If you’re unable to work due to a medical condition, you may qualify for disability through the Social Security Administration. Disability benefits provide a crucial line of support to many individuals and their families. But many people who are eligible for disability find the task of applying to be difficult. There is a lot of work and time involved, in addition to knowing and understanding the rules. The claimant may be too sick to apply him- or herself, and may need assistance from another individual. Fortunately, a Mobile, AL disability benefits attorney can assist you or your loved one with the application process.
There are two disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration: Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). They are similar, but there are some important differences between the two. Your first step is to review the programs with your Mobile, AL lawyer, who can advise as to your eligibility. Your attorney can then initiate your claim by helping you file the necessary paperwork for either of these online.
If a third party, such as a lawyer, helps with your claim, Social Security will follow up with that person. The purpose is to validate that the individual is authorized to represent you. Social Security will want a signature from you to show this. You can use Form SSA-1696 (Appointment of Representative) to designate an official representative to speak on your behalf.
A lawyer need not be the individual who helps with your application process. Some claimants have a social worker or other advocate help with their request. Be sure to explore your options and that the person who represents you is someone you are comfortable with.
Medical records will need to be obtained to substantiate your illness claims. Obtaining these can be a time-consuming process, and some applicants are simply too ill to take on the task. You can therefore sign a medical privacy release form to allow your lawyer to access these documents. Your lawyer should review the records themselves to determine if additional testing is needed to support your claim.
Some applicants are rejected and wish to appeal their case. The first step is what is known as reconsideration. If your claim is denied, and your reconsideration fails, you can request a hearing within 60 days. An applicant may be too sick to participate in their own hearing. Social Security knows this, and allows the claimant to designate someone to attend the hearing on their behalf. This may be an attorney but can also be an advocate, social worker, or other qualified individual. Ask your Mobile, AL disability benefits attorney about the steps needed to have someone go to the hearing for you.
You may need witnesses to appear at your hearing to testify on your behalf. Contacting these witnesses and preparing them can be challenging for someone who is sick. A Mobile, AL disability benefits lawyer can assist with this process, and help determine which witnesses are helpful or not.
We Can Help You With All Aspects of Your Disability Application Process
The Social Security Administration will not go out of its way to find people needing benefits. It is up to the individual claimants to seek them. If you or a loved one need help with the process, it is important to reach out. Let Ascend Disability Lawyers, LLC work with you. We know how the disability programs work and we know how to apply for them. Don’t miss the chance to start receiving the compensation you deserve. Give our social security disability law firm a call today and let us get started on your claim.
