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The Social Security Administration denies more than two-thirds of all initial claims for Social Security disability benefits. At this point, claimants have the option of either filing a new claim or appealing their denial. Ocala disability attorneys advise claimants to appeal their denials because chances of success are much higher during the appeals process. Deadline to Appeal a Denied Claim Claimants generally have 60 days from the date of the receipt of their denial to appeal their claim. The SSA grants a 5 days grace period because there is a presumption that decisions are received five days from the date on the face of the decision. When the claimant is appealing an ALJ denial to the Appeals Council after there…Read More

One of the most important factors that the Social Security disability examiner will consider in determining whether to award you disability benefits is your doctor’s opinion regarding your medical condition. Your Ocala disability lawyer will assist your treating physician in providing the necessary detailed information and will address any questions or concerns your doctor may have. The following are some common concerns that doctors have. Work-Related Activities A common concern of most treating physicians is that they will harm the patient’s chances of getting disability benefits if they provide information that will show that he/she is capable of doing some work-related activities. Your Ocala disability lawyer will address this concern by assuring your doctor that it will it not harm…Read More

The Social Security disability claims process is very complex. In order to qualify for disability benefits, claimants must meet certain requirements as set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The help of an Ocala disability attorney can be very useful in meeting these requirements to get Social Security disability benefits. The Duration Requirement One of the requirements that claimants must satisfy is the duration requirement. In order to satisfy this requirement, the medical impairment must either be expected to result in death or must have lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months. The majority of claimants suffering from severe conditions do not usually have a difficult time meeting this requirement. An Ocala disability attorney…Read More

One of the most important factors in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) disability determination is whether your statements are consistent. This is precisely why you should consult with a Florida disability lawyer prior to filing your claim and getting adequate help to prepare your application. The disability examiner will evaluate the consistency of your statements in describing your pain and other symptoms in your application for benefits, to your doctors, and to anyone else you speak with. If the disability examiner finds any inconsistent statements, it will be a red flag that you are being untruthful about your medical impairment and/or the extent of your pain and symptoms. As such, your Florida disability lawyer will advise you to be honest…Read More

When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, one of the preliminary factors that the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers in determining whether you are eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits is whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. To determine substantial gainful activity, the SSA evaluates the claimant’s wages and the nature of his or her medical condition.  An Ocala, Florida Social Security attorney will help you determine whether you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. What Is Substantial Gainful Activity? Substantial gainful activity is determined by how much the claimant is earning per month while applying for Social Security disability benefits. As of 2013, if a claimant earns more than $1,040 in a month, he or…Read More

Social Security disability lawyers see it too often: People applying for Social Security disability benefits fail to appeal when they are turned down. Ocala, FL Did you know that most people do not appeal their initial denial of benefits? That is a costly oversight that attorneys don’t want you to make. When your application is denied, you have the right to request a hearing and take it to the next step in the process. Here is a second, major flub that some disability claimants make: failing to seek appropriate medical care. People just give up sometimes and don’t feel doctors can help them anymore. This is particularly true of those who are chronically ill or permanently injured. They feel helpless…Read More

An important factor in the Social Security disability claims process is the claimant’s credibility in front of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability examiner. To remain a credible claimant, it is highly advised that you hire an experienced attorney from a reputable Ocala Social Security disability appeal law firm to advise you and guide you through the disability claims process. The first step in the Social Security disability determination process is for the SSA examiner to establish that you have a medically determinable impairment that is associated with certain symptoms. Once this is established, the examiner will then need to examine the intensity and persistence of the symptoms to see whether they affect your ability to be gainfully employed. In…Read More

In order for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine whether you are able to work, it needs to first determine what you are still able to do given the limitations of your disability. This is known as your residual functional capacity, or RFC. Your Ocala, Florida Social Security appeal attorney can provide you with more information about RFC and how it will affect your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits. What Is an RFC Evaluation? RFC is an evaluation of your remaining ability to perform tasks at work, considering all of the limitations of your physical or mental impairment. The simplest way to think about this is: how much you can do, and for how long, now that you…Read More