If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits and do not want to risk losing the benefits to which you are entitled, you should avoid using illegal drugs and alcohol. If the use of illegal drugs and alcohol is a major factor causing your disability, Social Security laws can prevent you from receiving benefits. Though at one time, people were receiving Disability benefits for alcohol abuse, federal laws have changed. Social Security Disability benefits can no longer compensate for drug addiction and alcoholism.

It is possible to prove an individual is disabled even if they have an ongoing drug abuse or alcohol addiction; however, his or her credibility will be questioned and the individual may not be considered a trustworthy witness. The individual must prove that the drug and alcohol use is not causing the disability. For a Disability claim to be successful, a person must prove that the disability would exist absent the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

The Philadelphia Social Security Disability Lawyers at Silver & Silver Help our Clients Avoid Mistakes

The Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyers at Silver & Silver consider the best interests of disabled individuals their priority. Our lawyers will guide you through the complicated application process and warn you against the dangers that can put your claim at risk. If you or a family member have become disabled and intends to file Social Security Disability claim, using illegal drugs and abusing alcohol should be avoided completely. If addiction is an issue, our disability attorneys will work to separate that issue from your disability so that you can receive the benefits that are rightfully due you. We are committed to keeping our clients well informed about the best way to avoid making claims mistakes. Look for the next installment to our blog series on serious errors when pursuing a Social Security Disability claim – failing to bring a key witness to your hearing.

Our office is conveniently located in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, serving clients throughout thePhiladelphia region including Delaware County, Montgomery County and Bucks County. We also accommodate many South Jersey communities such as Camden, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Haddonfield, Moorestown and Mt. Laurel. To speak with one of our Social Security Disability lawyers, call our office at 800-947-4583 or contact us online.

Social Security Disability lawyers usually cost you nothing upfront. The fees are set by federal law and paid only if your claim succeeds, drawn from your past-due benefits rather than money in your pocket today. By rule, the fee is 25% of your back pay or $9,200, whichever is less, and separate case costs like ordering medical records stay your responsibility. When your income has already stopped, the worry about affording help can feel as heavy as the disability itself.…

Yes. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program, so living in Camden, Vineland, or anywhere else in New Jersey doesn't change whether you qualify or how much you receive. The medical and work history standards are the same across every state, and your benefit is calculated from your own earnings record, not your ZIP code. What New Jersey does change is administrative. The state's Disability Determination Services makes the initial medical decision on your file, and if your…

A SSDI hearing is the third step in the disability claim process, after your application and a reconsideration review, and it's the first time a judge looks at your claim. This administrative law judge played no role in the earlier decisions and reviews your claim fresh, hearing testimony about how your condition limits your ability to work, often with a vocational or medical witness taking part. For people in Chester and Norristown, these hearings run through the Philadelphia area Social…

If your SSDI application is denied in Philadelphia, act quickly, because you have only 60 days to appeal, and your claim can move through up to four stages of review: reconsideration, a hearing before an administrative law judge, the Appeals Council, and finally federal court. A first denial is common. Most initial applications are turned down, often for documentation or technical reasons rather than the seriousness of the condition, and many valid claims are approved on appeal. Opening that denial…