Trumbull County
Social Security Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. How Berger and Green Can Help Your Trumbull County, OH, Disability Claim
2. Who Is Eligible for Trumbull County, Ohio, Social Security Disability Benefits?
3. SSDI or SSI? Which Disability Benefits Program Is Right for Me?
4. Fighting for Disability Benefits in Trumbull County, Ohio
5. We Will Support Your Eligibility for SSDI or SSI After a Denial
6. Call Today: Our Trumbull County, OH, SSD Lawyer Can Help – Free Consultation

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

November 11, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

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 complete and file your initial application or lead your appeals case if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denied your claim.

Berger and Green helps clients throughout Trumbull County, Ohio. This includes Cortland, Girard, Hubbard, Newton Falls, Niles, Warren, Ohio. OurSocial Security Disability lawyersstart each case with a free consultation. We will review your initial application or appeal with a team member from our office. We are here for you throughout this process. Call our law office today to get started.

How Berger and Green Can Help Your Trumbull County, OH, Disability Claim

At Berger and Green, our Social Security Disability lawyers are here to help people who need to apply for Social Security Disability benefits or appeal a denied claim. If you are unsure if it is the right time to apply for benefits or have just received a denial, we can answer your questions.

Explain How Social Security Disability Claims Work and Whether You Qualify

When we speak with you about your claim, we will explain how you or a family member can apply for Social Security Disability benefits. We will also walk you through any complex issues concerning your claim and simplify confusing language so that you understand what is happening in your case. We will also determine if you can apply for SSDI, SSI, or both. Some applicants are eligible to receive compensation from both programs at the same time (concurrently). After you meet with us, you will know the difference between SSDI and SSI and the requirements for each.

We Will Complete and File Your Initial SSD Application for Completion and Accuracy

We can complete and file your Social Security Disability application, whether you are applying for benefits for the first time or starting the appeals process. Before filing, we will review initial applications and ensure your information is correct and complete. 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 Trumbull, OH, Disability Benefits 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. The SSA must approve all fee agreements and, therefore, determine the maximum lawyer fee for Social Security representation.

Guide You Through the Appeals Process

If your application for benefits is denied, you’re not alone. The SSA’s Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program reported in 2020 that an estimated 67 percent of applications receive denial notices. Still, you have a chance to appeal and seek benefits. Our Trumbull County Social Security lawyers can guide you through the multilayered appeals process and everything it entails.

We want to be part of your support system as you apply for benefits. With our team on your side, you can trust that we’ll do everything possible to make the application process as easy as possible. Call Berger and Green today to discuss your Social Security Disability benefits claim. You will receive legal advice that helps determine your next steps.

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 disabling condition and prevents you from working. This condition must be long-term or permanent, with your doctor expecting it to last a year or if it has already lasted a year. This could be a physical injury, illness, or mental health condition.

Before you receive approval for disability benefits, you must prove you need them. Your medical records, test results, imaging scans, and other information from your doctor can serve as evidence for your claim. For this reason, it may be a good idea to discuss your possible application with your medical care providers early in the process. 

SSDI or SSI? Which Disability Benefits Program Is Right for Me?

Social Security Disability consists of two disability 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.
• According to the SSA, you earn below the current substantial gainful activity limit from work, which is $1,550 per month for 2024.
• You have earned at least 20 work credits 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 with 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.

Fighting for Disability Benefits in Trumbull County, Ohio

As noted, many disability 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. You should call our law office if you have received a denial notice. You have just 60 days to appeal the SSA’s decision. When we hear from you, we can prepare an appeal and take care of the paperwork to officially start the process.

An attorney from Berger and Green will navigate the process and fight for disability benefits on your behalf. 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 (DDS) assess and reconsider your application and documentation. The outcome is frequently a confirmation of the denial.

Step 2: An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing

An Administrative Law Judge will look at your application and supporting documents and then meet with you by phone, video conference call, or in person.

Before this hearing, our attorney from Berger and Green can assess your application’s information, explain the information that could benefit your case, gather evidence, and prepare you for your hearing.  Your attorney will support you through your hearing and assert why your condition is disabling and you should receive disability benefits. 

Step 3: Appeals Council Review

If your claim for benefits isn’t approved from the Administrative Law Judge hearing, 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 rare, is asking a Federal Court to review the application, documentation, and other available information regarding the case.

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 approval.

When Berger and Green represents you in your appeal, we can:

• Request your medical records
• Compare your conditions in the SSA’s Blue Book Listing of Impairments
• Ensure your documentation meets the SSA’s evidentiary requirements for your condition
• Explain your legal options and address your concerns
• Update you regularly on your benefits application’s status
• Meet all deadlines

Call Today: Our Trumbull County, OH, SSD Lawyer Can Help – Free Consultation

Berger and Green’s law office provides a free initial consultation 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 Trumbull County Social Security Disability Lawyers assess your options and take action on your behalf. Call today. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can start working on your behalf.