tuscaloosa social security disability lawyer
If you have filed a claim for Social Security Disability benefits (SSD), we can help you through this difficult time when you have lost the ability to work and earn a living. The complexity of the Social Security application and appeals process can be frustrating and confusing. At Blume & Blume, we pride ourselves in handling your SSD case with passion, integrity, and skill. We understand that your suffering is real and that you would not be seeking assistance from Social Security were it not absolutely necessary for the survival of your household.
From the outset, we will make sure your Social Security claim is in the best possible legal position for you to win your benefits and maximize your recovery. In most cases this will mean contacting your doctors and gathering all of your relevant treatment records, as well as obtaining narrative reports from your doctors regarding your treatment. We will thoroughly assess your records and present them in the light most favorable to your unique situation. We will argue your case to the Federal Administrative Law Judge about your disability, presenting your testimony in front of the Judge and cross examining the vocational and/or medical experts who testify at your hearing.
We have deliberately stayed a small firm so that we can maintain close ties to our clients. As a client of Blume & Blume, you will be able to speak directly with the attorney and staff members working on your case. You will receive personal attention and, unlike bigger firms, you claim will be handled by us. We have a dedicated staff that assists us in giving the highest degree of compassionate and professional care to your Social Security claim. Any time you want to discuss your case, you can call and schedule an appointment to sit down and meet with your lawyer at the office.
Throughout this process, we will meet with you to answer any questions you have about the process and to guide you through this difficult time. At some firms handling Social Security Disability cases, you do not meet or speak with your attorney until the day of the hearing. That is not the case with Blume & Blume – we don’t do business that way.
Please call to schedule a free initial consultation: (205)-556-6712
social security disability - the application process
Northport Social Security Disability Lawyer
If you become unable to work due to an injury, illness or disease, you may qualify for income and/or medical coverage benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). To qualify for these benefits, you must prove that your condition has either prevented you from working for at least one year, or that it is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months.
The Social Security Disablity Evaluation Process
When the SSA evaluates your SSD claim, the first thing they determine is whether you are currently working. In order to qualify for benefits, your current work earnings must be under the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level that SSA considers full-time work. Currently, this means that if you earn over $1000 per month, you will not qualify for disability benefits. If you are working and are earning less than $1000 per month, SSA may still consider the kind of work you are doing, as well as the amount you are working and earning as factors in determining whether you are disabled. In most cases, you cannot continue to work and seek Social Security Disability benefits.
Once the SSA is convinced that you are no longer currently working, they will determine whether you have any physical or mental impairment that they consider to be “severe.” A severe impairment is one that causes interference with basic work activities. In order to have your case considered, you must have at least one impairment that SSA considers to be “severe.”
After the SSA determines that you are not working and that you have at least one severe impairment, the remainder of the evaluation process involves determining specifically how your impairment(s) affect your ability to do the kind of work you have done in the past and, depending on your age, how it would affect your ability to work in other jobs. In some cases, if your condition meets certain specific medical criteria, your case can be won without consideration of your past work and other jobs, but those situations are rare. In the vast majority of cases, success or failure depends upon the outcome of a complicated analysis and specific impairment-related limitations and determinations.
The Initial Application Process – We Can Help!
Tuscaloosa Social Security Disability Attorney
The SSA Initial Application Process requires that an applicant navigate a complex labyrinth of laws, rules and regulations. You will be ask to fill out several lengthy questionnaires in which you will be expected to describe, in detail, virtually every aspect of your day-to-day life. This paper work nightmare is designed to frustrate and demean the disabled worker. Repeated questions on different pages and forms are designed to encourage slight variations that the SSA will later say supports a determination that you haven’t been truthful.
The Initial Application Process is designed to result in denials in the vast majority of cases at the end of three to six months of frustration and aggravation. Do not gamble your future and attempt to navigate the Initial Application Process alone. Let the attorneys and staff at Blume & Blume assist you with the Initial Application Process.
If You Have Been Denied – Don’t Quit! We Can Help!
West Alabama Social Security Disability Lawyer
The denial letter sent out by the SSA can be demoralizing, often indicated that they think that your problems aren’t a big deal and you just need to quit being lazy and get up off the couch and back to work. At Blume & Blume, we understand that losing your ability to work is the hardest thing you’ve ever confronted. The loss of the ability to provide for your family and yourself is not a choice that you have made voluntarily, but rather is the unfortunate result of you having been a victim of bad circumstances.
If you have been denied by the SSA, you should not give up. Let the attorneys and staff at Blume & Blume appeal your case for a hearing before a Federal Administrative Law Judge.
what to do when you are denied social security disability benefits?
Tuscaloosa Social Security Disability Lawyer
The denial rates at the various stages of the Social Security Disability Process are both startling and appalling. Over the past few decades, the number of applications received by the Social Security Administration has greatly increased. The number of SSA staff members processing these claims has not grown in any way near the same proportion. Moreover, the philosophy of the Social Security Administration is to deny benefits and prolong the process in the hope that increasing financial pressures will force you back into the work force. Discouraged by dealing with unsympathetic and uncaring bureaucrats, many people return to work when they are simply no longer capable of doing so, often to their peril and detriment.
The attorneys and staff at Blume & Blume can help you from the beginning of the process. We can reduce your stress, often eliminate much time and enhance the probability of approval. On the other hand, for those of you have already begun the process and are appealing the claim, let us out our 30+ years of experience to work making sure that your case is presented in the most favorable light.
