If you or someone you love participated in the Social Security insurance program or is otherwise eligible for disability benefits, our team can guide you through the process of filing a claim. This includes establishing your inability to work, proving your current financial hardship, and fighting for the benefits you are entitled to. We can also help you handle the plethora of paperwork and documentation your case requires.
When you fight for disability benefits or appeal a denied application, your Cleveland County Social Security Disability lawyer can help strengthen your case. You do not have to navigate the complicated benefits system on your own. At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we’ll help define the nature and severity of your disabling condition. We can also work to prove your eligibility for financial compensation and possibly other benefits, such as medical care coverage.
In This Article
Identifying Your Disability to Determine Eligibility for SSD Benefits
Before you can receive Social Security Disability benefits, you must identify and prove your disability. Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines identify known disabilities on its Listing of Impairments. If your disabling condition is included in the general list, we can help you obtain an evaluation of your condition and aim to prove you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. You are considered disabled if your condition:
- Prohibits you from participating in a substantial gainful activity (SGA)
- Is expected to last more than one year or result in your death
- Is caused by an anatomical, physiological, or psychological impairment
We may also be able to help you prove your eligibility if you cannot work but do not meet the qualifications under any impairment listing. This is possible by proving that your “residual functional capacity,” or RFC, will not allow you to work and earn a living. Your RFC is what you can do despite your diagnosis, symptoms, medication side effects, chronic pain, and other factors.
To obtain Social Security Disability medical care and financial benefits, you can apply for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We will help you determine which program is right for you.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI benefits provide medical care and financial benefits to qualified individuals. You may qualify for this program if you:
- Worked and paid into the Social Security insurance program
- Are an eligible family member of a qualified program participant
Your condition qualifies if it will render you completely incapable of working for a minimum of a year. You also qualify if your disability is expected to limit your lifespan.
Qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is a supplemental program that provides help to qualified individuals by providing them with monetary assistance. To qualify for this program, you must:
- Meet specific age guidelines
- Be declared blind or have a qualifying disability
- Meet specific income and asset guidelines
In general, it is much more difficult to get SSI than SSDI. This is because it is a need-based program and requires you to have few assets and very little money to pay your bills. It provides for the basic necessities of recipients.
For a free legal consultation with a social security disability lawyer serving Cleveland County, call 828.286.3866
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits is a Complex Process
Completing and submitting your application for benefits can be a long and tiresome process. When you are ready to apply for benefits, your Social Security Disability attorney can help you build and validate your claim. With our help, you can submit the required documentation, which may include:
- A copy of your birth certificate
- Proof of your citizenship
- Military discharge papers
- W-2 forms or tax records
You will also be asked for proof of paychecks or any award letters, pay stubs, settlement agreements, or other benefits you qualified for and received. Our disability lawyers at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, will show you how to apply for benefits. We will also show you how to file an effective appeal if your initial application for benefits in Cleveland County was denied.
Prove You Have a Qualifying Disability
To establish proof of your current medical disability and prognosis, you must compile a wide range of paperwork according to SSA guidelines. When our team represents you, we can help you submit the following medical information:
- Medical records
- Treatment dates
- Lab and test results
- Complete medication list
This information is required from every health care provider, prescriber, or facility where you received care. SSA administrators will also need their complete contact information. We can help you compile this information along with proof of your employers and job descriptions for the 15 years before the onset of your disabling injury or illness.
Our Clients are Our Priority
In addition to helping clients collect SSD benefits, our team guides injured clients through the entire application and appeals process. Social Security Disability clients we have helped in the past said:
- “Andrea stuck with me to the end. I could always get through to her. Her staff was great and would always get right back with me. I wasn’t just “a file in a cabinet” and I was treated as if I was the only client.” – Lavonda
- “Andrea made me feel very comfortable… She is very thorough and kept me well-informed of what to expect. She was always available if I had questions concerning my case and she did not make me feel like I was bothering her. Thank you, Andrea!” – Debbie
- “Andrea Farmer was very professional and was very instrumental in helping me get my Social Security Disability and helping me draw up my power of attorney and will. I would strongly recommend her for any legal issues I would have.” – Douglas
When you trust us with your case, we’ll do everything possible to create a responsive, supportive atmosphere and ensure you get the benefits you and your family deserve. You can read more reviews, testimonials, and referrals from happy clients on our testimonials page.
We understand how important SSDI or SSI benefits can be to your family. We know it is frustrating and stressful when you cannot work and earn a living to take care of those you love. We will fight for the disability benefits we believe you need and deserve. You can count on our team to help file your claim, challenge a denial, or deal with other concerns you have about your application.
Cleveland County Social Security Disability Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866
What If I Received a Denial Notice?
For some, we are able to review your claim for a Social Security Disability program before you file. However, many clients call us after the Social Security Administration denies their application. Receiving a denial is far more common than many people realize. In fact, a majority of first-time applicants are initially denied by the disability examiners who make determinations of approval.
We can help well-qualified claimants who received a denial challenge the SSA and fight for the benefits they need and deserve. This requires us to file an appeal and navigate some or all the following steps:
- Asking for reconsideration
- Requesting a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge
- Filing a review with the Appeals Council
- Taking the case to federal court
In most cases, we only need to go through one or two of these steps for our clients. We investigate the concerns with their application and strive to make them right. Often, these denials occur for a technical reason, such as missing information or an incorrect birthdate or Social Security number. In others, the disability examiner needs more information to determine if you qualify medically or financially.
Our team gathers and submits the necessary information and asks the SSA to approve the claim. When successful, this will mean the client can begin drawing monthly benefits from the Social Security Administration. They will also receive backpay for the time when their claim was wrongfully denied. Our attorney’s fees come out of this backpay, never the client’s own account.
Get Help from Our Social Security Disability Attorneys in Cleveland County Today
Our Social Security Disability attorneys who serve clients in Cleveland County can help you get the benefits you need to support yourself and your family. Do not wait to apply for benefits or to file a disability appeal. Instead, review your eligibility and options by contacting us today. We will discuss your case with you for free.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC at (828) 286-3866 today.
Call or text 828.286.3866 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form