Social Security Disability Lawyers
SSI Lawyer
Social Security Disability- Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to speak to a Social Security Disability Lawyer for free, please call Greenberg & Bederman in Maryland at (301) 589-2200, or in Washington DC please call (202) 833-2200, or northern VA please call (888) 926-8583, or submit a Free Social Security Disability Consultation.
- What is the definition of disability used by the Social Security Administration?
- How many different types of Social Security disability benefits are there?
- How do I apply for Social Security disability benefits?
- I am disabled, but I have plenty of money in the bank. Do I have to wait until this money is gone before I apply for Social Security disability benefits?
- I used to work but lately I have been staying home taking care of the kids. I have now become sick. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?
- How long do I have to wait after becoming disabled before I can file for Social Security disability benefits?
- I have several health problems, but no one of them disables me. It is the combination that disables me. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?
- How does Social Security determine if I am disabled?
- Who decides if I am disabled?
- Why does Social Security disability law consider my age in determining whether I am disabled?
- What can I do to improve my chances of winning my Social Security disability claim?
- How far back will Social Security pay benefits if I am found disabled?
- What do I do if Social Security denies my claim for Social Security disability benefits?
- Why does Social Security turn down so many claims for disability benefits?
- What is "reconsideration"?
- Who makes the reconsideration determination?
- What are my chances of winning at reconsideration?
- How long does it take to get a hearing on a Social Security disability claim?
- What is the Social Security Disability hearing like?
- If I am awarded Social Security disability benefits and my condition improves and I want to return to work, can I do so?
- Do I really have to hire a lawyer to represent me in my Social Security disability claim?
- I am currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, but I am worried that my benefits will be stopped in the future. What are the chances of this happening?
- If Social Security tries to terminate my disability benefits, what can I do?
What is the definition of disability used by Social Security?
Under the Social Security Act, "disability" means "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months."
How many different types of Social Security disability benefits are there?
There are at least five major types of Social Security disability benefits. Disability Insurance Benefits is the most important type of Social Security disability benefits. It goes to individuals who have worked in recent years (five out of the last 10 years in most cases) who are now disabled. Disabled Widow's and Widower's Benefits are paid to individuals who are at least 50 and become disabled within a certain amount of time after the death of their husband or wife. The late husband or wife must have worked enough under Social Security to be insured. Disabled Adult Child Benefits go to the children of persons who are deceased or who are drawing Social Security disability or retirement benefits. The child must have become disabled before age 22. For Disability Insurance Benefits, Disabled Widow's or Widower's Benefits and Disabled Adult Child benefits, it does not matter whether the disabled individual is rich or poor. Benefits are paid based upon a Social Security earnings record. Supplemental Security Income benefits, however, are paid to individuals who are poor and who are disabled. It does not matter for SSI whether an individual has worked in the past or not. SSI child's disability benefits are a variety of SSI benefits paid to children under the age of 18 who are disabled. The way in which disability is determined is a bit different for children.
How do I apply for Social Security disability benefits?
The best way to file a Social Security disability claim is to go to the nearest Social Security office in person and wait (often for a few hours) to see someone to file the claim in person. In the alternative, a person may contact Social Security by telephone at (800) 772-1213 and arrange for a telephone interview to file the claim. You may also apply online at www.ssa.gov.
I am disabled, but I have plenty of money in the bank. Do I have to wait until this money is gone before I apply for Social Security disability benefits?
No. If you have worked in recent years or if you are applying for Disabled Widow's or Widower's benefits or Disabled Adult Child benefits, it does not matter how much money you have in the bank. There is no reason to wait to file the claim.
I used to work but lately I have been staying home taking care of the kids. I have now become sick. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?
Possibly. If you have worked five out of the 10 years under Social Security before becoming disabled, you will have enough earnings in to potentially qualify for Social Security disability benefits. For individuals 31 or less, the requirements are a little different, since such individuals have not had such a long time to work. Unless a person has been staying home and taking care of their children for quite a long time, however, it is very possible that they will qualify for Social Security disability benefits based upon their own earnings. Also a homemaker, if poor enough, can qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) whether he or she has worked in the past or not.
How long do I have to wait after becoming disabled before I can file for Social Security disability benefits?
