The Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs are the largest of the Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program. Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income pays benefits based on financial need.

The process for obtaining disability benefits is sometimes a long and confusing one. While it is not necessary to have a representative, it can be very beneficial. We will assist you with all stages of your claim, including representing you at administrative hearings. In preparation for your administrative hearing, we will explain what issues are most important and will prepare you for the questions that the Judge is likely to ask.

We will assist you with the routine matters on your claim, such as helping you file your appeals on time and assisting you in completing standard Social Security questionnaires. We will obtain your doctors’ records, as well as reports and medical questionnaires from your doctors concerning your medical condition, symptoms and limitations. We are experienced in reading medical records and understanding the nature of complex diseases and injuries. We know what information is important to obtain from your doctors. We can help the Administrative Law Judge assigned to your claim understand these issues and help you tell “your story”.

Additionally, we have a highly skilled staff that is dedicated to keeping your claim running smoothly. They are able to quickly and knowledgeably answer your questions. Although hiring an attorney will not necessarily speed the process, we regularly follow the status of your claim to be sure it is being processed properly.