Upper St. Clair Social Security Disability Lawyer

If you have impairments that prevent you from working and earning a living in Upper St. Clair, PA, Berger and Green may be able to help. We can help you apply for Social Security Disability benefits or file an appeal if the Social Security Administration denied your initial claim. Let us help you pursue benefits that can solidify your family’s financial footing.

An Upper St. Clair social security disability lawyer will review your qualifications at no cost to you. Call us today at 412-661-1400 for your free consultation. We can get started on your case today.

You May Qualify for One of the Two Social Security Disability Programs

There are two Social Security Disability programs available in Upper St. Clair, PA, and elsewhere in Allegheny County. You may qualify for one of these programs, allowing you to receive monthly payments that can help you make ends meet until you can return to work or qualify for other benefits.

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)

SSDI bridges the gap until you reach full retirement age and can draw Social Security retirement. If you are a worker who can no longer work, your job history could qualify you for SSDI. In addition to work credits, you also need an earned income below the current substantial gainful activity limit. This includes only income earned from a job, not investment income or other types of unearned income.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI provides a source of income for the most financially disadvantaged. There are no work credit requirements for SSI, but you must meet strict income and asset limits. This includes most types of income, including unearned income. You could qualify for both SSI and SSDI, but this is not common.

You Must Provide Medical Evidence to Prove You Have a Qualifying Impairment

The Social Security Administration requires medical evidence to prove you have an impairment that prevents you from working. This evidence should be in your medical records. The type of evidence required depends on your impairment but may include:

• Laboratory testing results
• Medical imaging including X-rays, CT scans, and MRI tests
• Other medical testing
• Surgical notes
• Treatments and outcomes
• Proof of your residual functional capacity

When you apply for disability, your application will first go to the local field office. The staff there will ensure you meet all technical qualifications. Then they will forward your file to the Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD). At the BDD, the disability examiner handling your case will evaluate your medical evidence.

You may qualify for benefits in one of two ways:

• By meeting the qualifications under an impairment listing in the Blue Book
• By proving you cannot work based on a residual functional capacity evaluation

The Blue Book outlines many conditions and the criteria you must meet to qualify for disability based on that diagnosis. If your condition is not in this book, or if you do not meet the criteria in the Blue Book but cannot work, you may need to rely on a residual functional capacity evaluation. This evaluation may occur based on your medical records or during a consultative exam.

Berger and Green Can Help You Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits

The Social Security Disability attorneys from Berger and Green can help you file for benefits in Upper St. Clair, PA. We can double-check your applications and materials and help you submit your file to the Social Security Administration.

Our team will review your case and application and ensure the disability examiner has all the information they need to contact your care providers and gain access to your relevant medical records. We provide this service at no cost to you.

An Upper St. Clair social security disability lawyer knows what it takes to apply and get approved for Social Security Disability benefits. We offer support and guidance when applying for SSDI and/or SSI. Call us today at 412-661-1400 to get started.

If your impairment stems from a slip and fall, a car accident, or another personal injury accident, our team can also evaluate your right to take legal action against the at-fault party.

Our Attorneys Can Help You Appeal a Disability Denial in Upper St. Clair, PA

If you applied for Social Security Disability benefits and the Social Security Administration denied your initial claim, we can help you fight for the monthly payments you need and deserve. You only have a short time to file an appeal, so contact us right away after you receive a denial notice.

We will request an appeal hearing in your case if there is enough time to do so. Then, we will:

• Investigate your denial
• Collect medical evidence to support our case
• Build a solid argument to prove you meet the qualifications
• Represent you in front of the Administrative Law Judge who oversees your hearing
• Present the case we built during the appeal hearing

It is important to realize it could be a year or more before the date for your appeal hearing arrives. During this time, our team will provide you with regular updates and help you understand what to expect when the hearing arrives. While this wait is long, we can often get our qualified clients approved for benefits during this step in the appeals process.

Talk to Our Social Security Disability Lawyers in Upper St. Clair, PA

If your medical or mental health prevents you from working a job and earning a living, qualifying for monthly disability benefits can help you make ends meet. The Social Security Administration denies more applicants than they approved during the initial application phase for disability benefits, but an attorney from Berger and Green may be able to help you file a more complete application to make it easier for Social Security to have all the information needed to pay your case. Let an Upper St. Clair social security disability lawyer review your application or fight a denial.

Call us today at 412-661-1400 to learn more about getting monthly payments from a Social Security Disability program.