HUNTSVILLE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY - FREE INFO
Sponsored by The Forsythe Firm of Huntsville (256) 799-0297, www.Get-SS.com
Basic Qualifications: You May Qualify for Social Security Disability if
- You have a serious impairment that has lasted at least 12 months or is expected to last that long.
- You have worked at least 5 out of the previous 10 year period.
- You are getting medical evaluations and/or treatment (have medical records)
- You are not working at substantial gainful activity (Full-time work or equivalent)
Steps in Getting Approved for Disability
- Apply either directly to Social Security or have your legal representative file for you.
- Initial decisions usually take 3 to 4 months.
- Appeal an unfavorable decision with 60 days (Your representative can do this for you).
Amount of Your Monthly Benefit
The amount of your monthly benefit depends on your age, your earnings record and how much FICA tax you have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund. The average monthly benefit in 2014 is around $1,150 per month. The maximum benefit is about $2,642 per month. Individuals who are blind may be entitled to higher benefit amounts.
How Are Legal Representatives Paid?
An attorney or non-attorney representative will only charge you a fee if your case is successful and you recover retroactive or "past due" benefits. Fees are governed by regulations of the Social Security Administration. If your representative is eligible for Direct Fee Withholding, Social Security will withhold the approved fee and pay the representative directly. If you do not win, or if you do not receive any past due benefits, there will not be a fee for representation.
What Are My Odds of Winning Social Security Disability?
Every case is different. A case may have very high odds of being approved, or very low odds, depending on the medical evidence, age of the claimant, education, work experience, functional limitations, and other factors. Looking strictly at statistics, about 24 percent of claims in Alabama are approved at the initial or application level. Approximately one-half of all claims filed are approved at the appeal level. Over 90 percent of claimants at the appeal level are professionally represented.
What Happens at a Social Security Disability Hearing?
The claimant and his/her representative meet with a federal administrative law judge (ALJ) in a closed hearing (no spectators). Usually, Social Security has called a vocational rehabilitation counselor (vocational expert) to provide testimony. The ALJ will question the claimant then allow the representative to question the claimant. The judge will then take testimony from the vocational witness concerning the claimant's past relevant work history. The ALJ will then give one or more hypothetical scenarios which place different limitations on the claimant's ability to perform work related activities. The vocational expert will then be asked if there are any jobs in the national, regional or local economy that such an individual could perform based on his/her age, education, work history and functional limitations. This may include past work or "other work." To be approved, the claimant must demonstrate that he/she cannot perform any past relevant work and also that he/she cannot perform any other work that exists in significant numbers in the national, regional or local economy.
What Factors Are Vital to A Successful Disability Hearing?
Well Developed Medical Evidence (Doctor's records, opinions, etc.)
Complete, Detailed Work History
Documentation of physical and mental limitations
THE FORSYTHE FIRM*
(256) 799-0297
The Forsythe Firm, Huntsville, Alabama is a privately owned professional firm which is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US Social Security Administration. (The Social Security Administration does not endorse, approve or commission any law firm or non-attorney advocacy firm).
Mission Statement: To help truly disabled individuals with the complicated process of getting Social Security disability benefits.
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