Noteboom The Law Firm

Understand How Decisions Are Made by the SSA

If you are denied Social Security disability benefits, you might think it is the fault of one person to whom you can beg to appeal the decision. However, it is called a process for a reason, as your file will be handled by several officials at the SSA. Find out the general routine before you start the appeals process.

Your initial application is taken by a claims officer at the SSA office nearest you. He or she will decide whether to pass you onto the next step, depending on if your claims appear to be valid. Disability Determination Services will then take a look at your medical documents and contact your physicians.

Once your medical condition has been verified, the next step is for a medical specialist to make sure that it prevents you from working. If your claim is denied, it will be returned to your local SSA office, and officials will send you a letter describing why. If, on the other hand, it is approved, your local SSA office will double-check the case for accuracy. Your payments will then be started.

While this refined process assures that most decisions are not simply random or made by one person, it also shows that your file is handled by several people. They are all human and can make mistakes, and breakdowns in communication can certainly occur. It is for this very reason that appeals are possible.

If you believe a detail has been overlooked or a decision is clearly wrong, you are encouraged to appeal. Additionally, you should appeal if you think the decision may be justified based on the information you supplied, but you have new evidence to support the claim. In some cases, your lawyer can even simply reopen your old application rather than start a new one. Be sure to ask your lawyer how to start the process of appealing.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida disability lawyers, LaVan & Neidenberg, represent over 5000 disability claimants. Our disability attorneys have experience with cross examining agency-appointed medical and vocational experts and take time when speaking with you about your disability claim. Call us today at 1-888-234-5758 for a FREE legal consultation. There is NO OBLIGATION to hire our firm and there are NO FEES unless one of our trained disability lawyers wins your case.