The Social Security Administration (SSA) has hundreds of field offices located throughout the country. The field offices offer a wide variety of SSA services. As stated on the SSA’s website, services at field offices can include applying for new or replacement Social Security cards, updating benefit information, and applying for benefits for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.

It is important to be mindful that the offices may be crowded and wait times may be long during this time period of moving back to in-person appointments. The SSA is expecting a great influx of people walking into the field offices and scheduling appointments. The field offices will be accepting visitors who do not make an appointment before. However, it is recommended to make an appointment before arriving in order to decrease wait times. Online services will still be offered in addition to the field offices reopening. The Social Security Administration will still be accepting phone calls and providing services on their website.

More information, such as how to make an appointment and available services offered by the SSA, can be found on the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov. If you or someone you know is looking to receive Social Security Disability benefits, our Social Security Disability attorneys are available to help. Our office understands the difficulty in applying for benefits while injured. We can be contacted 24/7 at 800-518-4LAW(529).

Also known as SSD, Social Security Disability Insurance administers benefits to people that become disabled before they reach retirement age. As defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal program that provides benefits to people that are “insured”. This means that the person has worked for a specific amount of time and has paid Social Security on their payroll. The number of years that a person worked before they became disabled is also taken into consideration. In addition, the applicant must provide valid evidence of their disablement that is confirmed by medical professionals and that it complies with the Social Security Administration’s definition of the disability.

Supplemental Security Income provides assisted benefits to people who are over the age of 65 or have impairments, such as blindness, and disablements. Contrary to SSDI, this program is based on limited income and resources. Supplemental Security Income can help people receive Medicaid to help pay for medical expenses. In some circumstances, applicants can also qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As referred to as “food stamps”, SNAP grants benefits to individuals or families in order to pay for their food expenses. Created to assist people with limited income and resources, SSI provides monthly payments in order for people to receive daily necessities, including food, water, and shelter.

Although the programs seem similar, they differ in many ways. SSDI is funded by the disability trust fund, which is a separate account in the United States Treasury. General tax revenues fund Supplemental Security Income. Although the Social Security Administration manages this program, it is not funded by Social Security taxes. In addition to federal benefits, a majority of states provide a supplemental benefit to applicants. However, other states fund their own programs and create separate payments for their residents. As explained by the SSA, there is no state supplemental payment with the SSDI program. Both programs offer health insurance coverages to eligible applicants. SSDI focuses on supplying Medicare, while SSI provides Medicaid benefits. It is important to note that each of the programs offer specific parts of the health insurances. The Social Security Administration explains that SSDI provides hospital insurance (Part A), supplementary medical insurance (Part B), Medicare advantage (Part C), and voluntary prescription drug benefits (Part D) with their Medicare program. The SSA also states that SSI allows certain individuals to receive federally assisted income maintenance payments.

Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are two important programs of Social Security that assist individuals that are disabled, impaired, or have a limited income. When applying for these programs, it is important to research the eligibility requirements and benefits that are required for SSDI and SSI. To find the information included in this article about SSDI and SSI or to learn more information about Social Security and other potential benefit coverages, visit the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov for more information.

It is recommended for a person to file for Social Security Disability (SSD) as soon as their disablement is diagnosed by a medical professional. People can apply by either completing an application online or calling Social Security directly to schedule a phone consultation. If you are eligible, there is a 5-month waiting period in order for the SSA to decide if your disability allows you to receive compensation. Once you are approved for benefits, disability benefits will not start until the disability has occurred for six full months. This process will help to prove that a person’s disablement restricts them from functioning normally and that it is not a short-term disability.

When completing the Social Security Disability application, the SSA requires that the person provides sufficient and adequate information in order to increase their chance at receiving benefits. As listed on the Social Security Administration’s website, the applicant must provide their Social Security number, proof of their age, contact information, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers, the dates that they received treatment from medical officials, names and prescriptions of current and past medications, verified medical records, laboratory and test results, a summary of their work history, and their recent W-2 form or a copy of their federal tax return. If someone is applying for Social Security Disability benefits for a family member, they will need to provide the Social Security numbers and proof of their ages for each person. The SSA will also need proof of current and prior marriages, if the person is applicable to this situation. Providing all the necessary information and documentation will ensure that applicants have the greatest potential to be approved for Social Security Disability benefits.