Not even one day. You can file for Social Security disability benefits on the very same day that you become disabled. Many individuals make the mistake of waiting months and even years after becoming disabled before filing a Social Security disability claim. There is no reason to file a Social Security disability claim if one has only a minor illness or one which is unlikely to last a year or more. However, an individual who suffers serious illness or injury and expects to be out of work for a year or more should not delay in filing a claim for Social Security disability benefits.
I have several health problems, but no one of them disables me. It is the combination that disables me. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?
Social Security is supposed to consider the combination of impairments that an individual suffers in determining disability. Many, perhaps most claimants for Social Security disability benefits have more than one health problem and the combined effects of all of the health problems must be considered.
How does Social Security determine if I am disabled?
Social Security is supposed to gather your medical records and carefully consider all of your health problems, as well as your age, education, and work experience. In general, Social Security is supposed to decide whether you are able to do your past work. If Social Security decides that you are unable to do your past work, they are supposed to consider whether there is any other work which you can do considering your health problems and your age, education, and work experience.
After an individual files a Social Security disability claim, the case is sent to a disability examiner at the Disability Determination agency in your state. This individual, working with a doctor, makes the initial decision on the claim. If the claim is denied and the individual requests reconsideration, the case is then sent to another disability examiner at the Disability Determination agency, where it goes through much the same process. If a claim is denied at reconsideration, the claimant may then request a hearing. At this point, the case is sent to an Administrative Law Judge who works for Social Security. The Administrative Law Judge makes an independent decision upon the claim. This is the only level at which the claimant and the decision maker get to see each other.
Why does Social Security consider my age in determining whether I am disabled?
Social Security has to consider age, because that is what the Social Security Act requires. As people get older, they become less adaptable, less able to switch to different jobs to cope with health problems. A severe foot injury which might cause a 30- year- old to switch to a job in which he or she can sit down most of the time, might disable a 60- year- old person who could not make the adjustment to a different type of work.
What can I do to improve my chances of winning my Social Security disability claim?
Be honest and complete in giving information to Social Security about what is disabling you. Many claimants, for instance, fail to mention their psychiatric problems to Social Security because they are embarrassed about them. In almost all cases, individuals who were slow learners in school fail to mention this fact to Social Security, even though it can have a good deal to do with whether or not the Social Security disability claim is approved. Beyond being honest and complete with Social Security, the most important thing that you can do is just keep appealing and hire an experienced person to represent you. It is important to appeal because most claims are denied at the initial level, but are approved at higher levels of review. It is important to hire an experienced person to represent you because you do not understand the way Social Security works. Statistically, claimants who employ an attorney to represent them are much more likely to win than those who go unrepresented.
How far back will they pay benefits if I am found disabled?
For Disability Insurance Benefits and for Disabled Widow's and Widower's Benefits, the benefits cannot begin until five months have passed after the person becomes disabled. In addition, benefits cannot be paid more than one year prior to the date of the claim. For a Disabled Adult Child, there is no five-month waiting period before benefits begin, but benefits cannot be paid more than six months prior to the date of the claim. SSI benefits cannot be paid prior to the start of the month following the date of the claim.
What do I do if Social Security denies my claim for Social Security disability benefits?
First, do not be surprised. Only about 40% of Social Security disability claims are approved at the initial level. If you are denied at the initial level, unless you have already returned to work or expect to return to work in the near future, you should appeal, that is, file a request for reconsideration. You should also consider employing an attorney to represent you.
Why does Social Security turn down so many claims for disability benefits?
There is no simple answer to this question. One reason is that there is no simple way to determine whether an individual is disabled. Most people who are disabled suffer from pain. There is no way of determining whether or not another individual is in pain, much less how much pain he is in. A second reason is that Social Security over the years has been more concerned with making sure that everyone who is receiving Social Security disability benefits is "truly" disabled than with making sure that everyone who is disabled receives Social Security disability benefits. An underlying reason is that Congress has always believed that, given a chance, many people will "fake" disability in order to get benefits.
When a claim for Social Security disability benefits is denied at the initial level, the claimant may then request "reconsideration" of that decision. The case is then sent to a different disability examiner for a new decision. Unfortunately, about 80% of the time the reconsideration decision is the same as the initial decision - a denial.
Who makes the reconsideration determination?
