SOCIAL SECURITY DISABIILTY: IMPROVING YOUR CHANCES
Too many individuals skimp on the Social Security paperwork when applying for disability. Let's be honest, the forms are long, difficult and confusing. It takes hours to complete them correctly. It's easier just to ignore them, or maybe worse yet, fill them out hurriedly and carelessly.
But this come back to haunt you when your claim is denied and goes to appeal before an administrative law judge.
Once a form has been completed and placed in your file at Social Security, it stays there almost forever. It follows you into your appeal, appears at your hearing, and testifies FOR you or AGAINST you for years to come. What goes into those forms needs to be thought about very carefully. The forms need to be truthful, accurate and complete.
I remember my high school Algebra class. The teacher would usually assign about 15 problems for homework. I would complete the easy problems and skip the difficult ones. Needless to say, I wasn't an honor student. But I hate to see applicants for Social Security do that. I don't think they realize how much it hurts their chance of being approved.
Best bet for completing a Social Security disability application, and the tons of forms that go with it?
EXAMPLE: Ms. Applicant comes to our office. We sit down and interview her in detail. We believe she may qualify for disability benefits, so we help her complete all her application forms. We file the application for her. We assist Social Security in obtaining all medical records. We will answer all of Ms. Applicant's questions about the process. Three months later, Ms. Applicant receives a notice that her Social Security disability claim has been approved and she will begin receiving a monthly check in about two months. What is our fee? ZERO. There is no fee at all.
Do all our clients get approved on the first try? Of course not. But we do everything in our power to improve their odds. And if they win within the first few months, we do not charge a fee because no back pay is involved.
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
HUNTSVILLE . MADISON . ATHENS . CULLMAN
(256) 799-0297
SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE
But this come back to haunt you when your claim is denied and goes to appeal before an administrative law judge.
Once a form has been completed and placed in your file at Social Security, it stays there almost forever. It follows you into your appeal, appears at your hearing, and testifies FOR you or AGAINST you for years to come. What goes into those forms needs to be thought about very carefully. The forms need to be truthful, accurate and complete.
I remember my high school Algebra class. The teacher would usually assign about 15 problems for homework. I would complete the easy problems and skip the difficult ones. Needless to say, I wasn't an honor student. But I hate to see applicants for Social Security do that. I don't think they realize how much it hurts their chance of being approved.
Best bet for completing a Social Security disability application, and the tons of forms that go with it?
- If possible, have an experienced Social Security disability attorney sit down with you and help fill out the forms.
- If you don't wish to do this, at least have a family member who is very familiar with your disability and your daily habits help.
- Don't rush through the forms. Take one form at a time. Finish it slowly, accurately and completely. Take a few days to complete the form if you need to. Haste makes waste, it's true. Completing the form is not the goal. Completing the form fully, accurately and completely is the goal.
- Have someone else review the form before you submit it to Social Security. Check for errors, things you left out, things you don't make clear.
EXAMPLE: Ms. Applicant comes to our office. We sit down and interview her in detail. We believe she may qualify for disability benefits, so we help her complete all her application forms. We file the application for her. We assist Social Security in obtaining all medical records. We will answer all of Ms. Applicant's questions about the process. Three months later, Ms. Applicant receives a notice that her Social Security disability claim has been approved and she will begin receiving a monthly check in about two months. What is our fee? ZERO. There is no fee at all.
Do all our clients get approved on the first try? Of course not. But we do everything in our power to improve their odds. And if they win within the first few months, we do not charge a fee because no back pay is involved.
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
HUNTSVILLE . MADISON . ATHENS . CULLMAN
(256) 799-0297
SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE
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