With the coming of 2017, and what we hope will be a Happy New Year to all, come changes to both those who are receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and those who plan on applying for such benefits this year. Whether you reside in…
As a Social Security lawyer handling the Reconsideration process in Maine and Massachusetts (New Hampshire remains a pilot project state where a claimant goes directly to hearing), it is difficult to inform our clients of the low chance of success at the reconsideration level. However, the work to be undertaken…
We face the same question, on a daily basis, from our prospective Maine Social Security disability clients: I have been disabled from working for a number of months, and, prior to contacting your office, I filed a disability claim. I have since been denied. Would you recommend that we appeal…
In our prior blog entry, we began explaining the most common reasons claimants face denials of their Social Security disability claims, whether it be at the initial, reconsideration or at the hearing level claim level. Understanding why such denials occur can occur will hopefully help you or a loved one from making the same…
As a practicing Social Security disability lawyer in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire for the past 35 years, I have had an opportunity to review thousands (1000’s) of disability claims during this time. I have found that there are a number of common themes that arise over and over again…
When you’ve spent the better part of two (2) years waiting for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) it is rather normal to be nervous before the hearing. Understanding what the purpose of the judge’s questions are and what the judge is looking for in the way of answers…
One of the frequent questions our office receives from claimants we represent in their Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income claims. First and foremost, the answer every lawyer or claims representative should be providing to their claimant is a resounding yes. One should always attempt to work if they…
Our office routinely represents claimants who are suffering from the severe effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and Colitis related claims and have assisted the vast majority of these clients with obtaining favorable decisions in their cases. If properly documented and presented, these claims are well-recognized and thoughtfully…
Social Security disability benefits provides essential cash assistance to those who remain no longer able to work as a result of a disabling condition. Many individuals are not aware when they contact our office how they can go about getting the advice and assistance they need to move forward with…
As we were discussing previously in Part I of this blog , one must be very careful about applying for unemployment benefits as it can be construed as inconsistent with an application for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. This assumption, as we will discuss, does not apply in every case.…