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Posts Tagged ‘Social Security Disability Lawyer’

What Should I Expect At My Social Security Disability Hearing?

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Many Social Security Disability applicants will wait up to a year or longer for their chance to present their Social Security Disability claim to an Administrative Law Judge. All Social Security Disability denials up to this point were done by a state medical examiner who did not have the opportunity to speak with you, discuss your Social Security Disability claim with a vocational expert or hear evidence presented by your Social Security Disability lawyer.

The Social Security Disability hearing will give you an opportunity to present your Social Security Disability case in a face to face meeting with an Administrative Law Judge who is free to review all of your medical information with out prejudice or regard to other decisions made by a state medical examiner.

Most Social Security Disability hearings will be held in a small room in a court house near your residence. The Social Security Disability hearings are not open to the public, and there will not be a contentious argument between a prosecutor and defensive attorney, in fact, the state does not even have an attorney present. In most Social Security Disability Hearings there will be a calm, open discussion between all the participants. The participants will include the Administrative Law Judge, your Social Security Disability lawyer, a vocational expert and a judicial assistant who will record the hearing.

Other medical expert witnesses (psychiatrists, internists, cardiologists, orthopedists) may be requested by the Administrative Law Judge. Their purpose is to help the Administrative Law Judge understand medical aspects of your Social Security Disability case. Medical experts may be requested for Social Security Disability cases where the Social Security Disability claimant has multiple physical and mental impairments or if their medical documentation is difficult to understand or contains contradicting information.

The vocational expert is present to identify and classify the type of work you have done in the past (skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled) and if your mental or physical health condition is too severe to allow for employment in your past profession. If the vocational expert determines you cannot perform your current job, he may be able to identify additional jobs you could be retrained to perform- given your skill sets, educational level, age and job experience. The vocational experts commonly refer to the Directory of Occupational Titles to identify the requirements a person must have to engage in any job available with in the United States. If you have hired a Social Security Disability attorney, they will be able to cross examine the medical examiner and/or the vocational expert in an effort to discredit or clarify their testimony.

Many Social Security Disability claimants find the Social Security Disability hearing stressful and will become very emotional or nervous. This is normal, but if you have a good Social Security Disability attorney they will be able to prepare you for what to expect. In most hearings, the Administrative Law Judge will ask very basic background questions:  address, birth date, school background and your name. They will also ask questions about your past work experience and job responsibilities: physical and mental job requirements including your ability to stand, sit, push, pull and lift. The Administrative Law Judge will also ask specific information concerning your mental and physical health condition and any limitations you now face in daily house hold activities. The judge will use this information to determine if you are able to perform your past job or any other type of job. The most important thing to remember while testifying is to be specific, tell the truth, be descriptive and have a positive attitude.

Each Administrative Law Judge has his or her own personal style regarding testimony and questioning. Certain Administrative Law Judges will ask all of the questions themselves, while others will expect your Social Security Disability attorney to ask you all relevant questions regarding your background, medical information and job responsibilities. At the end of all of your testimony the expert witnesses (Vocational and Medical) may present their evidence and your Social Security Disability lawyer will have the chance to contradict or clarify their expert testimony.

At the end of the Social Security Disability hearing the Administrative Law Judge will hear final comments. You and your Social Security Disability attorney may be asked for closing comments. Most Social Security benefit decisions will be made by written notice four to six weeks after the administrative hearing. In a few instances, the Administrative Law Judge may present the decision at the close of the hearing, but this will be the exception.

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Addison’s Disease and Disability

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Addison’s disease is also called adrenal insufficiency, adrenocortical hypofunction, and hypocortisolism.  Addison’s disease is a disease that affects your adrenal glands.  Your adrenal glands are located right above your kidneys.  The outside layer of these glands make hormones that help your body regulate your salt and water balance and your blood pressure.  These hormones also help your body respond to stress.  Addison’s disease occurs when your adrenal glands do not make enough of these hormones.

     If you, your spouse, or your child with disability has been diagnosed with Addison’s disease, you may be in need of financial help.  This may be especially true if Addison’s disease has become so serious a problem that it is the reason for the disability of you, your spouse, or your child with disability.

     In fact, you may have applied for a social security disability benefit or disability benefit from the social security administration because of the disability caused by Addison’s disease. 

     If you were denied, and are planning on reapplying or appealing the denial by the social security administration, you will need the help and skill of an experienced disability lawyer who will work with you through this involved procedure.

     This is a Web site where you can find a capable disability lawyer.  The expert disability lawyer who will work with you or your spouse through SocialSecurityHome.com can assist you in reapplying or appealing the denial for a social security disability benefit or disability benefit for you, your spouse, or your child with disability because of the disability caused by Addison’s disease.

     It will be good for you to know what you can about Addison’s disease.  The more you know about the condition that you have, the better prepared you will be to deal and get help with Addison’s disease.

     Addison’s disease is the failure of your adrenal glands to produce certain hormones.  These hormones give instructions to nearly every tissue and organ in your body.  Cortisol is one of the hormones not produced sufficiently in Addison’s disease.  Aldosterone is another hormone that there is too little of.

     Addison’s disease can happen at any age of life.  It usually occurs, however, in people between the ages of 30 and 50.