In some occasions, it is possible for Social Security to deny an application. In response to this decision, applicants can decide to request the SSA to review their information again or file for an appeal on the denied application. When people receive a denied claim, the form will indicate how the person can request an appeal, including the amount of time in which the appeal must be filed. If this process is denied by the SSA repeatedly, the applicant may be recommended to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Once applications are denied by the SSA, people with a certified disability should seek assistance from licensed legal attorneys to receive their rightful compensation. For some people, their disability has caused them to be unable to find and maintain a stable job. In this situation, they are entitled to rightfully receive their full Social Security Disability benefits. At O’Connor Law, we understand the difficulty that individuals can face when applying for benefits, especially if they are denied. If you believe to have received an incorrect denied claim, please contact our law firm to talk to our staff of Social Security Disability attorneys for more information about your case.

Creating a my Social Security account is safe and secure, and the sign-up process is easy. To create an account, people must provide information, such as their email address, Social Security number, United States mailing address, and age of at least 18 years old. It is important to note that it is impossible to create an account on behalf of another person. By having a Social Security account, people are able to have direct access to their Social Security information and check the status of their benefits. In addition, people are able to check their benefit and payment information, updating personal information, create or revise a direct deposit, and report wages. Statements can come in the mail, but participants are also able to easily view their statements on their account. Since 2013, Social Security supplies benefits to participants using a direct deposit system. Older beneficiaries are also able to receive their payments electronically by updating their information in their my Social Security account. When filing for taxes, individuals will be required to present their Social Security documents. Form 1099 provides documentation of all the Social Security benefits that a person earned in the past year. Also, award letters are important as well. They include information about claims for benefits. Both documents can be accessed by my Social Security accounts.

Applicants are also able to apply for Social Security benefits. On the Social Security Administration’s website, applications are available online for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits. Along with the completed requirements and documents, applicants can complete and submit their application online. While waiting to receive the result of the application, people can look at the status of their application on their my Social Security account. Appeals can also be completed online. For example, if a disabled individual was denied benefits, they are able to request an appeal online.

People who are not receiving Social Security benefits can also make a my Social Security account. It is possible to view retirement benefit estimates, request replacement cards for Social Security, check an application status, and view Social Security statements. Statements can show estimations of future benefits, verify earnings, and view the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes that a worker has paid.

Completing tasks online for Social Security are easier for people to access rather than going to a Social Security office. To sign up for Social Security benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. Since appeals can be completed online, attorneys can help to ensure that you have the best chance at receiving an accepted claim. Disabled individuals can request for an appeal of their denied claim online. Our team of Social Security Disability attorneys are able to help with your appeal request.

The commissioner of Social Security, Andrew Saul, claims that eCBSV “is an important online service that helps us provide participants and their customers with fast, secure and more efficient SSN verifications”. He also stated that the “new electronic SSN verification service helps reduce synthetic identity fraud by comparing agency records with data provided electronically by approved participants”. In other words, the eCBSC will become a safer and more convenient way to verify important personal information of Social Security members, including their Social Security number, name, and birth date. This method will be able to correctly identify and match an individual’s personal information with their Social Security records.

In order to use the electronic system, the Social Security Administration states that Social Security will require the person to provide written consent, which will disclose their Social Security number verification to their participating company. The SSA writes on their website that eCBVS will then return a matching verification of either “Yes” or “No”. They also note that the electronic verification will not verify someone’s identify. Eligibility requirements for the electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification Service are listed on the SSA’s website. They require that qualified companies are permitted entities and that they have an implemented employer identification number (EIN). An EIN identifies a business entity, and it is sometimes referred to as a Social Security number for businesses. Financial companies can provide eCBVS in partnership with Social Security, or they can select another source, such as a service provider, to conduct the transactions through the business.

