Skip to main content

THE SECRET TO WINNING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS IN ALABAMA

                         By Charles W. Forsythe - The Forsythe Firm

Is there a secret to winning Social Security disability in Alabama?

As an advocate who has represented thousands of clients for Social Security disability, let me share a crucial fact:

The "secret" to getting approved for Social Security disability is:  NEVER QUIT.  Appeal, appeal and then appeal again.

In the early application process, 8 out of 10 claims are denied.  This is just "normal."  The people who review disability claims at the first level are prone to deny claims.  You have a very small chance in the early process.

The key is:  Appeal any unfavorable decision.  The appeal moves the claim upward to higher authorities, who will give your claim a closer, more thorough review.  

The second phase in Alabama is called "Reconsideration."  This is where the same agency that denied your claim will look at it again to see if mistakes were made.  Don't expect much help here, either.  The reconsideration denial rate is very high, too (around 90 percent).  This is just a step on your way to the top.

If denied at Reconsideration, appeal again.  This appeal allows you to appear before a federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in a hearing.  This is a high level of review and your case gets looked at very closely.  Your lawyer can appear with you and explain your case--and outline the law that supports your case.  For the first time, you (the claimant) will get to appear and give testimony to the judge.  More cases get approved and paid in hearings than anywhere else in the Social Security system!  Your goal is to get to the hearing. The path is by appeals.

So, persistence is required.  Just because you are denied doesn't mean you should quit.  On the contrary.  The fight is just beginning.  

While denials are discouraging, they are a normal part of the Social Security disability system.  Good claims get denied.  Errors are made.  The good news:  A MAJORITY OF DENIALS CAN GET PAID ON APPEAL.

- - - - -  - - - - - - - 

If you were recently denied (within the last 60 days), call THE FORSYTHE FIRM in Huntsville to discuss your next step.  We will give you an individualized consultation to evaluate how you should go forward. There is no charge for this consultation.  If we represent you, you never pay us a fee until you WIN your case/appeal, and COLLECT PAST DUE BENEFITS. Risk free.

Call us:  (256) 799-0297.  Or (256) 503-8151. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IS IT HARD TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY IN TENNESSEE?

  How hard is it to get Social Security disability (SSDI) in Tennessee? It can be very difficult.  In the beginning stages of the process, it seems like the agency is out to deny as many claims as possible.  Later--in the appeals process--it takes more technical and legal skill to move through the labyrinth of obstacles. What's the usual reason for an SSDI denial? If you look at all the denial letters, the most comm on reason given is:  You are not disabled according to our rules. The 2 main explanation for finding claimants not disabled are: 1.  You are able to perform some of your past relevant work. 2.  You can't perform any of your past work but you are able to do other work. Those are the two "catch all" reasons Social Security gives for nearly all of their denials.  Both of these reasons fall into the category of a medical denial .  The claimant's condition is not deemed severe enough to prevent all work. There are other reasons for d...
Post a Comment
Read more

WHAT YOU WILL BE ASKED AT A DISABILITY HEARING

Most Social Security disability claims will be denied twice:  First at the end of the Application process, and again after the "Reconsideration" process.  The third stop will be a hearing before a federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). It is here at the hearing level that most SSDI claims are paid.  So, what do you need to know about your Social Security disability hearing?     First, the judge will follow the rules established by the Social Security Administration.  His or her job is to determine whether you meet the particular laws and rules to receive disability payments.  So, it is a legal proceeding where you must prove certain things in order to get paid. Among the things you must prove:  Your insured status with Social Security:  You have worked recently enough and paid into the Social Security trust fund to gain the required "work credits" to support your claim.  You have a severe medical or mental impairment supported by adequa...
Post a Comment
Read more

CAN YOU WIN YOUR DISABILITY APPEAL WITHOUT A LAWYER?

The Social Security Administration does not require you to have a lawyer to file an appeal or to appear at a hearing.  However, most people heading for a disability hearing will hire a lawyer or advocate to help them.   Studies have shown that you are about twice as likely to win with a lawyer.  A recent study found that claimants with no lawyer win about 30 percent of the time while claimants with a lawyer or advocate win 60 percent of the time.   " He just cooked his own goose." These statistics cover only one aspect of a disability appear--your odds of winning. The other important aspects are time and convenience. If you prepare and adjudicate your own disability appeal, expect to spend 12 to 24 months working on the case.  You will be collecting, reading and submitting hundreds or thousands of pages of medical records.  These records are complex and often difficult to understand.  And you must know how each medical record helps (or hurts) your dis...
Post a Comment
Read more