Social Security Disability and SSI Claims and Your Need for Representation
To receive Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits, you must have physical or mental/emotional problems (or a combination of problems) severe enough to keep you from working in any regular paying job for at least 12 consecutive months. The test is not whether or not you are able to go back to your old job; and the test is not whether or not you have been able to find a job lately. Rather, the test is whether you are capable of doing jobs available in the national economy. By using an extensive set of regulations, the Social Security Administration will take into account your medical condition, your age, your abilities, training and work experience in deciding your case.
CALL US AND WE CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER YOU MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY (SSD) BENEFITS OR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI).
For over 28 years DIAMOND LAW OFFICES has been handling Social Security Disability Benefits and SSI claims, successfully obtaining favorable decisions and millions of dollars in monetary benefits for professional and nonprofessional workers – inclusive of firefighters, police officers, correction officers, executives, clerical workers, teachers, factory workers, office workers, secretaries, sales personnel, postal workers, secretaries, self-employed workers, etc. – who are no longer able to work due to disabling injuries or conditions, and who are/will be unable to work for at least 12 consecutive months. In many cases we can obtain for you an expedited favorable decision, without your even having to appear at a hearing.
We would like to get a favorable decision for you on your Social Security Disability Benefits or SSI claim, but can only do that if you call DIAMOND LAW OFFICES to represent you.
Disability under the rules of the Social Security Administration is an injury or disability that causes you to be unable to perform any type of gainful employment for at least 12 months consecutively, or an injury or disability that is expected to result in death.
Consult with us on your Social Security Disability Benefits or SSI claim to find out if you might be entitled to monetary benefits for your disabling injury or conditions. We also handle all types of personal injury cases, including automobile accidents, slip and fall cases, premises cases, malpractice, products liability, etc. See relevant pages of this Website for more details regarding same.
As a result of our success in the handling of these claims, as well as the personal attention given to these claims and to our clients, we have a history of very satisfied clients who have remained like family with us over the years, coming back whenever they have any type of legal question or case, and referring their family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances. Why not join them? Just call: DIAMOND LAW OFFICES at (516)228-0820 for your FREE CONSULTATION 24 Hours a day, 7 Days a Week.
This page answers important questions for people who are disabled and wish to file for Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits. If you ever have questions as to whether you might be entitled to Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits, call immediately for a Free Consultation.
HOW DO I FILE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?
Initially a claim has to be filed with the Social Security Administration for benefits. Much is done at this initial level of your claim, i.e.: forms need to be completed; treatment records and reports need to be submitted; you will probably have to appear for a physical examination(s) [or psych examination(s), if applicable to your claim], by doctors assigned to examine you, etc. Then your disability claim at the initial level is decided. It can be a denial of your claim, or a granting of your claim.
YOU SHOULD CONTACT THIS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY TO HANDLE YOUR CLAIM FOR YOU. YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY FULLY EXPERIENCED IN SUCCESSFULLY HANDLING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLAIMS. YOU DO NOT WANT TO ATTEMPT TO HANDLE THE CLAIM ON YOUR OWN. REMEMBER, IF WE ARE RETAINED TO HANDLE THE CLAIM AND ARE UNSUCCESSFUL, THEN YOU PAY NO ATTORNEY FEE. YOU ONLY PAY AN ATTORNEY FEE IF WE RECOVER BENEFITS FOR YOU. ***
WHAT DO I DO IF MY CLAIM IS DENIED AT THAT INITIAL LEVEL?
If your claim gets denied at the initial level, you will have 60 days to appeal it to the Hearings level.
Many people become disheartened after they receive a disability benefits denial notice on their initial claim and do not pursue their disability claims. This is very often a mistake. Nationally approximately 65% of all applicants are denied benefits on their initial claim, yet many of them -- especially the ones whose claims are being handled by experienced and successful attorneys such as us, go on to win their claims at the Hearings level.
The best time to retain us is before you do anything on your own regarding the commencement of your Social Security Disability Benefits or SSI claim.
However, if you have already handled the initial level of the claim on your own, and are denied; it may still not be too late to contact us. Call us for a consultation to discuss if we can handle the appeal to the Hearings level, and to the Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review [formerly known as the Office of Hearings & Appeals].
HOWEVER, YOU MUST CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF THAT FIRST DENIAL, AS THE APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DENIAL, OR YOU COULD LOSE YOUR RIGHTS, OR SOME OF YOUR RIGHTS, TO THAT CLAIM.
We have been extremely successful in obtaining favorable decisions and awards of monetary benefits for most of out clients on our Appeals to the Hearings/Adjudication and Review level, despite denials at the initial level of the claims; and often can obtain an expedited favorable decision and benefits award before the need for any Administrative Law Judge Hearing and, thus, before the need for you to be physically present for any such Hearing.
This is why our past Social Security Disability Benefits clients come back to us; and why they refer their friends, coworkers, family members and acquaintances to us to handle not only their Social Security Disability Benefits claims; but also their Accident and Personal Injury cases, etc.; -- all of which we have successfully handled for over 28+ years, with hundreds of very satisfied clients. We take a personal interest in you and in your claims. We take the burden off of you in our handling of the claims, and work toward expeditiously obtaining a favorable decision and an award of monetary benefits for you.
WHAT IF I DO NEED A HEARING?
If you do need a Hearing, the Hearing will be conducted by the Office of Disability Adjudication & Review [formerly known as the Office of Hearings & Appeals] of the Social Security Administration. This is not the same person(s) who denied your initial level application. The Hearing is a crucial step of the Appeal process. Your appearance and testimony will be required at the Hearing. Although an Administrative Law Judge will preside at the Hearing, and testimony is taken under oath, the Hearing is generally informal. Strict rules of evidence do not apply. The Hearing is private. The only people present will be the Judge, the Judge's assistant, you, your attorney, and any witnesses you may want to present. Occasionally, the Judge may ask a medical consultant or a "vocational expert" to testify about your ability to work. Medical records will be accepted as evidence. You will be asked about your present medical condition, medical history, abilities, education, training, work experience and the limitations in your daily life caused by your disability. The Judge’s decision on your claim is usually received in writing within 60 days of the Hearing.
Often, as indicated above, DIAMOND LAW OFFICES can get you a favorable decision and an award of monetary benefits before the necessity of a Hearing; and before the necessity of your even having to appear before, or personally testify before, an Administrative Law Judge.
DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY AND WHEN?
You should contact us to represent you as early as possible in handling a claim for Social Security Disability or SSI benefits -- the best time being before your initial application – so that we can use our experience to handle the entire claim properly from its commencement; giving you as much better chance of a favorable decision on your claim. Statistics have shown that people represented by knowledgeable and experienced attorneys have been successful more than people without legal representation.
This office is experienced and knowledgeable in the very successful handling of these claims for over 28 years.
There is no attorneys fee if we are unsuccessful in obtaining a favorable decision for you.**
Call us at (516) 228-0820 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your FREE CONSULTATION, or for more information.
**Client remains responsible for payment of expenses to obtain their treatment and test records and reports from their treatment sources [i.e.: doctors/hospitals, etc.]; and remains responsible for reimbursement of attorney expenses disbursements incurred in the handling of their claim [i.e.: postage/photocopies, etc.]