Social Security Disability FAQs

Under Social Security rules, you’re only considered disabled (and qualify for disability benefits) if a medical condition or injury is expected to keep you from working for at least 12 months. The disability can be a physical condition, a mental condition, or a combination of both. A disability attorney can help you determine your eligibility and compile a compelling case. If you need help applying or appealing for disability benefits, let our attorneys help. Call us today.

Social Security determines whether you’re disabled by reviewing your medical and employer records. Often these records extend back a year or more, so it’s important to start gathering documentation well ahead of any appeals or hearings. Because doctors don’t always know what constitutes a disability, we make sure they describe and present your information in a way that makes sense to the Social Security Administration. At the law office of Pilzer Klein, we’ll help you collect, organize and evaluate your records to maximize your chance of success.

Almost any medical condition that keeps you from working will qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security rules. Contact us today. We’ll arrange a FREE evaluation of your claim to find out if you qualify for benefits.

First, be honest and thorough when reporting your condition to Social Security. People are sometimes embarrassed to report psychological difficulties or learning disabilities, even though both can be important factors in receiving benefits. A lawyer can also vastly improve your chances; Social Security’s own numbers show that people with legal counsel are much more likely to win benefits. Call our office at 864-214-7944. We’d be happy to talk.

• Failing to Hire a Lawyer can be a costly mistake. The Social Security Administration rejects most initial claims, but eventually approves most of those represented by counsel.
• Waiting Too Long to File—Delays tend to lessen your chances of winning benefits.
• Application Errors—Your disability application should be filled out carefully and should include your recent work history, salary information, and other relevant details. Minor errors often lead to applications being rejected. The executional demands of your past jobs should not be understated.
• Insufficient Proof—Be sure to visit your doctor regularly and maintain a record of the hospital visits and problems you encounter day to day. You should also keep track of all expenses related to your disability. These records will serve as proof to substantiate your claim.
• Starting Over—If your initial claim is rejected, you should appeal the decision immediately. Many people make the mistake of filing a new application, which only causes delay.

Give us a call at 864-214-7944. If you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits but your application was denied, we’ll help you identify the reasons and craft a legal strategy to win your appeal.

It could be any number of reasons. Many doctors don’t know how the Social Security Administration defines a disabling condition, and so don’t always report your case in the way the SSA can understand. Pilzer Klein can help. Call today.

A vocational expert is someone trained in the types of jobs available in the market and the skills and physical demands required in each job. They provide a crucial part of the testimony at your disability hearing when you’re appealing a denial of benefits—an opinion on whether you’re able to work in your past job, or any other jobs.

Social Security Disability benefits are typically paid to disabled people who have worked in the past and, therefore, have paid Social Security taxes from their paychecks. Basically, Social Security Disability is an insurance program that people purchase as they work. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are for disabled people with little income and few resources. For SSI, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve worked in the past. Benefits are paid according to financial need. Some people qualify for both programs, some for neither, and some for one or the other.

Contact our office today. The issues involved in an appeals hearing are far more complex than your initial filing. This is one of the most important moments in your benefits claim, so it’s critical that both you and your evidence are prepared for the hearing. We can help, call us now.

Extremely. All of our attorneys devote the vast majority of their time to disability cases. All of the attorneys at Pilzer Klein have taken thousands of cases through the appeals process.

If you don’t win benefits, you pay only the cost of obtaining medical records; we don’t charge for legal or staff time. If you win, the most it could cost is 25 percent of the past-due benefits due to you or your children under eighteen, with a maximum fee of $6,000.Call us today for a FREE evaluation of your claim.