Your Free Disability Claim Evaluation

Your Free Disability Claim Evaluation

Since the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies the majority of first-time claims, it is best to have an experienced law firm do a free disability claim evaluation.

Nationwide, including New Jersey disability claims, most claims are denied because the person filing fails to provide convincing medical evidence. People with medical conditions expected to last more than a year or one that is terminal can file a claim, but you must remember that the main criteria you must meet is that your present medical condition prevents you from working.

Another reason for first-time denial of your New Jersey disability claim might be because you have not sufficiently tied your medical condition to your inability to work at a steady job.

Here are some key pieces of evidence the SSA will need to evaluate your claim. Our firm plays a critical role in evaluating this evidence ahead of time before you file. We scrutinize it and look for gaps, and that can greatly improve your chances when we actually file for you.

· SSA needs standard information like date and place of birth, and they’ll need a social security number (SSN). Typically they ask you to provide either an original birth certificate or some other form of ID that proves you are a U.S. citizen. Alternately, you can also show proof of a lawful alien status.

· You’ll need to provide spouse and dependent information for all spouses and children. SSA will need your spouse’s or multiple spouses’ ages, birthdates, SSN numbers, and they’ll need the dates of your marriages as well as the location of your marriage. You will also have to show divorce or death dates if your spouse has passed away. For dependent children, SSN requires a list of names and birthdates.

· After all the standard information above, SSA needs very detailed information that outlines your medical condition. You have to provide a list of doctors who have treated you; you can list other health care professionals here as well such as chiropractors, physical therapists, and counselors. You have to be able to provide very detailed medical information, like records of doctor visits, hospital visits, and treatment dates. It also helps to provide a list of all medical tests you’ve gone through, as well as a historical and current list of prescribed medications.

· Finally, and this is the most important piece of evidence, you must tie your medical condition to you inability to work. You have to show an earnings history, such as a W-2 or tax return, to show that you did not earn over the SSA allowable income. SSA will also want a list of employer names and addresses for the last two years. What specifically is the SSA looking for? They need to see that you steadily worked prior to your disability at least for 15 years, if that applies to you, or for as long as you’ve worked. Since you can file when you are age 18, include as much work history as you can. The bottom line is that the government needs to see that you were capable of employment prior to your medical condition. They also need to see if you’ve file for or been paid any other benefits, such as workers’ compensation or military benefits, for your disability. that you may have received or filed for. If you did serve in the military, the SSA will need a list of your dates of active service, and documentation for any paid-out disability benefits or retirement pensions.

The SSA allows payout of presumptive disability benefits under certain conditions. If the severity of your particular medical condition means that there is a fairly high likelihood that you will be awarded benefits, SSA may decide to go ahead and pay you benefits for up to six months while they review your application. Some of the medical conditions that usually qualify for presumptive benefits are spinal cord injuries and amputations, deafness or blindness, conditions that cause bed confinement, strokes accompanied by severe functional impairment, HIV, severe mental deficiencies, Down’s syndrome, end stage renal disease requiring chronic dialysis, and any terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. When we provide your free disability claim evaluation, we can assess your application for the likelihood of presumptive benefits qualification.

The application process is cumbersome and challenging, with a great deal evidence that must be gathered, so consider hiring our firm of experienced attorneys. We will first provide you with a free disability claim evaluation, then we will help you file your claim. Call us today.