Don’t let the bureaucratic maze of the Social Security Administration prevent you from getting the benefits you’ve earned. We can help you get your benefits. You need to talk to our Acworth social security disability lawyer as soon as possible.
The attorneys of John Foy & Associates have over 20 years of experience getting results for people just like you. Our knowledgeable, hardworking Social Security disability lawyers in Acworth will walk you through the claim filing process and make sure you file the strongest application possible. Fill out the form to the right or call us at (404) 400-4000 now for a free consultation.
Learn how our Acworth personal injury lawyer may be able to help with your situation.
What Is Social Security Disability?
Social security disability (SSD) is a federal program enacted by the Social Security Act. SSD benefits fall under the decision of the Social Security Administration (SSA), which provides financial compensation and other benefits to people who have a legally recognized disability and are unable to work.
SSD is available to people who have accumulated a certain number of “working credits” over the years. For example, if you have spent the majority of the past ten years working, you most likely will have earned enough working credits to potentially receive SSD insurance.
Employment taxes pay for SSD insurance. Therefore, most applicants should get covered by SSD insurance because they spent a significant portion of their adult life working and contributing to Social Security through their Social Security tax payments. Through this program, a spouse or dependent child may get partial benefits. Otherwise, only those over the age of 18 may apply and be eligible for benefits.
What Counts As a Disability for SSD?
Before you begin receiving SSD insurance, you must get legally declared as disabled. Simply put, a disability is any physical, mental, or psychological condition that prevents a person from participating in a substantial gainful activity. In other words, you can’t work to earn an income. So almost any physical, psychological, or mental condition that hinders you from being employed could count as a disability.
In addition, there are several criteria you have to meet. For example:
- Either your condition must have kept you from substantial gainful activity for the past 12 months or more,
- It can be reasonably expected to keep you from 12 months of substantial gainful activity in the future, OR
- If your condition is likely to be fatal, then you are almost certainly eligible for SSD
If your condition meets just one of these three criteria, you likely have a disability by SSD standards.
What do I Need to Prove My Disability?
Even though you contributed to SSD insurance benefits, that doesn’t mean you can receive them later in life without any proof. There are several ways you can prove your disability to the SSA:
- You have official medical records or a doctor’s diagnosis of your medical condition or disability.
- Your disability or medical condition legitimately prevents you from doing any meaningful work.
- You accumulated over 20 work credits over the past 10 years.
- If you don’t have enough work credits, you need to prove that you have a low income.
As long as you fill out your application correctly and provide evidence of your disability, you shouldn’t have any significant issues. However, even if you do everything right, denial is still possible. If this is the case, you should make an appeal as quickly as possible to get your benefits.
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When Should I Apply for SSD?
SSD Insurance cases can take a long time to process, usually between 90-120 days. However, in some cases, it may take longer. Considering the fact that the SSA is a large, complex organization, you are encouraged to apply as soon as you become disabled and unable to work.
However, bear in mind that you need to make the strongest application possible. While it’s always better to apply sooner rather than later, it’s worth it to take a few weeks to get the proper documentation, get a legal opinion, and put together an application that’s likely to get approved.
If your application gets denied, you can appeal it, but this adds months or longer before you eventually get benefits. If you aren’t sure what documentation you need, a personal injury lawyer can prepare the application for you and make sure it meets all the requirements.
Why do Claims Get Denied?
9.7 million people received SSD benefits in 2019, according to the recent annual statistical report from the SSA. Even though the number of people receiving SSD benefits has risen over the years, most recipients had to fight hard against initial rejections from the SSA. SSD claims get denied for various reasons:
- You don’t take proactive steps to ensure your health and wellbeing.
- You have a history of addiction or currently have an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
- You got rejected or appealed too many times within a year.
- The SSA doesn’t view your medical condition or disability as serious.
- You failed to file your application correctly or provide the proper supporting evidence and documentation.
Whether you didn’t file your application right or the SSA deems it to be unworthy of receiving benefits, our Acworth social security disability lawyers will help you. We can ensure that you have all the evidence, paperwork, and medical records needed to get you the money you deserve.
Do I Need a Social Security Disability Attorney in Acworth to File a Disability Claim?
An experienced SSD lawyer can make sure your application contains all pertinent information, including medical evidence, to lessen the chance of having to appeal. In addition, it has been shown that a person’s chances of being improved for SSD benefits rise when the applicant has legal representation.
While you can certainly go through the process of filing for SSD insurance alone, it may not be in your best interest. A lot of cases get denied, and having a lawyer navigate the system makes a crucial difference. Our Acworth social security disability attorneys can assist you in several different ways.
Stronger Application
Our lawyers will optimize your “alleged onset date” (the day you were no longer able to work), give a compelling argument that your particular condition satisfies the impairment requirements in the Social Security “blue book,” and help focus your application on only those facts that will be most convincing in a hearing.
Effective Appeals
At first and second appeal, we can acquire an opinion from a doctor, collect and submit useful medical evidence, write and submit a brief to the Administrative Law Judge, and prepare you for any questions the judge may have for you.
Useful Testimony
Our lawyers can coach you into giving helpful testimony if you will be speaking at your hearing and cross-examine expert witnesses (such as a doctor or vocational expert) to demonstrate your inability to work.
A good SSD lawyer in Acworth will be with you and your loved ones every step of the way, from your first application until you start receiving benefits.
How Can I Trust Your Lawyers to Help Me?
In your time of financial need, we understand that it can be difficult to trust a law firm to assist you. Unfortunately, many shady lawyers out there love to take advantage of people in challenging situations. Rest assured, we always put our clients’ needs first above anything else. Our primary goal is to get you your SSD benefits.
We never charge for any of our services upfront. You only pay us for our services if we successfully resolve your case and get you your benefits. If we can’t do this, you owe us nothing. Our client testimonials and case results show how much we care about our client’s goals and success.
Talk to an Acworth Social Security Disability Lawyer for Free
Whether you’re providing for just yourself or for a family, it can be frustrating not being able to work. John Foy & Associates knows how to take on the complicated SSD system and get you the benefits you deserve. Fill out the form to the right or call us for a free consultation.
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