Resources

If you have been through the hearing level of appeal and still received a denial of your claim for disability benefits, you may want to ask your Ocala Social Security disability claims attorney about the possibility of appealing to the next level: federal court. Be aware that there are only two arguments that will have any merit at this level of appeal: either the judge’s decision is not supported by substantial evidence or the judge made a legal error. You and your Ocala Social Security disability claims attorney will have to figure out if you can make a compelling case for one of these arguments. Finding Substantial Evidence The role of the federal court is to review the evidence that…Read More

If you have appealed your disability claim to the hearing level before an administrative law judge, you may receive notice that an expert witness is going to testify at your hearing. This is common in Ocala Social Security disability cases; in fact, nearly three quarters of all hearings have testimony by an expert. Sometimes the administrative law judge finds one of the issues in your case unclear and wants to hear from either a vocational expert or a medical expert, such as a doctor or psychologist, about the issue. It is far more common for vocational experts to testify in disability hearings than medical experts. Your Ocala Social Security disability attorney will explain to you what the medical expert will…Read More

Social Security disability claimants often assume that they simply need to supply the Social Security Administration with their medical records to move their cases forward. It's often not as simple as that. The SSA often requests claimants to submit to consultative examinations. An Ocala Social Security disability benefits attorney can help you prepare for one to keep your case moving along. What Is a Consultative Examination? A consultative examination is a mental or physical examination that's used to obtain medical evidence to help prove or disprove whether a claimant qualifies for Social Security disability benefits. If you're still at the pre-hearing phase, it may be set up by the examiner who's in charge of your claim for the state. At…Read More

Giving credible testimony at the Social Security disability hearing is crucial. If you aren't able to accurately express that you are suffering from chronic pain and other limitations that severely impede your ability to work, the administrative law judge may deny your request for disability benefits. Prior to the hearing, the Ocala Social Security disability claim lawyer representing you will explain what to expect and the most effective way to answer the judge's questions. Guidelines to Follow While Answering Questions at the Disability Hearing Your statements need to be consistent with the information provided in the medical documents. The administrative law judge will review your responses to the questions in the application and throughout the claims process. The treating physician's…Read More

People with drug or alcohol problems sometimes wonder if they might be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. An Ocala Social Security disability lawyer can tell you that drug or alcohol addiction might be a factor in deciding your eligibility. In short, you will not qualify for Social Security disability benefits if your addiction is found to be a “contributing factor material to the determination of disability.” How Addiction Is Determined by the Social Security Administration Here is how the process works: Your claim will be evaluated according to the five-step sequential evaluation process that every claim for disability benefits goes through. If the Social Security Administration finds you not disabled at any one of the steps, that is…Read More

The requirements to be found eligible for Social Security disability vary somewhat depending on your age as an Ocala Social Security disability law office will tell you. The following information is for claimants who are under the age of 50. Claimants in this category must be able to prove that they cannot do a wide range of sedentary work. Your Ocala Social Security disability lawyer can defined sedentary work for you, but it generally means work that requires: Periods of sitting for a combined total of roughly six hours out of an eight-hour workday; Periods of standing or walking that take up no more than two hours of an eight-hour workday; Occasional carrying of small items such as ledges or…Read More

According to the Social Security Administration, the evidence presented by lay witnesses is considered important. There are, however, several administrative law judges, or ALJs, who do not give witness testimony much consideration. In fact, some ALJs appear to ignore the testimony and evidence presented by lay witnesses, and neglect to mention either live or written testimony, no matter how important, in their final decisions. There are instances in which federal courts have sent such cases back to court. If there has been an Ocala Social Security disability case where the ALJ did not give proper weight to testimony given by a lay witness, a lawyer with a background in Social Security disability cases may be able to appeal the ALJ's…Read More

The five-step sequential evaluation process for Social Security disability benefits is not that complicated, but the fifth and final step of the process sometimes needs explanation by a Ocala Social Security disability attorney. If you are not found to be disabled at the third step of the process based on the facts of your objective medical findings, and you and your Ocala Social Security disability lawyer have passed the fourth step by proving that you cannot perform your past relevant work, your case moves onto the fifth step. This is the most complicated step. At this step, the Social Security Administration will examine whether you are capable of doing other jobs that exist in the economy given the combination of…Read More

Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is one of the most common diseases that individuals suffer. As a result, an Ocala Social Security disability law firm can tell you that an increasing number of individuals are making claims for Social Security disability benefits based on diabetes. Because the symptoms and severity of diabetes can be wide-ranging, the Social Security Administration will scrutinize these applications very closely. Symptoms for Diabetes Mellitus Explained by an Ocala Social Security Disability Law Firm Only a physician can tell you for sure whether you suffer from diabetes. However, there are common symptoms that an Ocala Social Security disability law firm sees that you and your doctor should consider: Head. You may suffer headaches, dizziness and loss…Read More

Applying for disability for your mental impairment is complicated when there is also substance use or abuse in the picture. Your Ocala Social Security disability law office will help you to understand the hurdles you may need to overcome in order to be successful. Your Ocala Social Security Disability Law Office on Symptom Complications Since symptoms of substance use can be similar to the symptoms of other mental impairments, it can be difficult for the court to determine in which category your symptoms belong. The court may ask for evidence that supports your mental impairment from before your substance use began. Your Ocala Social Security disability attorney will explain that, if it is impossible for the court to appropriately place…Read More