SSDI FOR VETERANS: GET THE EXTRA MONEY YOU HAVE EARNED

(HUNTSVILLE, AL) - ATTENTION VETERANS:  

Social Security disability benefits are not "welfare."  They are insurance benefits paid for by your years of military service and mandatory taxes deducted from your pay during your entire military career.

Now that you are disabled, you are entitled to a monthly benefit from Social Security.  This benefit is in addition to any VA retirement or VA disability benefit that you already receive, or will receive in the future.

How do you claim your SSDI benefits?  You must file an application with the Social Security Administration (SSA).  This is completely separate from the VA disability or retirement application.

Be aware that Social Security is different from VA benefits in several ways:

1.  There is no partial disability with SSDI:  it is all or none.

2.  Social Security rules state that you must be unable to perform any type of full-time work (under age 50) or unable to perform the kind of work you did during the previous 15 years (age 50 and over).  

3.  Up to two-thirds of Social Security claims will be denied at the initial (application) level.  These claims must be appealed within 60 days of denial.  The odds of winning on appeal are much better.

4.  You may need the assistance of a trained advocate or attorney for the best chance of getting your benefits, including the back pay to which you are entitled.  You may save a small fee by representing yourself, only to lose big money by failing to get all the benefits to which you are entitled.  What you don't know can, and probably will, hurt you.

5. An attorney or advocate cannot charge you a fee until 2 requirements are met:
     (a)  You win your claim and get paid, and
     (b)  You receive lump sum back pay

An attorney or advocate qualified for Direct Payment of Fees by the Social Security Administration will never ask you for money.  They will be paid directly by Social Security after your case has settled and you receive your money.

If you need a free consultation with no obligation, please call our Huntsville office:

The Forsythe Firm
7027 Old Madison Pike NW
Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
"Across From Bridge Street"
(256) 799-0297

SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE (WEBSITE) 

 

WHAT IS A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE?

In some cases, Social Security will appoint another person to be responsible for how your disability benefit check is spent.  This person is called a representative payee.

The representative payee (RP) may be a spouse, family member, friend, or even a corporation that specializes in supervision of benefits.  The RP must be approved by the Social Security Administration.

When will a representative payee be needed?  Any time there is a question about the claimant's ability to use benefits in his/her best interest.  This could be because of a drug or alcohol problem, a mental illness, serious physical illness that affects judgment and decision making-- or other reasons.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADVOCATES 2018 

(256) 799-0297

                                                                    THE FORSYTHE FIRM
 

 

2018 DISABILITY BENEFITS - ADVOCATES WHO WIN

What can you do to increase your odds of being approved for Social Security disability benefits in 2018?  Here are the top things on my list:

1.  Get your doctor involved.  Have him or her complete an RFC form.  Your attorney/representative will know about this form and why it is important.

2.  Stay compliant with medical treatment.  We see many claims denied simply because of little or no medical treatment.  Social Security takes the attitude:  "If the doctor didn't say it, it isn't true."

3.  Keep your attorney/representative informed of all medical treatment--new doctors, new diagnoses, hospitalizations, tests, etc.  Many people don't know it, but Social Security orders no medical records after an appeal is filed.  If you have a representative, it is up to the representative to update the medical records.  You must tell your representative when you see a doctor, enter the hospital, go to the ER, etc.  There is no automatic way to "just know."

4.  If your disability relates to episodic flareups like migraine headaches, seizures, high blood pressure or out of control diabetes, keep a record.  Write down the date of seizures.  Record dates when you have migraines, along with how long they last.  Same thing for seizures:  record date of each seizure and what happened.  If you can't remember, get a family member to write down what happened in your journal.  Keep a record of blood pressure and blood sugar readings.

https://forsythefirm.wixsite.com/website 

Call us:  (256) 799-0297

Absolutely free consultations.  We never ask you for money.  Social Security will pay our fee directly after you are approved.

 

DISABLED BUT CAN'T GET BENEFITS? YOU NEED HELP.

                           THE FORSYTHE FIRM

Being disabled is one thing.  Getting benefits for a disability is another.

Two-thirds of all disability claims will be denied in 2018, as they were in 2017.

And most of the denials happened to people who were truly disabled--even according to Social Security's strict definition.

So, is there hope of getting approved and getting paid?  Yes, there is.  It is the process that is long, difficult and confusing.  Most people find that they need professional help to successfully defend a Social Security disability claim.

Denial letters usually read:  "You are not disabled according to OUR rules."  It is their rules that cause the problem.

Social Security's definition of disability is horribly narrow.  They generally interpret "disability" as being unable to perform any kind of full-time work.  Therefore, if they believe a claimant can work as a garment folder, a silverware wrapper or a ticket taker--they will deny the claim.

Wait a minute, you say.  Nobody can get one of those jobs.  You're right but it doesn't matter. Social Security is not required to show that you can get a job, only that you would be able to perform the job--and the regulations permit them to deny your claim.

They key to being approved is air tight medical records that document the nature, longevity and severity of your impairment(s).  You must also address why you cannot perform any of your past relevant work OR any other kind of work.  You must relate specific, objective medical evidence to your restriction in activities like sitting, standing, walking, lifting, bending, reaching, staying focused, etc.  This is difficult.