As listed by the Social Security Administration, there are multiple companies that are currently participating in this electronic system. Since October 25, 2019, ten companies have been selected by the SSA to permit eCBVS. Some of the companies include financial institutions, such as Navy Federal Credit Union, University Bank, Discover Financial Services, and Synchrony Financial. In addition, eCBVS will also include service providers, subsidiaries, affiliates, agents, subcontractors, or assignees of financial institutions, which are also listed on the SSA’s website. They include SentiLink Corp., ID Analytics, LLC, Computer Information Development, LLC, Early Warning Services, LLC, Capital One Services, LLC, and Experian Information Solutions, Inc. As previously mentioned, the SSA plans to expand their program to more participants and customers in 2021. As a result, more financial companies may join this list to provide eCBVS.

Currently, the electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification Service is available for its initial rollout. The Social Security Administration only authorized the initial rollout to ten institutions. The SSA will provide eCBVS to limited customers until 2021, which they plan to extend the program in order to be available to more people. Additional information about the electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification Service (eCBVS) is available on the SSA’s website.

As explained by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index, federal benefit rates tend to increase when the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) also increases. The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines COLA as an increase to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income that will help to decrease the effects of inflation. For example, inflation can be described as the increase of prices that consumers may pay for the year. Since 1935, the Social Security Act has created and maintained a specific formula to determine the amount for each COLA, which are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the amount of CPI-Ws each month to determine the gradual change in prices that are paid by consumers for goods and services. Since the rate of inflation has been relatively low for the past year, COLA is able to provide a positive percentage increase for Social Security benefits and payments. However, it can also be possible that there would be no COLA percentage increases for a year. If the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates that there is no change in inflation for CPI-Ws, there will not be a COLA for that year.

The new COLA of 1.3 percent will allow Social Security benefits to increase starting with benefits from December 2020, which will become payable in January 2021. SSI will also be affected by the percentage. SSI payments, which are calculated based on income and other financial factors, will be increased. AARP describes the amounts in which people would be able to see changes. It is predicted that an average retired worker could receive a monthly benefit rise by 20 dollars, which will be approximately $1,543. Retired couples can also potentially receive a monthly rise of 33 dollars, and the average disabled worker may be eligible for a monthly $16 increase in their benefits. In addition, the maximum Social Security check for people retiring at their full retirement age will grow by $137. Therefore, individuals will receive $3,148 a month in 2021, compared to $3,011 in 2020.

In 2021, individuals who receive Social Security and SSI benefits will be eligible to see a 1.3 percentage increase in COLA, which will increase their monthly payment amounts. Additional information regarding the 1.3 percent increase in COLA can be found on the SSA’s website at www.ssa.gov. It is important to know the rightful benefits that you are entitled to, including Social Security and SSI benefits and their programs. If you are looking for more information about Social Security or want to learn about potential benefits, please contact and call our office at 800-518-4529.

Supplemental Security Income provides monthly payments to people with low incomes and limited resources. People who qualify for this program are adults that are 65 years old or older and have a disablement or impairment. Children can also receive SSI if they have a low income, limited resources, and have a disablement that fits the Social Security Administration’s definition of their condition. The incomes and resources of family members will also be taken into consideration if the child lives at home. The SSA directly states that if the child or their family members have an income that surpasses the directed amount, the child’s application for disability benefits will be denied.

Social Security Disability Insurance is offered to people who have worked a specific amount of time and have paid Social Security. The SSA categorizes this program as a benefit program for children because the payment is based on a parent’s Social Security earning record. A disabled child that is older than 18 years old can potentially continue receiving benefits on their parent’s Social Security record if they have been recorded since they were a minor. To apply for this program, people are required to submit the Social Security number of the individual whose record will be used to determine benefits and the child’s Social Security number and birth certificate.

Medicaid and Medicare are two other programs that can help people with impairments obtain benefits. Medicaid helps to provide health coverage to Americans that have a low income or are adults, children, pregnant, elderly, or disabled. Generally, children that get SSI payments are allowed to collect Medicaid benefits. Medicare is a federal health insurance program that applies to disabled people who are over the age of 65. The program can also apply to younger people with impairments who also have End-Stage Renal Disease or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. As defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a medical condition in which a person’s kidney cease functioning on a permanent basis leading to the need for a regular course of long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. Lou Gehrig’s Disease, another term for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a disease in the nervous system that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, which ultimately leads to a loss of muscle control. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, there are currently 44 million people in the United States that are enrolled in the Medicare program.

