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- About Us
- Areas We Serve
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- Contact Us
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An Austintown, Ohio, lupus disability lawyer can help you understand your options and file for disability if your condition has made it impossible for you to work and earn a living.
We understand conditions that are disabling and how to show you have them when applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Our Social Security Disability lawyers from Berger and Green can help you file your claim or fight a disability denial. For over 40 years, we have represented people with disabilities in their quest to seek disability benefits.
Our team knows how to deal with denials and prepare for applications, and we’ll guide you every step of the way. You can learn more about your next steps by calling for a free consultation.
At Berger and Green, we help Austintown residents secure the disability benefits they need. Our lawyers ensure your application is completed correctly with no missing information, including accurate contact information for your medical providers.
We help to simplify the claims process, offering guidance for your application, if there are any additional requests for information, and if you receive a denial.
Our lawyers also have experience challenging denials and managing the appeals process. We will advocate on your behalf and fight for the benefits you need if your lupus prevents you from working. We understand that the SSD application process can be a lot to handle alone, but our firm offers comprehensive representation.
Our firm also believes in offering affordable representation to clients seeking disability benefits. You will owe us no attorney’s fees unless we successfully secure your benefits. Trust us to handle your application or appeal while you focus on your health and well-being.
The Social Security Administration publishes a book—the Blue Book—of impairment listings, which are diagnoses that could qualify you for benefits. Lupus is in the Blue Book, Section 14.02 – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. This section lists the criteria you must meet to receive disability benefits, whether SSDI or SSI.
Lupus can cause widespread inflammation and damage, affecting various systems such as joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, and the nervous system.
The disease often involves periods of flare-ups and remission, varying in severity from mild to life-threatening. As the claimant, you must have strong evidence to show you meet the criteria for disability benefits. This usually comes primarily from your medical records.
You must show evidence of lupus affecting at least two or more organs or body systems, with:
You may also qualify if you experience the above systemic symptoms and significant functional difficulties involving:
Even with medical treatment, lupus can be severe enough to prevent you from earning the current substantial gainful activity limit set by the Social Security Administration.
To qualify for benefits, the SSA considers whether you are engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). This is work that earns above a specific monthly income threshold.
The Social Security Administration has set this limit at $1,620 for most people for 2025. If you are earning more than the SGA threshold, the SSA will generally determine that you are not disabled, regardless of your lupus diagnosis or symptoms.
The unpredictability of flare-ups and chronic symptoms like fatigue, pain, and cognitive impairments often make maintaining consistent work difficult. Even part-time work can lead to earnings exceeding the SGA threshold, potentially disqualifying you from benefits.
The SSA also considers whether your lupus-related symptoms significantly limit your ability to perform job tasks, maintain attendance, or sustain productivity.
Providing detailed medical evidence and work-related limitations is crucial in demonstrating that your condition prevents substantial work, even below the SGA level.
When you seek disability, you have the option of applying to either of the Social Security disability programs or both of them. They share the same medical requirements, but each has other criteria you must meet.
Our Austintown disability lawyers can evaluate your options and offer details about each program. This includes:
If you receive a denial after applying for Social Security disability, contact our team at Berger and Green right away. We need to appeal your denial before the strict deadline set forth by the SSA. You do not want to miss the short period we have to appeal.
When Disability Determination Services issues a denial, there are four steps in the appeals process to try to overturn it. If successful, you will receive monthly benefits plus backpay. The disability appeals process has four steps we can use to try to overturn the denial.
During reconsideration, a representative from Disability Determination Services reviews the claim again. If reconsideration is not effective, we move on to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. The ALJ reviews the claim, supporting documentation, and other evidence to determine if they can approve the claimant for benefits.
If denied at the hearing, we can ask the Appeals Council to review the claim. They will look at the claim and other evidence to determine if they believe the claimant has proven their injury is severe enough to prevent them from working. The final step can be to take a case to a Federal Court review.
If you have questions, need help with a denial, or are ready to apply for disability in Austintown, Ohio, call Berger and Green today. Our team provides free, confidential consultations for those who need Social Security Disability benefits because of their diagnosis, symptoms, or complications.
We will answer your questions and explain how our lawyers can help you in Austintown if you are living with lupus and need Social Security disability benefits. Contact us now to learn more.