Newark
Social Security Disability Lawyer

For many people working with a disabling medical condition is impossible, but you need income to support your family and pay your bills. Multiple trips to the doctor’s office, not being able to return to work, and bills piling up can become overwhelming very quickly. You may have even already applied for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, but were denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It’s easy to feel discouraged.

The Berger and Green Social Security Disability lawyers serving Newark, OH, are here to fight on your behalf. Our firm has over 40 years of experience helping applicants pursue the compensation they need, and we’d like to help you today. Call today for a free, no-hassle consultation to understand your options with SSD benefits.

Eligibility Criteria for Social Security Disability Benefits

Before you can receive Social Security Disability benefits, you must meet certain medical and non-medical eligibility requirements. The Social Security Administration uses specific criteria to evaluate whether an applicant qualifies under their definition of “disabled.”

Here’s what you need to know about eligibility:

Medical Eligibility

You must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that:

• Prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity (i.e., working).
• Is expected to last at least 12 consecutive months or result in death.
• Is supported by objective medical evidence such as diagnostic tests, treatment records, and evaluations from licensed healthcare providers.

Your condition must significantly limit your ability to work, including tasks like sitting, standing, lifting, walking, or concentrating.

Non-Medical Eligibility

In addition to having a qualifying medical condition, you must also meet certain non-medical eligibility requirements to receive disability benefits. These requirements vary depending on whether you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income and may involve factors like your work history, income level, and available financial resources.

If you’re unsure whether you meet the eligibility criteria for SSDI or SSI, our lawyers can help you understand your options and guide you through the next steps.

Common Qualifying Disabilities for Social Security Benefits

To qualify for benefits in Ohio, you must provide medical documentation of a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from working. The condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or be terminal. Eligibility is assessed through the Ohio Division of Disability Determination.

To prove you have a disability, you must show:

• You cannot return to the work that you did before
• You cannot adjust to a different type of work
• A significant limit in the ability to sit, walk, stand, or lift
• A significant lack of cognitive function, such as being unable to remember
• A medical condition in any major body system that is so severe that you cannot perform substantial gainful activity

Examples of Disabilities That May Qualify for SSD Benefits

The SSA evaluates a wide range of medical conditions to determine if an individual qualifies for disability benefits. These conditions are outlined in the Blue Book, which serves as a comprehensive guide to qualifying impairments.

Here are some common types of disabilities that may make you eligible for Social Security Disability benefits:

• Musculoskeletal Disorders: These include chronic back injuries, arthritis, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and other conditions that impact your ability to sit, stand, walk, or lift objects.
• Neurological Disorders: Conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injuries can significantly impair your ability to work and may qualify you for benefits.
• Mental Disorders: Severe mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may qualify if they substantially limit your cognitive or emotional functioning.
• Cardiovascular Conditions: Heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and other chronic heart conditions can be debilitating and are often included in disability claims.
• Respiratory Disorders: Chronic respiratory illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, asthma, and pulmonary hypertension can qualify, especially if they limit your ability to breathe or perform physical tasks.
• Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases): Various forms of cancer, including leukemia, lung cancer, and breast cancer, are evaluated based on the stage and severity. Some cancers are fast-tracked for approval through the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program, which helps individuals with particularly severe or terminal diagnoses receive benefits more quickly.

If your condition is not explicitly listed in the SSA Blue Book, you may still qualify if you can demonstrate that your medical impairment is equal in severity to a listed condition. Our legal team can help you understand how your specific diagnosis may be evaluated under SSA guidelines and assist with gathering the necessary medical documentation.

Social Security Disability Benefit Options in Newark, OH

It is important for anyone who is considering applying for SSD benefits to understand the difference between the two types of available benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

You and certain family members may be able to receive compensation through the SSDI program if you are considered “insured.” To be insured, you must have:

• Work history that is long enough and recent enough
• Paid Social Security taxes
• Medical proof of a qualifying disability
• Earned enough work credits

Your work history will determine how many work credits you have. How many credits you need to qualify are based on a few factors, including:

• Your age
• How recently you’ve earned SS credits
• How much you earned per year in a job covered by SS

SSDI benefits will be paid to you until you can return to work or reach retirement age. “Work Incentives” offered by the program can also help your transition back to the workforce.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

This program pays cash to the benefactor for basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. To be qualified for this program, you must:

• Meet the definition of disabled by the SSA
• Have limited resources such as cash and property
• Have limited income from any source

It is important to note that while SSDI does not consider income as a disqualifier for the program, SSI will take into account all sources of income.

Concurrent Eligibility for SSDI and SSI

Some applicants may qualify for bothSocial Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income at the same time—this is known as concurrent eligibility. This typically happens when a person qualifies for SSDI but receives a relatively low monthly benefit due to limited work history or low earnings. 