If your Social Security Disability claim has been denied, contact Blume & Blume for a free consultation:
appealing the denial of your claim
Social Security Appeals Lawyer – Tuscaloosa, Northport & West Alabama
If you have been denied SSD benefits, you have different options regarding how to appeal your claim. One option is called a Request for Reconsideration which must be filed within 60 days of the denial of your application. With this process, a new person with Social Security will review your claim. There is an average waiting time of 3-5 months for a ruling that either approves or denies your Request for Reconsideration. It is very rare that a Request for Reconsideration is successful. If you are not represented by an attorney at your initial application, it is important to have the help of an experienced social security disability attorney with a Request for Reconsideration.
The other appeal option is a hearing before a Federal Administrative Law Judge. The appeal paperwork for such a hearing much also be filed within 60 days of the date on the denial letter. At the hearing, you will be questioned by the Administrative Law Judge and other professionals. You will also be able to present evidence in your behalf. It is important to have a skilled and seasoned attorney prepare you for the hearing and organize your file for the hearing. At Blume & Blume, we do everything that we can to ensure that the ALJ has no surprises for you.
From the date that your case is appealed for a hearing before a Federal Administrative Law Judge, it will likely take from 12 to 18 months for a hearing to be scheduled, conducted and to receive a ruling. The attorneys and staff at Blume & Blume will do everything possible to expedite your hearing and achieve a fair and just result.
are you suffering from a chronic impairment?
Chronic Impairment Attorney Serving Tuscaloosa, Northport and West Alabama
People who suffer from a chronic impairment maybe entitled to Social Security Disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income. Chronic Impairments include many conditions such as congenital heart problems, severe diabetes, serious lung diseases, autoimmune diseases, and various types of cancer, to name a few. Any chronic condition that is expected to last or impact your life for at least 12 months and prevent you from working and earning a living could qualify you for SSD benefits.
When you are suffering from a chronic condition, the last thing that you need to face alone is the bureaucracy and red-tape of the Social Security Administration. At Blume & Blume, we truly understand the frustration, anger and other intense emotions that one can experience while going through the SSD process. It is a daunting task. After all, you’ve worked and paid into Social Security all of your life. Why does the SSA treat you so badly?
The attorney’s and staff at Blume & Blume stand ready to help you with every step of the process whether the initial application, or entering your case at the time to appeal a denial of your Chronic Impairment Claim.
For help with your SSD claim for a Chronic Impairment, contact Blume & Blume for a free consultation:
are you suffering from degenerative disc disease?
Degenerative Disc Disease lawyer in Tuscaloosa County
Degenerative Disc Disease is a normal condition that usually develops as a part of the aging process. For many people, it is not a problem. For some, it can cause severe and constant pain. The symptoms of this condition are back or neck pain, though not everyone experiences debilitating spine pain. For example, a chronic low back problem can sometimes result in excruciating pain in the hips and legs, rather than the low back itself. Some folks suffer tingling and numbness, while others experience weakness in the knees, ankles and feet. Neck pain sometimes will radiate to the shoulders, arms and hands.
If a loved one or you are suffering from degenerative disc disease that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Let the attorney’s and staff at Blume & Blume help you apply and/or appeal a denial of benefits.
If a loved one or you are suffering from degenerative disc disease and it is preventing you from being able to work, contact Northport Social Security Disability Lawyers at Blume & Blume for a Free Consultation.
mental illness
Social Security Mental Illness Disability Lawyer in Tuscaloosa County
Some people have dealt with mental illness for many years, but have been able to remain employed. For others, a mental illness develops secondary to an injury, disease or loss of physical capabilities.
In order to determine eligibility for SSD benefits due to a mental illness, a medical professional will need to assess the mental capabilities of the claimant. They will determine first if a person does, in fact, have a mental illness through a number of different tests. Since a mental illness can make many areas of life undoable, then, they must determine what a person can and cannot do. For some people, the impact of mental illness can be so debilitating that they cannot even meet their basic daily needs. Other mental illness sufferers have difficulty concentrating and remembering instructions and tasks. Many have great difficulty with social interaction.
If you suffer from one or more mental illnesses and can no longer work, the attorneys and staff at Blume & Blume have handled many cases involving diagnoses including, but not limited to:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizo-Affective Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Attacks
- Learning/Reading Disorder
- Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation)
A mental illness can not only hinder a person greatly, but can cost them and their loved ones financially. It is important to have an experienced mental illness disability lawyer help with such claims. Let the attorney’s and staff at Blume & Blume help you apply and/or appeal your case.
what types of physical impairments qualify for disability benefits?
West Alabama Physical Impairment Disability Lawyer
The Social Security Administration has promulgated a list of impairments related to each bodily system that are thought to be severe enough to prevent the ability to work. All eligible impairments must last for a minimum of 12 months. There are 14 systems of the body that are described, including, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, immune system, etc. If you have a physical impairment that is preventing you from working, the attorneys and staff at Blume and Blume can help you establish your condition under the Social Security Disability rules and regulations and help you submit your application or appeal your denial.
who is eligible for social security disability?
Having a physical or mental disability is not the only requirement to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. The SSA has very specific qualifications an individual must meet in order to be granted Social Security Disability benefits.
Work History
A disability claimant must have worked long enough and recently enough, in jobs that are covered by Social Security and for which Social Security taxes were deducted and paid. Disability benefits are determined based on work credits. Every year you work and pay into the Social Security system, you accumulate credits for the wages and/or self-employment income that you earn. Credits are earned for quarter-years. In most instances, an applicant must have worked a total of 40 quarters over his/her life time, of which at least 20 of those quarters must have been in the 10 year period of time leading up to the date that the applicant became disabled.
The Social Security Administration does not have a “short-term” disability program. Rather, in order to be eligible for SSD benefits, you must have been incapable of working for at least 12 months, or your condition is expected to result in your death relatively soon.
You can check your Social Security earnings history by accessing the Social Security Administration’s website and printing out your “Social Security Statement.” Then, call and schedule an appointment so we can help you determine whether or not you are eligible for disability benefits.