Children can experience disabling mental and physical conditions. It is important that children receive the necessary benefits from Social Security in order to pay for their medical bills and any expenses that arise from their condition. For more information about child impairments, please visit the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov to learn more.

As defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA), adults must be over the age of 18 in order to be eligible to receive potential disability benefits. In fact, there are specific sections in the Blue Book that directly address adult disablements. Within each section, there is a brief explanation of the disablement, prerequisites that are required to receive benefits, and how to apply for an application. In a few sections, the Administration advices applicants on how to deal with a denied claim. For example, an individual may be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on their financial situation. In other cases, the applicant can apply for a medical vocational allowance.

When applying for Social Security Disability benefits, adults will be required to provide six important documents that confirm their eligibility. Medical evidence is required to be approved and certified by medical officials. Also, medical documentation must prove that there is an existence of an impairment. This will be determined by the SSA and whether it correlates to their definition of the disablement. Then, the Administration will consider all the information to determine the severity of the person’s condition. For adults, the most important deciding factor will be whether the person can work and function normally. Generally, people with disablements are unable to acquire a financially stable job. As a result, they may not have a steady income to provide for themselves and their family. This scenario is common for many disabled Americans. As a result, the Social Security Administration reviews an applicant’s information and determines if they are eligible to receive Social Security benefits from their loss of wages.

In addition, the applicant will have to submit a personal report that confirms their disablement and any issues that arise from their condition. If the SSA decides that an individual’s medical information is inadequate or insufficient, they will require consultative examinations. As a result, that person will submit their examination report to the SSA for another evaluation of their information. Finally, a list of reported evidence relating to the condition is necessary to determine Social Security benefits. This documentation will support an applicant’s medical history of their condition. Providing all the required information will ensure that the Social Security Administration will offer the Social Security Disability benefits that the person deserves.

At O’Connor Law, we believe that people with a certified disablement are entitled to the rightful Social Security Disability benefits that they deserve. Our trusted team of attorneys has years of professional experience with Social Security Disability cases. If you or someone you know applied for Social Security Disability benefits and have been denied by the SSA, please contact our firm for more information on how we can help with your case.

There will be a 1.3% cost-of-living adjustment.

Beginning in January, the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be set at 1.3 percent. Social Security states that cost-of-living adjustments allow Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to keep pace with inflation. The Social Security Administration determines a formula to calculate COLAs. According to AARP, the monthly Social Security benefits will increase by $20 for the majority of retired workers. As a result, the average annual benefit will be approximately $1,543. Previously, the annual amount was estimated to be $1,523 in 2020. In addition, retired couples and disabled workers will also receive an increase in COLA. Retired couples can potentially receive an increase of $33, and disabled workers can receive an increase of $16. Overall, the greatest monthly payment that people can receive from Social Security would be $3,148, which is an increase from $3,011 in 2020.

A higher wage cap will be applied for Social Security taxes.

Social Security is funded by collecting payroll taxes. Based on wages, the tax is predetermined at 12.4 percent. AARP explains that employees pay 6.2% towards payroll taxes, and employers pay 6.2%. Self-employed workers are required to pay the full tax at 12.4%. Annually, the absolute amount of earnings required to pay towards the payroll tax increases. Each year, there is a specific maximum amount of wages that indicates how much workers must pay towards taxes. In 2021, wages up to $142,800 will pay for Social Security taxes. In 2020, the wage threshold was $137,700. If workers earn more than $142,800 a year, they will not have to pay for Social Security taxes in 2021.

The earnings test limit will be higher.

When workers decide to retire and collect benefits before their full retirement age, they will be subject to receive reduced benefits for a specific amount of time. This process is called the retirement earnings test. In this scenario, Social Security with withhold payments if earnings exceed more than a certain limit. In 2020, people under their full retirement age were able to have $1 withheld by Social Security per every $2 they earn from earning more than $18, 240 a year. In 2021, payments will be set at $18, 960 a year or $1,580 monthly. Also, the Social Security Administration (SSA) with withhold $1 for every $3 a worker earns. In the month that a person reaches their full retirement age, Social Security will stop withholding benefits and increased monthly payments to return the previous withholdings.

