Will I Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?

The process of applying for and appealing a denial of Social Security disability benefits can seem intimidating, and there are many complexities of law that can seem confusing or counter-intuitive to the average applicant. An experienced Columbia Social Security disability lawyer can help you through the process, but it is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the issues you will face.

My website contains helpful information covering your initial application, the appeals process, and what to do at your hearing. There are also pages discussing issues related to your specific medical condition, what evidence you will need to be found disabled, and how best to present that evidence in a way that will enable the Social Security Administration to award you benefits.

There is one question that Columbia Social Security disability lawyers hear more than any other, and it’s also one of the hardest to answer: Will I qualify for benefits? The short answer is, “You should be approved for benefits if you have a disability that prevents you from doing any work you have done previously or, considering your age, education, and work experience, any work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.”

This answer probably isn’t as short as you’d like, and it’s already simplifying the process to some extent. Also, frustratingly, many disability claims are wrongly denied at the application stage but ultimately go on to be approved at the later hearing stage. In fact, although most applicants for Social Security disability benefits are denied, those that appeal their denials are awarded benefits more often than not.

One common reason for this is that the Social Security administration may have incomplete medical records on which to base their decision when they’re reviewing your application. Another reason is that without the ability to talk to you in person, decision-makers can’t hear from you directly how your disability affects your daily activities or gauge your credibility.

An experienced Columbia Social Security disability lawyer will help you address these problems at your hearing by ensuring that all relevant medical records are included in your file, asking for a written opinion from your treating doctor if appropriate, and preparing you to testify in a way that gives plenty of the detail the Social Security Administration needs to justify an approval.

Columbia Disability Lawyer Offers Help If Your Claim Has Been Denied

If you have been denied Social Security benefits in Columbia, or the surrounding area, and you want to know whether you should appeal your denial, please contact me.  There is no charge for phone calls or in-office appointments.  There is no fee unless you win your case.