Worcester disability attorney can help you navigate the Social Security disability benefits application and appeals process
As a Worcester disability attorney, I understand how difficult it can be to try to navigate the Social Security disability benefits application and appeals process on your own. The rules and regulations are complex; the language is confusing (“past relevant work?” “medically determinable impairment?” “residual functional capacity?”), and the process moves at a frustratingly slow pace. I built this website to help.
Knowledge is power when dealing with a large government bureaucracy like the Social Security Administration. Regardless of what stage of the application or appeals process you are in, you will find useful information here.
If you are contemplating filing for benefits . . .
If you have a severe medical condition that (a) has lasted for a continuous period of 12 months or is expected to last that long or to result in death, and (b) prevents you from working at any job, then you should apply for Social Security disability benefits. You may file an initial application online, over the phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. My Social Security library, located at the bottom of this page, contains several articles to help you get started. You may find the following particularly informative:
- Frequently Asked Questions: This article provides a good introduction to Social Security disability.
- Applying for disability benefits when you have . . . . This series of articles provides impairment-specific guidance.
- Examples of who is and who is not disabled: This article likely will surprise you, with real-life examples of Social Security disability determinations.
If you have filed for disability benefits and have been denied . . .
If your initial application for Social Security disability benefits was denied, but you have a long-lasting, severe impairment that prevents you from working, then you should appeal. Nationally, and in Massachusetts, most initial applications and first appeals (written Requests for Reconsideration) are denied. However, more than half of all applicants who pursue their claim to a hearing before an administrative law judge are awarded benefits. A denial letter should not mark the end of your claim. You can learn more about the Social Security disability appeals process here:
- Disability Appeals provides an overview of the appeals process.
- Your Disability Hearing, is a series of articles about this all-important stage of the disability determination process.
- My free e-booklet, Appealing a Denial of Benefits, offers practical advice and tips.
Contact Worcester, MA disability attorney
If you would like to speak with a knowledgeable Worcester disability attorney about your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, please contact me. I handle claims for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), from the initial application through the administrative hearing. You can reach me by email, or by submitting the Free Claim Evaluation form on this page.
I wish you well.