In our prior blog post we discussed how important it is to obtain supportive residual functional capacity questionnaires from one’s treating physicians. In this follow-up blog, we’ll advice you as to the best way to go about requesting these forms from your doctors. First, and of primary importance, it’s important…
The issue of substance abuse can come up in a variety of ways as part of a Social Security disability claim. It might be a circumstance, very routine in this day and age, where somebody is taking too much of their narcotic medication. Or, one might be taking medications that…
To those who do not practice Social Security disability law, the acronym DLI (which stands for “Date Last Insured”) does not mean much. However, if you are looking into applying for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, understanding this term and knowing its importance can prove critical. The Social Security…
And so now you’ve been provided with your upcoming hearing date and time and you have no idea what to expect. In part II, we’ll attempt to make you feel comfortable about the hearing process itself and what you should expect on the day of your hearing. You can expect…
You’ve filed your Request for Hearing and now you’re playing the waiting game, wondering what to expect next in your Social Security disability claim. Whether you’re in Maine, Massachusetts or New Hampshire, the wait can be a long one. In part 1 of this blog entry we’ll fill you…
One of the most typical misunderstood requirements for purposes of establishing a Social Security Disability claim is the duration requirement. The Social Security Act and its corresponding regulations require that one prove they are suffering from a severe medical impairment that has lasted or or expected to last 12 months…
When pursuing a Social Security disability claim, it is important to understand that the disability determination process is not a perfect one. The majority of individuals are denied on their initial application, and, at the end of the appeals process, only 1 in 3 are ultimately approved for receipt of…
There are a number of different scenarios in which one will find Administrative Law Judges (ALJ’s) in Social Security disability claims consult with medical experts. Understanding why such experts may be consulted and how their opinions may impact your case is important and can help relieve some of the stress…
In the first part of our blog series on Vocational Experts and their role in the Administrative Hearing process we explained the legal issues that arise in a Social Security disability claim and the manner in which an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will go through their sequential evaluation process and,…
Should it become necessary to proceed to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), Social Security disability claimants will typically see from their notice of hearing that a Vocational Expert has been called to testify at hearing. Understanding the role of the Vocational Expert (VE) at hearing goes hand…