If you want the best chance of being approved at the application level, please contact us.  If you have applied and recently been denied, please contact us.  If we accept your case for representation, we will never ask you for money.  If you are approved and back pay is issued, Social Security will pay our fee directly.  If you are not approved, no fee will be due.
Initial consultations are free and without obligation.

CALL (256) 799-0297

SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE - WEBSITE 

 

DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR BACK PROBLEMS

Back impairments create the largest area of Social Security disability awards.  Undefined "back pain" isn't enough to get a disability check, however.

Social Security will want a medical doctor to find the root cause of back pain.  Generally, this will fall under degenerative disc disease of the spine or joints.  You will need imaging studies, such as X-rays or better yet, an MRI, to show the cause of the pain.

If the imaging study shows a degenerative disease of the spine or joints, then we must consider the severity of the disease and how it limits your ability to perform work-related activities, such as walking,standing, sitting, lifting, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, etc.  To get a disability benefit, you must usually show that (a) you are not able to perform any of your past relevant jobs and (b) there is no other work available in the national economy that you are able to perform.

It is always helpful to have your doctor provide a residual function capacity (RFC) report or a treating source statement.  These statements will specify how severe your limitations are in terms of performing the exertional and postural activities required of work.

Social Security will consider your medical evidence along with your education, age and past relevant work experience to determine whether you meet their rules for disability.  

Here is the bottom line:  If you are found able to perform some type of work that is commonly performed in the US economy, you will probably be found able to work and denied benefits.  On the other hand, if your impairment is judged to be so severe that you cannot perform any full-time work on a "regular and continual basis," you will be approved.  The claimant's age plays a definite part in this determination.

My firm will provide a free case evaluation and determine whether you are likely to meet Social Security's requirements for a disability benefit.  Keep in mind, however, that no one can guarantee how Social Security will rule on a particular claim. 

FORSYTHE FIRM - MORE INFORMATION 

IF WE REPRESENT YOU, WE WILL NEVER ASK YOU FOR MONEY.  IF YOUR CLAIM IS APPROVED AND BACK PAY IS ISSUED, SOCIAL SECURITY WILL PAY US DIRECTLY.

SSDI BENEFITS FOR MIGRAINES

Migraine headaches may qualify for Social Security disability benefits, depending on their frequency, severity and response to medication.

 

Three million Americans will be diagnosed with Migraine headaches this year.  The severity ranges from mild to debilitating.  Three questions will determine whether or not these migraines can qualify for SSDI benefits:

 

1)  Are often do they occur?  A migraine that occurs once a month or less often is probably not disabling.

 

2)  How severe are the migraines?  How do they limit your activities?  A migraine that allows you to continue normal daily activities, including work, is not disabling.  However, a migraine that lasts several hours, requires you to lie down in a dark room and stop most activity, certainly may be disabling.

 

3)  How well have you responded to appropriate medical treatment?  If your headaches are relatively controlled by one of the serotonin receptor agonists (triptans), such as Imitrex, you may still be able to work with migraines.  However, if medical intervention has failed and your migraines are still chronic, frequent and severe, you may not be able to work.

 

I often get claimants approved for severe migraines when they can demonstrate with medical evidence that they would miss more than 1 or 2 days per month due to migraines and have tried medical intervention over a long period of time without relief.  Even if a person can go to work with a migraine, how much time would he or she be off task due to pain?  Generally, if a person is going to be off task more than about 10 percent of the time, this is excessive and disabling.

 

I can't emphasize how important it is to have medical evidence from your doctor.  In addition to routine doctor's records, we will try to get a Medical Source Statement from your doctor which explains how migraines limit your ability to do work-related activities, especially in the area of concentration, remembering and following directions, staying on task, etc.  The more complete the medical record, the greater the chance of being approved for disability benefits.

THE FORSYTHE FIRM

PH (256) 799-0297

 

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FIND A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ADVOCATE IN ALABAMA

Specialists are available to help you apply for, appeal, and get approved for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits.  These advocates work for you, the claimant, not for the Social Security Administration.

Disabled veterans often need help with Social Security for the following reasons:

1)  Social Security is not bound by the rules of the Veterans Administration.  Just because the VA has found you disabled, Social Security may deny you.  You will need to fight this with an appeal. These appeals are successful more often than not.

2)  Even if Social Security approves your claim, they may deny past due or retroactive benefits, costing you tens of thousands of dollars that are rightfully yours.

3)  You may be entitled to special expedited processing under Social Security rules.  However, Social Security may sit on your claim, ignore their own rules, and delay your case for 2 years or longer.  An advocate will push for a faster settlement.

Choose an advocate who is knowledgeable about Social Security's rules and regulations (the law).  Choose one who is familiar with the unique circumstances of disabled veterans.  Choose an advocate who is local and offers a personalized approach to helping you get approved.

Charles W. Forsythe
The Forsythe Firm
7027 Old Madison Pike NW - Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
PH (256) 799-0297

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*Contingency Fees:  We work on a contingency fee.  You pay us no money upfront.  We develop your case and bear all associated costs.  If your case is resolved in your favor, and if you recover past due benefits, Social Security will approve a small percentage of your back pay settlement to cover our fee.  If you do not win, or if you do not recover any back pay, we will not charge you a fee.