Although it’s ultimately up to the SSA and Disability Determination Services (DDS) to decide if you have a disability, we know what they’re looking for. We can clue you into what evidence you’ll need to show how your lupus has affected your life and your ability to work. From there, you can work with your doctor in your Social Security case to gather the medical evidence you need.

According to the SSA’s Blue Book Listing of Impairments, for your lupus to be considered disabling, it must:

• Involve two or more organs or body systems
• Have one organ or body system experience a moderate level of severity
• Cause at least two constitutional signs, like fever or weight loss

Alternatively, you can prove you have experienced repeated manifestations of your illness with two constitutional symptoms and one of the following:

• Limitations in your daily life
• Limitations in your social life
• Limitations in completing tasks

Proving you meet these criteria involves your medical history, diagnostic records, test results, treatment plans, and doctor’s notes. 

Our lupus disability attorneys can help you organize your Erie claim, directing you to what evidence you’ll need for your application. 

Our Lupus Lawyers Can Identify Your Benefits Options and Help You Prepare

There are two types of benefits available from the Social Security Administration.  If you meet the medical evidence for disability benefits, you will qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income.  

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an option if you have worked a certain length of time, earning work credits that qualify you for the program. Our Social Security Disability Insurance lawyers can help you down this path. 

The other option is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This is available if you earn below a certain income limit. SSI also considers your assets and other financial resources, so contact our Supplemental Security Income lawyers if you are unsure whether you’re under the limit. We can identify aspects of your finances exempt from being counted toward the limit.

What Happens After We Submit Your SSDI or SSI Application

While we wait for the SSA and DDS to review your case, we will answer your questions and keep you in the loop. We will stay on top of any requests by the Social Security Administration for more information. 

What Can Our SSD Benefits Attorneys Do If SSA Denies Your Lupus Disability Benefits Claim?

The SSA denies most initial claims, so don’t give up if your initial claim is denied.  Once you receive a denial, we can jump into action. Don’t wait to contact us, as you only have 60 days to file an appeal.

You may not need to go through all four steps of an appeal. If you are denied at Step 1, we move on to Step 2. We then proceed to Step 3 after another denial, and so on. Some claims go all the way to the final step. Here are the steps:

1. We request a reconsideration of your claim by a new examiner.
2. We seek a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to review your case.
3. We continue with an Appeals Council review.
4. A lawsuit in federal district court.

We can use the appeals process to gather and submit evidence that might have been missing in your initial application. Our Lupus disability lawyers in Erie can also answer questions, correct mistakes, and represent your case at your hearing.

Don’t Suffer in Silence—Call Our Erie, PA, SSD Attorneys Now for a Lupus Disability Benefits Claim

Contact Berger and Green now if you have a lupus diagnosis and expect it to change your ability to work. We know that you may have gotten used to toughing it out, especially if your diagnosis took years, but you don’t need to wait until your work or financial situation is untenable. 

Call our Erie lupus disability lawyer today to get help with your application.