For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email [email protected] | March 2016
The Social Security program was
created and signed into law on Aug.
14, 1935 by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt. It was designed as an individual program that workers paid into
in order to have “insurance” in case
they became unable to work. It has
since undergone many changes and
now includes old age, disability, death
benefits and family coverage for disabled workers.
Social Security is still an “insurance”
program in which a worker pays into
the system and can receive benefits
if he has worked and paid in long
enough and has a medical condition
that has (or is expected to) last for 12
months or end in death. Disability
benefits can be paid through two
programs: Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental
Security Income (SSI). To qualify for
SSDI, a person must have worked at
least 20 of the last 40 quarters or five
out of the last 10 years. If you have
not paid in enough quarters for Social
Security, you may still qualify for SSI.
Since SSI is a “needs-based” program,
there are income and resource limits,
which can be quite complicated.
The criteria to qualify for disability
under either Social Security or SSI is
exactly the same. These guidelines are
quite strict and require someone who
is familiar and experienced in Social
Security law. Statistics prove that most
people who apply will be denied. This
causes the majority of people to get
discouraged and simply give up their
claim. Others may not know how to
file an appeal or wait until the time
to file has expired. There are only 60
days after a denial is received when an
appeal can be filled. This is why it is
important to contact an experienced
advocate BEFORE you apply for
benefits. You will have expert advice
for every step of the disability process.
You will have guidance and assistance
in filing your claim and completing
the numerous forms you will receive.
Most importantly, you can rest assured
knowing your case is being given the
highest priority from the very first
time you contact our office.
If your claim should be denied at
the initial level, your advocate will file
an appeal on your behalf. This step is
called reconsideration. Basically, you
are requesting Social Security to reconsider the decision to deny benefits.
The case is sent to the same medical
review team that denied you initially.
Advocates are extremely important
at reconsideration because they can
contact your worker and determine
what information is needed to make a
timely and favorable decision.
The third step in the disability process is an administrative hearing with
a federal law judge. There is usually
a vocational expert at every hearing
who will testify as to what jobs (if any)
you should be able to do, despite your
you disabled?
impairments. At this step in the disability process, it is absolutely critical
that you have an experienced advocate
who can represent your interests.
Unless you have an advocate who is
familiar with the changes in Social
Security law and has experience in
questioning the vocational expert, you
will be at a serious disadvantage. Your
advocate will prepare you prior to your
hearing so you will know what questions the judge is likely to ask.
Our staff at GAR Disability
Advocates has many years of experience in representing disability claimants. The Advocate who will represent
you at your hearing has over 30 years
of experience in representing disability
clients. When you call GAR, you can
rest assured your case will be given the
attention it deserves. From the initial
application (which GAR will file for
you if needed) to the very last appeal,
&
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The Social
Security
program
was created
and signed
into law on
Aug. 14,
1935 by
President
Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
you will be informed about the progress of your case. Your case is assigned
to one of our experienced case workers
who will work hand in hand with you
to develop your work history, keep up
with all your latest medical treatment
and submit records as soon as they
arrive. Our office is fully electronic
and can process information quickly
and efficiently. You can relax and have
the peace of mind that comes with
knowing you are in goo [