3 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO WIN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABIITY

Winning Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits takes some luck but it takes more than just luck.  There are 3 things you can do that will dramatically increase your odds of winning a disability check for the rest of your life:

1.  Figure out what rules you are playing by.  Social Security has a rule book and those who get paid play by the book.  

What do I mean "figure out the rules"?  I mean, decide why you are legally disabled and which of Social Security's rules will allow you to collect a benefit. Are you disabled due to a physical impairment, a mental impairment, or both? Figure out which rule legally allows a favorable decision.  Do you meet a published Listing?  Do you meet one of their Grid rules?  Or, do you meet the criteria for a Step Five decision? Without a roadmap, you can't know where your Social Security journey will end and you can't plan the trip!

2.  Look at your medical evidence.  Social Security's decision will primarily be based on what is in your medical file (called "the medical evidence"):

Does Social Security have all of your medical records?  Have you checked to be sure?  You'd be surprised how sloppy they can be and how much evidence they fail to get.  Are there doctors, clinics, hospitals, counselors or other treatment providers that you (yes YOU) need to get and submit to your Social Security file?  Do your records make it crystal clear as to:  the type of impairments you have, the severity of your impairments, and how your medical condition limits your ability for perform the FUNCTIONS of full-time work.  If your medical records do not contain a "Residual Functional Capacity" statement from your doctor, you are nowhere near ready for Social Security to make a decision.  Medical records are the single most important part of winning a claim or appeal.  Do you know what is in your records?  The most important question:  What is NOT in your medical records?

3.  Ask for professional help.  It is important to admit that you are not a Social Security disability expert.  Pretending to be may lose your benefits forever.

Ninety percent of claimants going into the Social Security appeal process are professionally represented.  Before a judge will even hold a hearing, he or she will ask you about an attorney or representative.  The judge will even agree to postpone your hearing until you find representation.  This should tell you how important the judge thinks it is to have qualified legal counsel.  Take advantage of it.
     A representative cannot charge you a fee unless you win and unless you collect back pay from the Government.  The law protects the claimant by not permitting any legal fee to be paid (or charged) unless you win your claim!  Your attorney/representative can perform a vital service in the areas of 1 and 2 above (deciding which rules should give you a favorable decision; and making sure the medical evidence is ship-shape before the hearing).
___________
The Forsythe Firm
Social Security Disabiity Representation
"Across from Bridge Street"
7027 Old Madison Pike, Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
Free Consultations by Calling (256) 799-0297

SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE - START HERE