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. In pursuing a claim for ongoing and past due benefits, claimants should learn about the disability process to improve their chances of winning. |
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What Social Security Disability & ssi cases win? The truth is, potentially ANY ssd or ssi disability case can win, simply because the social security administration's disability program is not so much concerned with a claimant's medical condition as it is with the effect that the condition has on a claimant's ability to work. Now, you may be thinking to yourself: "If that's true, why does Social Security go to the trouble of having an Impairment Listing Manual for disability cases? Well, keep this in mind---not every medical condition is listed in the manual and, of the ones that are, the requirements are fairly tough to meet. Here's an example. Myocardial Infarctions, commonly referred to as heart attacks, have their own listing in the manual. But if you've had one heart attack and had one "cabbage" (CABG - coronary artery bypass graft), you probably won't be approved for disability benefits based on this listing. In fact, if you've suffered a heart attack and had to have a CABG X 2 (that is, two main arteries bypassed and grafted), the odds are still good that you won't be approved. Whether the condition you suffer from is in the listing book, or not, though, makes no difference. What does make a difference to your case is how your condition affects your ability to do past work, and related "other work" (which we've previously discussed). What disability cases win? They tend to be the cases that are better documented. I'm talking, of course, about medical records. It's almost unfathomable, but it happens all the time: claimants try to win social security disability benefits...but haven't been to a doctor in months, or don't go to their doctor but once every four months. It is IMPOSSIBLE to win a disability case with medical treatment so infrequent. What disability claimants need to know and realize is this: social security bases it's decisions on medical evidence. And nothing else. Statements from employers, relatives, etc, are practically worthless in most cases. What counts, for the purpose of winning a disability case, is the medical evidence. But the records themselves, of course, are not the full extent of the medical evidence. Supporting statements from physicians also count as evidence, as long as the statements point out to the disability examiner (or the judge in the case) exactly WHY the claimant is disabled. For this reason, a doctor's statment, by necessity, must be detailed. The key to winning a disability case is mainly this: making sure the proper evidence is in place. So, toward this end, make sure you are seen regularly by your doctors, and develop a rapport with them so, when the time comes, you can get a persuasive and detailed letter written on your behalf. Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation |
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SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATIVE LAWYER LIST ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 4 ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 5 |
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If you suffer from a medical disability such as hip, neck, shoulder, ankle, wrist, back, or other joint problems, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rsi or repetetive stress injury, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, dysthymia, depression or other mood disorders, congestive or chronic heart failure, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure (hypertension), seizure disorder, stroke, copd, emphysema, hearing loss or poor hearing, statutory blindness, peripheral field problems or other vision loss, clinical obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity or, simply, adhd, bipolar disorder or manic depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, autism, head trauma, memory loss, low iq, mental retardation, learning disability, epilepsy, cancer, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, lupus, anxiety, inner ear problems, meniere's, vertigo or dizziness, kidney failure requiring dialysis or other renal problems, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or other liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, rsd or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, peripheral vascular disease, lyme disease, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, hiv, aids, anemia, sickle cell, thyroid problems including hypothyroidism, esrd or end stage renal disease, reflux, gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease), cfids, muscular dystrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or tachycardia, bradycardia or other arrhythmia and have initiated or been denied on a social security disability, or ssi, claim for benefits, this site may assist you with your case. Social Security Disability benefits are often difficult to win; however many claims for social security disability are lost simply because a claimant did not know enough about the disability process to their social security or ssi claim. For information re: representation on a social security disability or ssi claim (attorney or non attorney representative), see the "questions" & "how" pages. |
| Social Security Disability How many times do you get denied before you are approved for disability ? |