As defined by the SSA, Social Security replaces a percentage of an employee’s pre-retirement income based on their lifetime earnings, specifically the highest 35 years of earnings and when they choose to start receiving benefits. The tax money that workers pay to Social Security provide benefits to workers who are retired, disabled, survivors, or dependents of beneficiaries. Statista wrote on their website that there were approximately 45.1 million retired workers that received Social Security benefits in 2019.

The SSA defines more information about eligibility on their website. They write that individuals are able to apply for retirement benefits when they reach a certain age and have worked and paid toward Social Security in order to receive benefits. As stated on the website, a worker earns “credits” that are used to track their Social Security benefits. An individual must have 40 credits in order to be eligible. If they do not work and have not received the sufficient amount of credits, they will be unable to receive retirement benefits. The number of credits varies on the year that a person was born. As described by the SSA, people who were born in 1929 and beyond need to achieve 40 credits. To estimate, this would be equal to approximately 10 years of work experience.

People can also choose to continue working past their retirement age. As a result, they will be able to increase the payment of the Social Security benefits that they would receive when they apply for the program. Every additional year that they work will be added to their Social Security records. This allows them to receive additional years of benefits. The age to retire depends on the individual. There are age categories in which people can retire, including early, full, or delayed retirement ages. Early retirement age is categorized by the youngest age that people can apply, which would be 62 years of age. However, starting retirement early causes benefits to be gradually reduced. Full retirement age allows people to collect their full benefit amount. The age varies on the year that people were born. Commonly, people who are 66 or 67 years of age are considered for full retirement age. However, it is important to know that this age may be younger or older. Delayed retirement age applies to applicants who are older than 70 years old. It is not required for people to apply before the delayed retirement age. The longer an individual delays their benefits will cause their overall amount of retirement benefits to increase until they are 70 years old.

Planning for retirement is very important for workers. Not only will their retirement affect the applicant, but it will also affect the retiree’s family. When applying for benefits, it is beneficial to learn information and advice about the SSA’s retirement program. To find the information discussed in this post regarding retirement or to learn more about Social Security, visit the SSA’s website at ssa.gov.

A person needs to be disabled for a year before they can apply for disability benefits.

This myth is not true. The SSA lists in their Blue Book that a person qualifies for benefits if they have a disability as a result of an injury or illness that is predicted to endure for at least 12 months. If an employee is diagnosed by a medical official that states their injury will last for over a year and they will be unable to work, they should apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible.

Workers must be close to retirement age to receive disability benefits.

Social Security provides benefits to people who are unable to work as a result of a disability. This does not only apply to people who are near their retirement age. It is important to know that Social Security benefits are based on a person’s average lifetime earnings before their disability occurred. It is likely that a person who worked a long time and made a plentiful amount of earnings throughout their career will receive a larger amount of benefit payments.

A person cannot receive Workers’ Compensation and Disability benefits simultaneously.

It is possible to receive both benefits. For example, if a disability or impairment occurred as a result an injury or illness from work, an individual can receive Workers’ Compensation. This may cause Disability benefits to be decreased in an offset, but the Claimant still typically ends up in a better financial situation. However, people can continue to receive both benefit payments.

If a medical official diagnoses a person with disablement or impairment, they will qualify for benefits.

The Social Security Administration ultimately makes the final decision on whether a person will receive benefits. An official diagnosis by a licensed medical worker will help the SSA make a decision. It may not automatically confirm that a person will receive benefits, but it will influence the SSA to deny or accept a claim.

If a medical condition or disability is not directly listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book, people will not be able to receive benefits.

The Blue Book does not directly state every disability that people may have. Any impairment or disability that affects the ability of someone to work properly may qualify them to receive benefits. Once a person files a claim, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine whether the disability will qualify for benefits.

SSI and SSDI are the same program.

It is true that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) both provide benefits to people who are disabled or impaired. On the contrary, there are very distinct differences between the two programs. SSI provides benefits to people who are disabled and have little income. This allows people to pay for basic necessities, such as food and clothing. SSDI administers benefits to workers who are “insured.” As stated by the Social Security Administration, the term “insured” applies to people who have worked for a prolonged period of time and paid towards Social Security taxes on their earnings. A person needs a certain number of work credits to qualify for SSDI, while for SSI the person’s household income and assets are used to decide if they qualify. Both programs have the same medical standard.

