The first step in claiming Social Security disability benefits is the completion of the initial application and gathering your supporting medical records from your doctor near Maryville. A knowledgeable disability attorney can be helpful at this stage. The attorney can help you develop your claim based on your age, work history, and impairments. The attorney will also be helpful when obtaining the supporting medical evidence that will be needed to support the claim.
The claim, along with supporting documentation, is then presented to the DDS, Disability Determination Services. The success rate is not good, and about 70 percent of all claims are denied. Your disability attorney in Maryville will help you appeal the decision.
Reconsideration
From the date you receive your notice of denial, you have 60 days to request that your claim is reviewed a second time. During this phase of the process, your claim is reviewed again. Unfortunately, rarely does this review result in a reversal of the initial decision. Many people give up at this stage, but you don’t have to. You and your attorney can appeal.
Appeal and Hearing
If, by this time, you have yet to hire a disability attorney, do it. The majority of claims that were denied are won at the hearing stage.
During the hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will decide if you will be granted benefits or your claim will once again be denied. The backlog is large and getting larger. It may take all of a year to have a hearing. It is imperative that you go into the hearing fully prepared.
A disability attorney will prepare your case and prepare you to answer the anticipated questions. Having an attorney who is familiar with the questions as well as the presiding ALJ will be to your advantage. With the wait time being what it is, the file in the hands of the judge may be outdated. When a disability attorney represents you, he or she will present current information to the judge that often results in your being approved for benefits.
If you are considering claiming disability benefits, you should hire a knowledgeable disability attorney. You are invited to contact the Law Offices of Miller & Drozdowski, P.C. near Maryville. For further information, visit http://www.lawknox.com. Follow us on google+.