To be eligible for concurrent benefits, you must meet the medical requirements for disability and also satisfy the financial limits set by the Supplemental Security Income program, including restrictions on income and resources. Receiving concurrent benefits does not increase the total amount you receive from SSDI and SSI combined, but it can help ensure you receive the maximum financial support available to you under both programs. 

What Is a Substantial Gainful Activity?

The SSA defines substantial gainful activity as any significant mental or physical work that an individual gets paid or could get paid to do. The SSA sets a specific earnings amount each year that they consider Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The 2025 monthly amount that equals SGA for non-blind individuals is $1,620.

What Is Residual Functional Capacity?

When you file for disability benefits with the SSA, they may have you visit a doctor to evaluate your residual functional capacity (RFC). This refers to the maximum level at which you can perform despite your limitations. Your RFC will be assessed based on the relevant evidence of your case.

Understanding your options when filing for Social Security benefits can be overwhelming and frustrating. We have assisted clients in the past through this extensive process, and we’re proud of the results we have achieved. Call the office of Berger and Green today for a free consultation with a Social Security Disability (SSD) lawyer serving Newark, OH.

What an SSD Lawyer Can Do for You

Our SSD lawyers alleviate the stress and confusion often associated with the claims process, offering you peace of mind and a fighting chance of securing your rightful benefits. A Social Security Disability lawyer in Newark, OH can:

• Help you understand the benefits for which you may qualify
• Explain the application process to you
• Help you apply or appeal a decision
• File your application
• Help you secure medical records and submit them for appeals

No matter what your status is, let us help you get the benefits you need.

The Importance of Medical Evidence in SSD Claims

When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, medical evidence is one of the most critical components of a successful claim. The Social Security Administration requires objective medical documentation to determine if an applicant meets the definition of “disabled” under its guidelines. To evaluate your claim, the SSA looks for detailed evidence that shows:

• A licensed physician or qualified specialist has diagnosed your medical condition.
• The treatment history of your condition, including office visits, prescribed medications, and any surgical procedures.
• Results from diagnostic tests such as MRIs, X-rays, CT scans, bloodwork, and psychological evaluations, depending on your condition.
• Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessments, which are opinion letters or forms completed by your doctor outlining the extent of your limitations.

The SSA places significant weight on evidence that is current and ongoing. If you are not actively receiving treatment, it could negatively affect your claim.

How Our Team Uses Evidence

Our Newark, OH SSD lawyers play a vital role in helping clients organize and present the medical evidence needed to support a claim or appeal. We can assist in:

• Obtaining complete and accurate medical records for appeals.
• Ensuring all documentation is submitted correctly and on time.
• Highlighting key medical findings that support your inability to work.

Having thorough medical evidence can make the difference between an approved claim and a denial. Let us help ensure your case is built on a solid foundation of documentation that clearly demonstrates the severity of your condition.

You Have Options if You Have Been Denied Benefits

You only have a short time, generally 60 days, to file an appeal when you have been denied benefits. The following documents and information will need to be prepared if you intend to submit an appeal to the SSA:

• Forms, identification of treating medical providers, written statements, and any other supporting documents
• Medical conditions, work, education, and daily activities that may have changed
• Current medications
• Doctor and hospital information
• Any new clinical tests or medical treatments

At Berger and Green, we have helped many clients file an appeal following a denial from the SSA. Whether you are just starting the application process or need to file an appeal we would like to speak with you about your case. 

We can help you to understand why your disability claim may have been denied. Call for a free consultation following a denial notice from the SSA.

Appealing a Decision by the Social Security Administration

Many initial claims are often denied, but you have the opportunity to dispute these decisions. The appeals process has a few steps, and a decision can be overturned or upheld throughout. Our lawyers can explain the right next steps for your claim:

• The first step in the appeals process is the “Reconsideration” phase, where different examiners review the claim.
• If denied again, the claimant can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), who will consider new evidence and testimonies. Your attorney will present your claim at this hearing. You will not be alone.
• Should the ALJ’s decision be unfavorable, the claimant can escalate the appeal to the Social Security Administration’s Appeals Council. The Appeals Council reviews the case for any legal or procedural errors and may grant, deny, or dismiss the appeal, or return it to an ALJ for further review.
• Finally, if the Appeals Council’s decision is unsatisfactory, the claimant has the option to file a lawsuit in a federal district court. This legal route offers another chance for review, albeit outside the Social Security Administration’s internal processes.

Each step is designed to provide a comprehensive review mechanism, ensuring that all claimants receive a fair assessment of their disability claims.

Contact Our Newark Social Security Disability Attorneys Today

Our Newark Social Security Disability attorneys are here to guide you through every step of the Social Security Disability process—whether you’re applying for the first time, appealing a denial, or seeking clarity about your eligibility.

At Berger and Green, we take pride in offering compassionate, experienced legal support backed by over 40 years of results. We know how important these benefits are for you and your family, and we’re committed to fighting for the financial support you deserve. Call today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help you pursue the benefits you need.