Disability Insurance Attorneys You Can Count on in Your Time of Need

If you suffer from a physical or mental disability, it can make life difficult. Not only are you dealing with the related medical, physical, and emotional struggles of that disability, but you’re also unable to work and worried about your financial future. How will you take care of yourself and your family or pay your medical bills and other living expenses?

The federal government offers disability benefits for qualifying individuals administered through the Social Security Administration. If you are eligible for these benefits, it can ease the financial burdens you’re facing and help you take care of your responsibilities with peace of mind. 

More than two-thirds of applicants are denied benefits every year. The claim process for disability benefits is time-consuming and complicated. Many denials are due to simple errors or insufficient information. A denial not only delays getting these critical benefits but also leaves an applicant having to navigate one or more equally time-consuming levels of the appeal process.

Getting Legal Assistance to Help Ensure Your Success

If you are seeking SSDI or SSI disability in West Philadelphia or have been denied a disability claim through the Social Security Administration, don’t take any chances. 

With the help of the West Philadelphia SSDI attorneys at Silver & Silver, you can greatly improve your chances of success, either at the initial application level or during the appeal process. Don’t make the mistake of trying to navigate this complex process on your own. With our team on your side, you have a far better chance of successfully getting benefits now, when you need them most. 

What Disability Benefits Are Offered by the Federal Government?

The Social Security Administration administers two different programs to provide financial assistance to seriously disabled individuals. These are Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. 

• Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, provides benefits to individuals who have a qualifying disability and have worked within the Social Security system long enough to be eligible for benefits.
• Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, provides benefits to individuals who have a qualifying disability and have a specific financial need. 

But the application process can be daunting, requiring pages of forms and exhaustive evidence of your disability and income. Denials are common and leave those who have been denied to navigate an equally involved appeal process that further delays important benefits.

The Application and Appeal Process Consumes Critical Time That You Don’t Have to Spare

After a disability, the clock doesn’t stop for your responsibilities. Bills still come due, even when you aren’t working. The process of getting necessary disability benefits can take time that you simply don’t have. 

The Social Security Administration takes several months to process an initial application. If the application gets denied, it will take another several months to go through the appeal process. Even if you win the appeal, a year or more may have passed since the time of your initial application. This is precious time without the benefits you so desperately need.

At Silver & Silver, our experienced disability lawyers in West Philadelphia are proud members of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, a specialized group of SSDI and SSI attorneys dedicated to representing disabled applicants from application through the adjudicative process. We provide our clients with the most comprehensive support possible so they can have peace of mind when navigating the application, appeal, or litigation process. 

Why Are So Many People Denied SSDI Benefits?

Each year, millions of people apply for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, but only about thirty percent of these people are approved at the initial application level. So why do so many of these disability claims get denied?

• The applicant may not have submitted enough evidence to prove their condition qualified under Social Security’s definition of a serious disability.
• The attending doctor may not have been familiar with the SSDI and SSI claims process and failed to properly or adequately document the disability and how it impacted the applicant’s life and work. 
• The applicant reapplied instead of appealing the denial. Reapplying will require an applicant to begin again with the entire application process. 
• The applicant made more money than SSA allows – referred to as substantial gainful activity (SGA). 
• The applicant may not have had a condition that prevented them from doing basic physical work for at least 12 months.
• The applicant may not have provided adequate or complete employment records proving that they worked and paid into the system long enough to qualify for benefits.
• The applicant’s attending doctor may not have agreed with the severity of their condition.
• The applicant didn’t fully cooperate with the attending doctor’s treatment plan or missed important appointments. 
• The applicant exaggerated or was not truthful about the severity of their condition. 

The initial application process for disability benefits is complicated. All information must be complete, concise, without error, and supportive of a serious and disabling condition. Most applicants and many doctors are unfamiliar with the process and may have difficulty compiling a comprehensive claim for benefits. And once denied, the applicant must then fix the issues that caused the denial and begin the appeal process. 

If you are applying for essential disability benefits, don’t take any chances. Let us help. At Silver & Silver, our experienced West Philadelphia SSDI attorneys will assist you with your application process to ensure it is complete, comprehensive, and correct before your initial submission. If you have received a denial, our attorneys will review your paperwork and records, assist you in fixing the issues, and represent you through the appeal process to ensure the likelihood of your success. Going before government officers and judges can be intimidating. With us by your side, you will be fully prepared to succeed.

How Having an Experienced SSDI Lawyer Can Help You

Applying for disability benefits requires that you gather extensive information and medical records concerning your disability and provide evidence of your work history and earnings. The more comprehensive and accurate this information is, the greater the chance it will be approved. But for most people, filing for disability is overwhelming. Most applicants are unfamiliar with what the SSA wants or how to properly present this information. 

At Silver & Silver, our experienced lawyers have a thorough understanding of the process and system.

Your Initial Application 

When applying for SSDI benefits, the information you submit must include a concise overview of your medical history, your work history, and your personal and educational history, which can affect whether you will be considered disabled. With experienced legal representation, you are far more likely to be approved at the initial application level. 

Before you submit your initial application, we will ensure that all documents are comprehensive, with no information gaps, and completed correctly. We will calculate how much you are entitled to receive in benefits and assist you in gathering the records and evidence you will need to prove your disability.

Appealing a Denial

If your claim has been denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. But navigating a SSDI appeal can be complicated and time-consuming. Once you understand the reason for your denial, you must fix the issue, file an appeal, and spend critical time waiting for a new decision. 

With the help of our experienced West Philadelphia SSDI lawyers, you are far more likely to get your denial overturned than you would without representation. We will review the reasons you were denied and assist you with the appeal process. 

There are four levels of appeal:

• Reconsideration
• Administrative hearing
• Appeals Council
• Federal Court 

Don’t waste any more time. Let our experienced West Philadelphia SSDI lawyers at Silver & Silver help. Our skilled attorneys will assist you at each level by filing your appeal and gathering any records necessary for its reconsideration, requesting a hearing before a Social Security Administrative Law Judge and preparing you for the hearing, representing you before the Appeals Council, and even filing a federal appeal. At Silver & Silver, we are serious advocates for those with disabilities and are dedicated to getting them the benefits they deserve. Let us put our skills and expertise to work for you.

Getting the Help of an Experienced SSDI Lawyer in West Philadelphia

When you have suffered a life-changing disability, government disability benefits can greatly enhance your quality of life. Hiring the right SSDI lawyer can make all the difference in your case. You want someone to provide you with honest answers and skilled advice and work diligently to get you the benefits you so desperately need.

At Silver & Silver, our skilled West Philadelphia SSDI attorneys understand how important these benefits are to your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. When you become our client, we take your case very seriously. We know what the Social Security Administration is looking for when approving a claim and know how to assist you in getting the benefits you deserve. 

With over 40 years of experience, we are considered one of the leading SSDI and SSI disability firms in the Philadelphia area. We do more than just help you understand the law and your rights. We help you get back on your feet so you can look forward to a better future for yourself and your family. Call us at (610) 658-1900 or schedule a free consultation through our website contact form. Don’t face this alone. 

Disclosure:

This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.

Click here to Read More

Contact Us For a Free Consultation