Pittsburgh Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disability Lawyer

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Symptoms

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) affects different people in different ways, including causing some complications and symptoms that do not appear until adulthood. Some people only receive their diagnosis when they cannot work because of the mental or physical issues they face. If you cannot work because of impairments related to FAS, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

The Pittsburgh disability team from Berger and Green can help you file a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or appeal a denial of a claim you already filed. We offer free case reviews and can go to work for you today.

Call us at 412-661-1400 for your free initial consultation.

Applying for Pittsburgh Disability Based on a FAS Diagnosis

The Social Security Administration publishes a list of potentially qualifying impairments known as the Blue Book. This book outlines the qualifications you need to meet to get benefits based on that diagnosis. However, it does not include a listing for fetal alcohol syndrome. Many people with FAS can qualify based on other listings.

FAS is not a single disorder. Instead, it is a series of related medical issues and symptoms. If one of these issues prevents you from getting or keeping a job, you may qualify under the impairment listing for that issue which could include:

• Mental health disorders
• Behavioral disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Problems with memory and recall
• Epilepsy
• Organ dysfunction
• Issues with coordination and motor skills
• Social difficulties

To prove your impairment, the Office for Disability Determination Services must have access to your medical records and any related medical evidence. This should include documentation from your doctor or psychiatrist about your condition, any impairments it causes, and how this affects your life.

To gain access to these files, the disability examiner will request your records by contacting your doctors through the information you include in your claim. We can help you collect this contact information and double-check it before helping you file your claim. This medical evidence is key to getting approved whether or not you qualify under an impairment listing or not.

Getting Disability Based on Your Residual Functional Capacity

In many cases, people cannot work because of their physical, mental, or emotional impairments, yet they do not meet the criteria under a Social Security Administration impairment listing. When this happens, they may still be able to get disability benefits based on their residual functional capacity (RFC). An RFC is an assessment of remaining abilities despite a disabling medical condition.

An RFC assessment seeks to learn:

• Your qualifications and education.
• The type of work you can do.
• How long you can work.
• How often you can work.

If this assessment finds that you cannot work your previous Pittsburgh job or any other job you might qualify for, you will likely get approved for benefits. You may also get approval if you can work but require accommodations to do so.

There are three ways the Office of Disability Determination Services can assess your RFC and determine if you get approval:

• Through a doctor from the Office of Disability Determination Services.
• Through your doctor.
• Through a third-party doctor who conducts a consultative

Meeting the Technical Qualifications for Your Pittsburgh Disability

In addition to proving you have a disability that is severe enough to prevent you from working, you will also need to meet other qualifications to get Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. These are the technical qualifications for each program.

Before the local field office forwards your application materials to the Office of Disability Determination Services, they will ensure you meet all the technical qualifications for the program. If you do not, they will issue a technical denial without ever considering your medical condition or disability.

Some technical qualifications include:

• Earning less than the substantial gainful activity limit for SSDI.
• Having enough work credits for SSDI.
• Having recent work credits for SSDI.
• Having income and assets below the current limits for SSI.

When we help you prepare and file your claim, we can explain more about the technical qualifications for each program. We will discuss your income and work history, and try to reduce the risk of getting a technical denial. Call us at 412-661-1400 today for your free case review and help filing your claim.

Let Us Fight a Denial of Your Pittsburgh Disability Benefits

All too often, claimants receive a denial notification saying they will not receive benefits. The Social Security Administration denies more than two-thirds of all applicants nationwide. At this point, people must file an appeal to get the disability payments they need.

Call us as soon as possible after you receive your denial notice, and we can request an appeal hearing for you if there is sufficient time to do so. We will go to work for you, navigating the appeals process and fighting for the monthly benefits and back pay you deserve. You can count on us to:

• Answer your questions and concerns.
• Investigate the cause of your denial.
• Collect evidence and build a strong case for reversing the denial.
• Represent you to the Administrative Law Judge handling your case.
• Present the case we built during your hearing.
• Argue for your monthly benefits and full back pay.

We may be able to recover additional compensation for you if you were the victim of a personal injury accident. Founding partner Laurence B. Green has more than four decades of experience handling Pennsylvania personal injury cases. We can review your case for free and take legal action on your behalf.

Getting Social Security Disability for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Pittsburgh, PA

If you cannot work because of an impairment related to FAS, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Let the Berger and Green team review your qualifications, help file your claim, or fight a denial today.

Call us to get started with your free case review: 412-661-1400.