Social Security Disability provides a way for those with disabling conditions to draw an income despite not being able to work. If your health prevents you from working at your job, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. An Ashland Social Security Disability lawyer from Berger and Green may be able to help you apply or challenge a denial.
Berger and Green’s team is here for claimants in Ashland and greater Ashland County, Ohio. We can review your application, help you with filing your claim, and navigate the appeals process on your behalf after a denial. We offer free consultations for those who want more information or to learn about our services.
Berger and Green Can Help You Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
Berger and Green’s lawyers have helped our clients achieve positive case outcomes for more than 40 years. We know how the Social Security Disability (SSD) application, determination, and appeals processes work, and we will ensure you have the best chance of getting approved based on the facts of your case.
We will go to work for you before you begin your claim. We also will review your initial application to confirm that the information is complete and correct. It is especially important that we ensure you include key information about your medical care providers who treat you for your disabling condition. Your doctors’ records and opinions will play a key role in your application’s evaluation.
Once your application is complete and includes all the necessary details, we can help you apply for benefits. We will be here for you throughout the process, including offering support and representation if you receive a denial.
For a free legal consultation with a Social Security Disability lawyer serving Ashland, call 412-661-1400
You May Be Eligible for Benefits if Your Condition Prevents You from Working
Before you can begin drawing SSDI or SSI, you must prove your medical condition or overall health is so bad that it keeps you from working.
This is why documenting your medical treatment, outcomes, symptoms, limitations, and the overall prognosis is so essential to your claim. Proving you suffer from a qualifying condition that keeps you from working is generally the hardest part of getting approval for Social Security Disability benefits.
Which Program Is Right for Me?
Most people will only qualify for SSDI or SSI, although some may qualify for both programs. Our team can help you determine your best option if you have questions.
Social Security Disability Insurance is a program for those who have a history of working but now cannot. There are no household income limits for SSDI and no limits on unearned income. In addition to proving your health prevents you from working, you will need to have a minimum of 20 work credits—or about five years of work history. Younger applicants may not be required to have as many credits as older workers.
Supplemental Security Income, on the other hand, has no requirement for work history. However, it does consider household income and resources. You must meet strict financial requirements to qualify. It is designed to help those who cannot meet their most basic needs, such as food and shelter.
Ashland Social Security Disability Lawyer Near Me 412-661-1400
Berger and Green Is Here for You After an Ashland, Ohio, Denial
Most applicants for Social Security Disability benefits do not get approved based on their initial application. If a Disability Determination Services (DDS) representative notifies you that they denied your claim, you are not alone. Not only have many other people experienced the same thing and later been approved for benefits, but Berger and Green is here to help, too.
Our lawyers know how the Ohio Social Security Disability appeals process works and the steps we can take to help our clients gain approval. We need to act quickly, so we encourage you to let us know about your denial as soon as possible.
- Reconsideration: A DDS representative reviews and reconsiders the application and supporting evidence to decide if a denial was the correct decision.
- Meeting with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): Often done by phone, video conference, or in person, our lawyer represents clients in this hearing. The Administrative Law Judge weighs the evidence and decides if they will overturn the denial and approve the claimant for benefits and back pay.
- Appeals Council review: Occasionally, we need to go beyond the Administrative Law Judge and ask the Appeals Council to review medical records, the application, and the previous decisions in the case.
- Federal Court review: The final step for fighting a denial is to ask the Federal Court to review the case and weigh in.
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Proving Eligibility for Social Security Disability
Before it approves you for Social Security Disability benefits, DDS needs proof that you are eligible for SSDI or SSI. This is where your medical records must prove your condition is so severe that it keeps you from earning a living.
The necessary evidence differs based on your diagnosis and the factors that cause your condition to be disabling. The Social Security Administration (SSA) publishes a list of impairments known as The Blue Book. In this book, SSA provides the evidentiary requirements based on several qualifying conditions and symptoms.
If your condition is not listed in this book, SSA will still use your medical records and other information from your doctor to determine if it can assign a residual functional capacity or if you need to attend a consultative examination. Berger and Green’s team knows how vital the information from your care providers is to getting approved for benefits. This is why we ensure that all medical providers are identified in your application.
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Discuss Your Options with a Berger and Green Team Member for Free
If you are working on getting approved for Social Security Disability benefits in Ashland, Ohio, Berger and Green is here for you. We provide a complimentary consultation for those seeking SSDI or SSI approval. We can also help you file your initial application. Let us go to work on your behalf today.
Call or text 412-661-1400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