     The symptoms and signs of Addison’s disease may appear slowly over a period of several months.  Some of these indications of Addison’s disease are:

  • Craving salt
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Muscle fatigue and weakness
  • Decreased appetite and weight loss
  • Low blood pressure and possible fainting
  • Skin darkening (hyperpigmentation).

There are times, however, when the signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease can manifest themselves suddenly.  This happens with acute adrenal failure (addisonian crisis).  This may involve additional signs and symptoms like:

  • Low blood pressure
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Pain in your abdomen, legs, or lower back
  • Severe diarrhea and vomiting, resulting in dehydration.

     The most usual cause of Addison’s disease is the body attacking itself (autoimmune disease).  For some unknown reason your immune system looks at the outer layer (cortex) of your adrenal glands that produces essential hormones as something foreign to be attacked and destroyed.  Other possible causes of Addison’s disease are:

  • Cancer spread to the adrenal glands
  • Tuberculosis
  • Bleeding into the adrenal glands
  • Other infections of the adrenal glands.

The above listed things are possible causes of what doctors term primary adrenal insufficiency.  There is also what is termed secondary adrenal insufficiency.  This is caused by the failure of your pituitary gland to produce a hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce its hormones.  This can result in your adrenal cortex failing to produce its hormones even though your adrenal glands are not damaged.  This is what doctors call secondary adrenal insufficiency.  Another more likely cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency happens when you are taking corticosteroids for the treatment of chronic conditions like arthritis or asthma, and you abruptly stop taking them.

     Your doctor will probably ask you about your signs and symptoms and your medical history.  If your doctor thinks you may have Addison’s disease there are several tests you may be asked to take.  Some of these may include imaging tests, blood test, insulin-induced hypoglycemia test, and ACTH stimulation test.  All of this will help your doctor to diagnose Addison’s disease.

     Treatment for your Addison’s disease if diagnosed early may involve taking prescription corticosteroids.  Your doctor may also want you to take one or more hormones that your body is not producing sufficiently.  These are usually taken in amounts that are what the body would normally produce.  Stressful situations like an infection, minor illness, or an impending operation may require a temporary increase in your dosages.

     One of the dangers associated with Addison’s disease is an addisonian crisis.  This is a life-threatening situation that results in high blood levels of potassium, low blood pressure, and low blood sugar levels.  An addisonian crisis is usually treated with intravenous injections of saline solution, hydrocortisone, and sugar (dextrose).

     Hopefully, this information about Addison’s disease will be helpful in getting the assistance you, your spouse, or your child with disability needs because of your disability caused by Addison’s disease.

     As mentioned at the beginning, if you intend to apply for a social security disability benefit or disability benefit because of the disability caused by Addison’s disease, or you have already applied and been turned down, and you plan on reapplying or appealing the denial by the social security administration; you will need to enlist a competent disability lawyer to help and guide you through this process.

     This is the right Web site for finding a skilled disability lawyer.  The expert disability lawyer at SocialSecurityHome.com who will work with you or your spouse can help you in your claim for a social security disability benefit or disability benefit because of the disability caused by Addison’s disease.

     This is something important for you, your spouse, or your child with disability.  Do not put this off.  Contact a skilled disability lawyer at SocialSecurityHome.com today.

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How To Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

If you have become disabled and are not able to work for at least twelve months due to a physical or mental health limitation you may be eligible for Social Security Disability payments. The Social Security Administration administers two different disability programs. They are Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income.

Social Security Disability Insurance requires that you are disabled and you have worked a certain number of pay periods and paid employment taxes. When you work and pay taxes you are accumulating work credits. If you become disabled and have enough work credits accumulated you may be able to draw Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Benefits may also be available to widows, dependents and widowers.

Supplemental Security Income is the second program administered by the Social Security Administration. This program is for individuals who are aged (65 years or older), blind or individuals who have limited income and resources and are disabled and unable to work. The disability requirements that must be met for each program are the same. Limited income and resources are determined by the Social Security Administration and the amount can vary by year.

To apply for Social Security Disability benefits, both SSI and SSDI, you can contact the Social Security Administration in the following ways:

  1. Call the Social Security Administration’s Office at 1-800-772-1213
  2. Visit the Social Security Administration online at www.socialsecurity.gov and complete the Social Security Disability application.
  3. Make an appointment to meet with a Social Security Disability representative at a local Social Security Administration Office. To locate the nearest Social Security Administration office in your area go to the www.socialsecurity.gov website and find the Social Security Administration office locator page. Enter your zip code and the nearest Social Security Administration Regional Office in your area will be listed for you.
  4. After you have met with a SSA representative or filled out the Social Security Disability Application on line your completed Social Security Disability application will be sent to the appropriate Social Security Administration Office. It may take 30-90 days for your Social Security Disability application to be processed. If you are denied Social Security Disability benefits, they will send you a denial letter in the mail. You have 60 days from the date of the denial letter to file your Social Security Disability benefits. If you are approved for Social Security Disability benefits they will send you a letter outlining the Social Security Disability benefits you can expect to receive and the date you will receive them.

If you are applying for Social Security Disability Benefits or if you have questions regarding Social Security Disability benefits, you can contact a Social Security Disability lawyer who can answer all of your Social Security Disability questions. If you have been denied benefits a Social Security Disability Attorney can also help with each phase of the Social Security Disability appeals process and increase your chances for getting benefits.

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