A disability examiner at the Disability Determination Section makes the reconsideration determination. Most of the time, the claimant does not see the disability examiner or even know his or her name.
What are my chances of winning at reconsideration?
Statistically, about 20% of the time a claimant wins at reconsideration.
How long does it take to get a hearing on a Social Security disability claim?
There is much variation around the country. In a few areas of the country the wait is only three months. In a few areas of the country the wait is more than a year.
What is the Social Security Disability hearing like?
The hearings are fairly informal. The only people likely to be there are the judge, a secretary operating a tape recorder, the claimant, the claimant's attorney, and anyone else the claimant has brought with him or her. In some cases, the Administrative Law Judge has a medical doctor or vocational expert present to testify at the hearing. There is no jury nor are there any spectators at the hearing. There is no attorney at the hearing representing Social Security trying to get the judge to deny the disability claim.
If I am awarded Social Security disability benefits and my condition improves and I want to return to work, can I do so?
Certainly you can return to work. Social Security wants individuals drawing disability benefits to return to work and gives them every encouragement to do so. For persons receiving Disability Insurance Benefits, Disabled Widow's and Widower's Benefits, and Disabled Adult Child Benefits, full benefits may continue for a year after an individual returns to work. Even thereafter, an individual who has to stop work in the following three years can begin receiving Social Security disability benefits immediately without having to file a new claim. In SSI cases, things work differently, but there is still a strong encouragement to return to work.
Do I really have to hire a lawyer to represent me in my Social Security disability claim?
No. You can go through all of the levels of review on your own, if you wish, but statistically claimants who are represented by an attorney win a good deal more often than those who are not represented.
I am currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, but I am worried that my benefits will be stopped in the future. What are the chances of this happening?
Social Security is not supposed to cut off disability benefits for an individual unless his or her medical condition has improved. When Social Security reviews a case of someone already receiving Social Security disability benefits, it continues benefits in the vast majority of cases. In recent years, Social Security has been doing few reviews to determine whether or not individuals already on Social Security disability benefits are still disabled. This is changing and Social Security should be doing far more reviews in the next few years. However, the vast majority of individuals who are reviewed will see their Social Security disability benefits continued.
If Social Security tries to terminate my disability benefits, what can I do?
You should appeal immediately. If you appeal within 10 days after being notified that your disability benefits are being terminated, you can ask that your disability benefits continue while you appeal. Contact a Social Security Disability Lawyer at Greenberg & Bederman in Maryland at (301) 589-2200, in Washington please call (202) 833-2200 or in northern Virginia (VA) call (888) 926-8583, or in the Baltimore, MD area (443) 573-1111 concerning representation in your case, but file the appeal immediately.
Social Security Disability Resources:
The Social Security Administration
Online Information About Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits
National Council On Disability - Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance for the Disabled
ISER - Internet Special Education Resources
Disability Resources - "A Wonderfully well-organized site... for cutting through the morass of disability-related material on the Web" --- Encyclopedia Britannica Internet Guide
Disability Info - An online information site about government disability-related information
ICDRI - The International Center for Disability Resource on the Internet
Department of Labor - Government Website with Disability Resources
ADA - American's With Disabilities Informational Site
Mid Atlanta ADA Center - Training, Information, And Technical Assistance for Americans With Disabilities
DBTAC - Questions About The Americans With Disabilities Act?
Disability Resources - Disability Resource Directory
Ask Dr Weil - A Health Advisor for people with Health Conerns
The American Health Assistance Foundation - For help with Alzheimer's Disease
National Council on Disability - An Independent Federal Agency providing advice to the President, Congress, and the Executive Branch to promote policies, programs, and procedures for Americans With Disabilities.
HHS.GOV - US Health & Human Services
A Disability Information Resource- Disability And Information Resources
LD Resources - Learning Disabled Resources
Disabilities in the Yahoo! Directory
Resource Guide for those Seeking Medical and Health Information- Disability Recource
Disability Rights And Resources - HUD Government Site
Center for Persons With Disabilities - Traumatic Brain Injury Resources Available
Disability Resource Directory for Children with Cerebral palsy- Disability Resource
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Greenberg & Bederman is located one half block from the Silver Spring Metro station, one mile from the Washington, DC line at 1111 Bonifant St Silver Spring, MD 20910.
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