If your medical condition is disabling and prevents you from working, you may qualify for benefits that offer additional income for your family. You could receive monthly payments from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A Trumbull County Social Security Disability lawyer from our team can help you apply or pursue an appeal, as needed.
Berger and Green helps clients throughout Trumbull County, Ohio. This includes Cortland, Girard, Hubbard, Newton Falls, Niles, Warren, and Ohio. We begin each case with a free consultation. During this meeting, you can discuss your application or appeal with a team member from our office. We are here for you throughout this process.
Work with Berger and Green on Your Trumbull County Application or Appeal
At Berger and Green, our Social Security Disability lawyers are here to help. No matter where you are in the claims process, our team can meet you there. You can trust us to:
Review Your Initial Application for Completion and Accuracy
We review initial applications and ensure all required information is correct and completed. This includes the contact information of all your relevant medical care providers. We want your application to show that because you have a disability, you cannot make enough money to support yourself.
Manage Your Case on a Contingency-Fee Basis
You don’t have to pay us anything until you are approved for SSDI or SSI. That’s because we serve people on a contingency-fee basis. You don’t pay our attorney’s fees up front. Instead, our fees come from the back pay you get if your case is approved.
Guide You Through the Appeals Process
If your application for benefits is denied, you’re not alone. The SSA notes that it denies up to 67 percent of applications when they’re initially submitted. We can guide you through the multi-layered appeals process and everything it entails.
We want to be part of your support system as you apply for benefits. You can trust that with our team on your side, we’ll do everything possible to make the application process as easy as possible.
For a free legal consultation with a social security disability lawyer serving Trumbull County, call 412-661-1400
Who Is Eligible for Trumbull County, Ohio, Social Security Disability Benefits?
You may be eligible for Ohio Social Security Disability benefits if you have a condition that is disabling and prevents you from working. This condition must be long-term or permanent, with your doctor expecting it to last a year or has already lasted a year. This could be a physical injury, illness, or mental health condition.
To gain approval for disability benefits, you need proof. The proof must come from your medical records, test results, imaging scans, and other information from your doctor. For this reason, it may be a good idea to discuss your possible application with your care providers early in the process.
Trumbull County Social Security Disability Lawyer Near Me 412-661-1400
SSDI or SSI? Which Program Is Right for Me?
Social Security Disability consists of two separate programs with different aims and dramatically dissimilar criteria. These programs include:
SSDI (a Work Credit-Based Program)
SSDI aims to help those who cannot return to their career for a year or more because of a serious medical condition or injury. This program requires proof that:
- You have a serious condition that is disabling.
- You earn below the current substantial gainful activity limit from work, which is $1,350 per month for 2022, according to the SSA.
- You have a minimum of 20 work credits earned by working for about five years (although younger workers may need fewer work credits).
SSI (an Asset-Based System)
SSI, on the other hand, is a program based on income and assets. It benefits those who have few other resources to help them make money to cover their basic expenses. To qualify, your household income and assets must fall below a certain level.
As of 2022, if you have more than $2,000 in countable assets as a single person, this could disqualify you for SSI. Yet, you could be eligible for SSDI, depending on your work history.
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Fighting for Disability Benefits in Trumbull County, Ohio
As noted, many claimants are not approved for disability benefits based on their initial applications. In fact, most people who receive benefits today initially received a denial. If this happens to you, do not panic.
An attorney from Berger and Green can help you navigate the process and fight for disability benefits. This process could entail:
Step 1: Reconsideration
Reconsideration is the required first step of the appeals process. It is a request that another representative from Disability Determination Services assess and reconsider your application and documentation. There is no new evidence considered at this point. The outcome is frequently a confirmation of the denial.
Step 2: An Administrative Law Judge Hearing
An Administrative Law Judge will take a look at your application and supporting documents and then meet with you by phone, by video conference call, or in person.
Before this meeting, your attorney from Berger and Green can assess your application’s information, explain what information could benefit your case, and represent you at the hearing.
Step 3: Appeals Council Review
If your application isn’t approved during the Administrative Law Judge meeting, we may request a review of your case by the Appeals Council. At this stage, the Appeals Council will either approve your application or send it back to an Administrative Law Judge.
Step 4: Federal Court Review
The final step of the appeals process, which is only rarely necessary, is asking a Federal Court to review the application, documentation, and other available information regarding the case.
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We Will Support Your Eligibility for SSDI or SSI After a Denial
Most denials occur because the Disability Determination Services representative does not believe there is enough evidence to support an application.
When Berger and Green represents you in your appeal, we can:
- Request your medical records
- Look up your condition in the SSA’s Listing of Impairments
- Ensure your documentation meets the SSA’s evidentiary requirements for your condition
- Explain your legal options and address your concerns
- Keep you updated on your application’s status
Speak to a Trumbull County Social Security Disability Lawyer for Free
The team from Berger and Green provides complimentary consultations for individuals pursuing disability benefits in Trumbull County, Ohio. We can help you understand the process, whether you are getting ready to apply for benefits or have received a denial.
Let our disability attorneys assess your options and take action on your behalf.
Call or text 412-661-1400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
