social security disability attorneys representatives

ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING

Social Security Disability & SSI Definitions

This information may help claimants with representation, as well as claimants who are not represented by an attorney or non attorney representative. Understanding how the Social Security Disability system works can make the difference between winning or not winning the continuing disability benefits and backpay to which a person is entitled. To win a claim for ongoing and past due benefits, claimants should learn about the disability process to improve their chances of winning.
Activities of daily living are simply the normal, basic activities that most people must engage in as a requirement of daily living. They include personal hygeine (bathing, dressing), meal preparation (breakfast, lunch, dinner), shopping (grocery and other shopping), and standard home maintenance activities such as sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, laundry, and dish washing.



In processing Social Security Disability and ssi claims, examiners at DDS (disability determination services) will often contact claimants to gather information on their ability to perform such activities of daily living. These are known as ADL calls.

What is the point of ADL calls? Technically, the purpose is to discover the extent to which a social security claimant is significantly restricted by a medical condition, or impairment.

And, ideally, information gathered in such contacts should be used to "fill in the gaps" regarding a claimant's physical limitations.

Unfortunately, ADL calls are typically used against disability claimants. In fact, they are often conducted after an examiner (or an examiner's supervisor) has already determined that a claim should be denied.

In fact, in such instances, ADL questions are subtly phrased for the purpose of gathering just the right responses so denials can be more easily justified.

Examiners who process social security disability claims, however, do not restrict ADL questioning to claimants only.

Sometimes, ADL calls are made to a claimant's neighbors, friends, or relatives, and sometimes to past employers. And the contact information to allow such calls has usually been provided by the claimant on the disability application.

For this reason, it is usually wise for disability claimants to keep everyone within their circle of contacts up-to-date regarding their medical condition and status.





Social Security Disability and SSI Information








Additional Questions & Answers


  1. Social Security Disability, SSI - How are you considered disabled?

  2. Social Security Disability, SSI - When should you file or apply?

  3. Social Security Disability, SSI - How should you file or apply?

  4. Social Security Disability, SSI - How does the decision get made?

  5. Social Security Disability, SSI - What kind of evidence is used to decide the claim?

  6. How long does it take to get a decision for social security disability (ssd, ssdi) or ssi?

  7. What do you do if your social security disability or ssi case gets denied?

  8. How to appeal a social security disability or ssi denial?

  9. How long do social security disability or ssi appeals take?

  10. Do you need to do more than one appeal for social security disability or ssi?

  11. Long Term Disability Attorney

  12. Disability Lawyer Wisconsin

  13. Disability Lawyer Pennsylvania

  14. Disability Lawyer New Jersey

  15. Disability Lawyer Louisiana


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For more Disability Information, visit

Social Security Disability Secrets

where answers to the following questions can be found


  • Should you get an attorney or representative for your case?

  • When should you apply for social security disability benefits?

  • How to apply for Disability benefits offered by Social Security

  • How are Social Security claims for disability decided?

  • What evidence is used to decide a social security disability case?

  • What does an attorney or representative do to assist a claimant?

  • If my disability claim is denied, what advice is there for what to do next?

  • How do I appeal my Social Security Disability denial?

  • How lengthy are Social Security Disability appeals?

  • How do you qualify medically for social security disability?

  • Why is the social security disability disability process so long?

  • What social security disability cases win?

  • How good are the approval chances for disability?

  • When should you decide to get representation?

  • Why do social security disability cases take forever?

  • Is it better to appeal or start over on a social security disability case?

  • Is there a time limit to file a social security disability appeal?

  • Who makes the social security disability decision?

  • Does Social Security deny everyone the first time they apply?

  • Does Social Security you a certain number of times before you're approved?

  • How much does a representative charge to handle a case?

  • Can certain medical conditions or problems get you automatically approved for social security disability?

  • Is filing a new disability application the same as doing a social security appeal?

  • Can you win a social security disability case if you've used alcohol or drugs?

  • Does Social Security give backpay to everyone approved for disability?

  • Does Social Security deny disability claims to save money?

  • Does Social Security give you a disability decision in ninety (90) days?

  • Will a VA approval help my Social Security Disability Case?

  • What is the purpose of the medical exam that social security sends you to?

  • Should you use an attorney or non attorney to provide representation?







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