The application process always takes months to years to complete.

It is common that an application for Social Security Disability may take many weeks or months to be accepted or denied. However, the time to hear a response can vary between 3 weeks to almost a year. It is difficult to predict a specific time because each Social Security Disability claim is taken into consideration differently. The remainder of the process, reconsideration, and appealing may take longer.

Every claim is denied the first time.

This statement is false. Although it is common that initial claims are more likely to be denied, not every claim is automatically denied the first time. If a claim is denied, it is possible to file an appeal. In this event, a claim can become accepted through appeal.

If an employee goes to work, they will instantly lose their Medicare, Medicaid, or Disability benefits.

This statement is not entirely true. Although, it is true that earning more than a specific amount will make a person ineligible for Disability benefits. Earning a specific amount of month during a certain period of time shows that the individual is able to work. If a person with a disability continues to work and makes below the specific amount, their Social Security Disability benefits will not be affected. Generally, workers will continue to receive benefits if their disabling condition or impairment continues to exist. If they make a large amount of earnings at their job, a person may not be eligible for either Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance. However, if workers remain eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, they will still be able to receive benefits.

It is impossible to claim Social Security Disability benefits if a person never worked.

There are certain circumstances in which people can be eligible to receive benefits for Social Security benefits if they never worked. Typically, benefits for Social Security Disability are determined based on an individual’s work history. In this scenario, unemployed people may be eligible to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is based on income and financial need.

Tanner is the chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security. In an article on nwtntoday.com, Tanner stated, “Since the beginning of 2009, the hearings backlog has begun to slowly decline. This shows that Congress’ investment in SSA is starting to pay off.” Tanner and the subcommittee have urged the Social Security Administration to continue to focus on reducing the backlog in disability claims. “Because applicants often have little or no income while awaiting a decision on benefits, the backlog has caused severe hardship to hundreds of thousands of Americans with significant disabilities,” Tanner said in a statement.

Beth Bates, a Jackson, TN attorney who works with disability claimants, testified before the subcommittee about the impact the backlog has had on her clients. Bates said, “Foreclosures and bankruptcies have increased, with claimants losing their homes and vehicles and their economic stability.”

Tanner and the subcommittee have made reducing the disability backlog a priority that will help social security disability claimants not only in Tennessee, but in all states.

If you have applied for social security disability and have been denied, contact the attorney team at O’Connor Law. Our attorneys are well-versed and experienced in every aspect of the claims process. Contact us today for a free review of your case.

In order for an individual to receive disability benefits, he or she must complete the application process. Additionally, Social Security requires that applicants prove they cannot do any work of any kind. As a result of this requirement, many individuals are denied and must take the next step: a hearing in front of a judge. But according to a chart from the Social Security Administration, as an example of the timeframe for those filing in Pennsylvania, it can take approximately 437 days to schedule a hearing in the Wilkes-Barre office.

This extensive processing time is a result of the growing population, including the baby boomer generation who has become sick or disabled. As the Social Security Administration wrangles with the extensive list of individuals applying for benefits, requests for its services are further increased as a result of the economy. In an article on NPR.org, Social Security Deputy Commissioner David Foster commented on the increase in requests. “We expect those numbers to go up very much in the next few years because of the recession,” said Foster. He continued, “There’s usually a correlation between the unemployment rate and then the amount of disability claims that we have.”

As the economy struggles to recover, it is more important than ever for those applying for Social Security Disability or Social Security Income to consult an experienced lawyer as soon as a disability occurs. Social Security lawyers are well-versed and experienced in every aspect of the claim process. In addition, laws and regulations may have limits for action; an individual can lose his or her rights by waiting. A lawyer can help by preparing and filing the appropriate appeal paperwork and other required forms, as well as compiling all the medical evidence and presenting testimony at the appeal hearing.

If you have questions regarding a Social Security disability claim or appeal, please email or call one of our experienced Pennsylvania Social Security lawyers at O’Connor Law to schedule an initial consultation.