We analyze your financial circumstances as well as your medical impairments and determine how we will argue your claim. Do you meet or equal a listing as defined in the Federal Code of Regulations? Do you have the physical restrictions, age, education, and lack of transferable job skills, to be placed on the "Grid"? Are you restricted to less that sedentary work (as defined by the Social Security Administration)? Is the combination of your physical and mental impairments so severe that you are unable to perform substantial gainful activity?

Claim development

Our functional evaluation forms address the criteria needed to establish disability pursuant to the Social Security's Administration's guidelines. Most physicians are familiar with Worker's Compensation disability terms, but not necessarily with the criteria needed for a determination of disability under Social Security guidelines. Therefore, even a doctor who is supportive of the fact that you are unable to work, may not properly complete forms.

Reconsideration Appeal

Most people are denied benefits at the initial level. Claimant's have 60 days to file an Appeal. It is our policy to file the Reconsideration Appeal as soon as possible. We check denial letters to see what treating sources are missing from your file. We can request that Social Security set up medical appointments if your medical evidence is insufficient.

Pre-Hearing Memorandum

We go to the Social Security Office and copy your complete file. This allows us to read all the medical evidence that the Administrative Law Judge will eventually have access to; thus we can begin to prepare for your hearing and determine what kind of evidence is still needed to convince Social Security that you are disabled. At this point we prepare our written legal argument in a Memorandum of Law.

Hearing Request Appeal

Now a Judge will be assigned to your case. We prepare the Hearing request papers with you and submit them to Social Security along with our memorandum and legal argument.

Pre-Hearing Review

It can still be a long wait for a hearing after filing a Request for Hearing, but some cases are randomly picked for Pre-Hearing Review. These cases are looked at by Senior Attorneys at the Office of Hearings and Appeals and if there is enough evidence and a good memorandum prepared by your attorney, there is a chance that you will receive an on-the-record favorable decision at this point. There is no way that we, or any attorney can make your case be pulled for review, however, it is crucial that as much evidence as possible be in your file at this time, as your file will quickly be passed over if your disability is questionable. It is our policy to have your file as fully developed as possible at this point.

Administrative Law Judge Hearing

The majority of cases do not receive a decision at Pre-Hearing review. These cases are assigned to a judge who will ask for updated medical information. Even though it may be many months before you are scheduled for an actual hearing, it is important to continue medical treatment and to get updated reports from your treating sources.

When your hearing is finally scheduled, we meet with you and prepare you for the types of questions that will be asked at the hearing. Our years of experience at these hearings will make the process go as smooth as possible for you.

Appeals Council

If we have taken your case all the way to hearing level, then we believe strongly in the merit of your claim. If your case is denied at hearing level, and if we believe that the Administrative Law Judge made in error in law when he denied you, our fee agreement takes you one step further in the process. We submit an extensive Memorandum of Law, based upon case law, to the Appeals Council. This step is seldom needed.

Our fee agreement is similar to that of most attorneys who practice Social Security Disability Law, because the amount is statutorily set at 25% or $4000.00, whichever is less, of the claimant's retroactive award. There is no fee if we do not obtain benefits for you, other than for disbursements. What sets us apart from other attorneys who practice in this area of law, is that we work to develop your case and move it through the process as quickly as possible. Even though our fee is contingent on the number of months you have been disabled, we believe that getting more people successfully through the process, in the least amount of time allows us to service more clients.

Hopefully you receive a favorable decision early in the process, but if not, we will be with you every step of the way!