Norfolk Social Security Disability Lawyer
If you've been contributing to Social Security throughout your working years, you should be able to start receiving benefits once you retire. It's only fair that if you've worked long enough but have become unable to continue working due to injury or illness, you should be able to access your social security benefits. This is known as Social Security Disability benefits.
WHAT DOES "DISABILITY" MEAN?
In relation to Social Security Disability benefits, "disability" is defined as:
"The inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) that can be expected to result in death or have lasted or are expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months."
The Social Security listing book provides a comprehensive list of conditions that may prevent you from performing your job. These conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Anxiety disorders
- Arthritis
- Back and neck problems
- Bipolar disorder
- Cancer
- Chronic pain syndrome
- Degenerative disc disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Mental impairments
- Mental retardation
- Pain impairments
- Personality disorders
- Physical impairments
- Seizure disorders
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
You've been contributing a portion of your paycheck to Social Security for as long as you can remember, relying on that money to be there when you need it. However, now that you're disabled and unable to return to work, the benefits you expected are not materializing. What can you do?
Do Doctors Make Decisions about SSDI Claims?
Are you wondering whether it was a doctor or some sort of bureaucrat who decided to deny your claim for SSDI benefits? The answer is somewhat complex. Doctors do have input into approval or denial of SSDI benefits, but they are not the only ones.
When you file a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance, the Claims Representative who receives your paperwork forwards it to the state disability agency. In Virginia, this agency is Disability Determination Services, a division of the VA Department of Rehabilitative Services. In North Carolina, your claim goes to division of the NC Department of Health and Human Services of the same name.
Disability Determination Services then assigns your case to a Disability Examiner, who is charged with making the evaluation whether you have injuries or medical conditions that qualify for SSDI benefits. Here is where the doctor comes in. The Disability Examiner can order a consultative medical evaluation in which a doctor, psychiatrist, or other medical professional determines if your injury or medical condition truly makes you unable to work. These medical evaluations are most often required in SSDI claims involving mental health or psychiatric disabilities.
Based on the doctor’s evaluation of your disability, the Disability Examiner writes up your approval or denial of SSDI benefits, which is sometimes, but not always, reviewed by another doctor.
Why Do I Need a Social Security Disability Lawyer?
Even with qualified representation by a Virginia Social Security lawyer, most individuals who apply for early Social Security benefits are initially denied at least twice. If you're injured, unwell, and struggling to secure the disability benefits you desperately need, you don't need ambiguous explanations. You need a prompt resolution.
Before you can receive your disability benefits, your claim will be heard by an administrative law judge. It is highly recommended that you have an attorney by your side during this stage. Although there is no guarantee that your benefits will be awarded, having an experienced social security lawyer in Norfolk, Virginia will ensure that your case is appropriately developed for the hearing.
Given that the majority of claimants lack the knowledge and skills to advocate for themselves, prepare their case for the hearing, gather the necessary records, or comprehend the complex maze of Social Security Disability rules and regulations, having an attorney can be invaluable in winning your case. Additionally, the "date of onset," which is the date when your disability payments begin, can be influenced by the length of time you have been suffering from your disability.
A social security lawyer in Norfolk, Virginia who is familiar with disability claims understands this and knows that persuading the courts to accept the earliest date of your symptoms as the beginning of your disability could result in more "back pay" for you. Kalfus & Nachman PC can assist you in addressing your Social Security Disability concerns.
Overall, while having an attorney is not obligatory, it is highly unwise and could potentially result in the loss of your benefits.
How Our VA Disability Lawyers Can Assist
At Kalfus & Nachman PC, we have helped numerous individuals obtain the disability assistance they are entitled to. If you are currently or expect to be totally disabled for a period of 12 months or longer, you may qualify for disability payments from the Social Security Administration.
The process of applying for early Social Security Disability benefits can be lengthy and frustrating. Without legal assistance, it can take up to 2 ½ years to receive benefits. Hiring Kalfus & Nachman PC to help you obtain these benefits can significantly reduce this waiting period. We possess extensive experience and understanding of the complex federal regulations governing Social Security Disability claims. We will guide you through the system to secure the benefits you require.
We proudly serve clients in Norfolk, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Roanoke, and Virginia Beach, Virginia.
To commence the filing process, contact us online or call us at (855) 880-8163 today. "Tell Them You Mean Business."
How Is Kalfus & Nachman Different?
Awards & Accolades
We Mean Business
Read Our Recent Case results
-
$10.9 Million Traumatic Brain Injury
-
$10.5 Million Truck Accident
-
$7 Million Auto Accident
-
$5.147 Million Truck Accident
-
$2.15 Million Premises Liability
Meet Our Team
Tell Them We Mean Business
-
Paul R. Hernandez Attorney
-
A.J. Kalfus of Counsel
-
Stuart L. Nachman of Counsel
-
Richard F. Aufenger, III of Counsel
-
Jesse M. Suit III of Counsel
-
Thomas A. Fitzgerald, II Attorney
-
Seth D. Scott Attorney
-
Christopher I. Jacobs Attorney
-
Michael J. Levens Attorney
-
Colin P. O'Dawe Attorney
-
Neal C. Schulwolf Attorney
-
Deborah B. Vaughn Attorney
-
Michael Sternberg Attorney
-
Olivia T. Donahue Attorney
-
Brian A. Thomasson Attorney
-
Jeffry A. Sachs Attorney
-
Gregory E. Camden Attorney
-
Gregory L. Sandler, Esq. Attorney
-
Massimo Morabito Attorney
-
Elizabeth O'Conor Attorney