|
Here's why I originally thought this site might be useful to people: if a person searches Google with the keywords "social security disability", they'll usually discover about 8 million pages that are, in some way, related to the topic. In anyone's book, that's quite a lot. However, the first twenty sites discovered in that search will typically fall into one of these categories: government websites, law firms soliciting for services, companies selling books, or websites whose focus is a specific impairment, such as diabetes or congestive heart failure. Generally, very few of these sites will offer substantial information about social security disability or ssi---and practically none will explain in detail how the disability process actually works, particularly from the vantage point of someone who has processed cases. However, it's that very type of information that can benefit individuals who are pursuing claims, simply because claimants who are more informed about the mechanics of the claim evaluation process can make better decisions for themselves, and, in some cases, even take steps to prepare for what can be a long and difficult process. There are certainly many examples of how better information can benefit disability claimants, but here's just one: Claimants are routinely told by the social security office where they initially apply that disability claims are processed in just 90-120 days. And on average, of course, this may be true. However, "averages" are often misleading and, in actuality, disability claims are not processed with regard to deadlines at all. In fact, they are not even processed by the Claims Representatives who take disability applications. Instead, they are sent to an agency known as Disability Determination Services (each state has at least one DDS) and assigned to Disability Examiners. It is at DDS where claims are put through an evaluation process that can take as little as 30 days, or, in some cases, as long as a year. Unfortunately, the claimant who accepted the 90-120 day blanket statement from the social security office may have literally banked on this, and made plans accordingly----plans that later turned out to have less-than-desirable consequences. Which brings us to the rationale behind this website. This site's aim is to provide information that is generally not available elsewhere, but which can, in various instances, allow disability claimants to avoid a few simple mistakes, and even gather pointers as to how a case can, occasionally, be moved along a little faster. Note: Visitors to the site who have not filed their Initial Claim yet, or have only recently done so, may wish to read the overview sections first (accessible through the menus) since these areas synopsize the application and appeal processes overall. However, articles on various topics (currently in development) and links to some ssa and non-ssa resources may be found on the "disability articles" page, and definitions to disability-related concepts may be found on the "definitions" page. Additionally, answers to a variety of questions may be found in the sections titled "questions", "tips", and "myths". About the writer: Tim Moore, the author of DisabilitySecrets, in addition to being a former Food stamp caseworker, Afdc caseworker, and Medicaid casworker, is also a former Social Security Disability Examiner. Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation |
|
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATIVE LAWYER LIST ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 5 ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 6 |
| How does a social security disability attorney or representative help on a case ? |