Atlanta SSDI Denial Lawyer
If you applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and were met with a denial of benefits, rest assured that you are not alone. The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies initial claims frequently, but there are several opportunities to appeal its decision.
An Atlanta SSDI denial lawyer can help with any stage of the appeal process. Working with an experienced hearing claims advocate can substantially improve your chances of obtaining the benefits you are entitled to. However, the time to file an appeal may be limited, so it is best to retain an experienced SSDI attorney without delay.
Reasons for a Denied Application
The SSA commonly denies applications for SSDI benefits for medical and non-medical reasons. Medical denials do not necessarily indicate that an individual is not qualified to receive SSDI. Rather, a denial signals that an applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate their eligibility.
Applicants must prove that they suffer from a medically identifiable condition that interferes with their ability to perform basic job functions and leaves them unable to work. A diligent Atlanta SSDI denial attorney can help a claimant collect and present evidence to establish their qualifying condition.
Applications may also be denied for non-medical reasons. A claimant must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years in order to qualify for SSDI benefits. A non-medical denial could result from missing or incomplete work records.
Steps to Take after a Claim is Denied
Applicants have 60 days to request a reconsideration after the SSA denies a claim for SSDI benefits. SSA staff members will review a claimant’s record to determine whether the initial decision fit with agency guidelines, but they will be bound by the same strict standards as before. As a result, the outcome of this appellate path is often the same as an initial denial.
The Administrative Hearing
If the claim is denied upon reconsideration, the applicant has another 60 days to request a hearing before an administrative law judge. There is a backlog of applicants waiting for hearings, so it is wise to put in the request as soon as possible.
These hearings give applicants an opportunity to present new evidence to support their claims. A dedicated Atlanta Social Security disability representative can help a claimant who has received at least two SSDI denials seek out the best available documentation and persuasively present it on their behalf.
Judges are not required to use the same standards to interpret eligibility, so they may be more likely to rule favorably on a claim. If the outcome is a denial, however, the applicant may ask for a review by the SSA Appeals Council.
Consult an Atlanta SSDI Denial Attorney Today
The Appeals Council may refuse the request for a review if it believes the administrative law judge applied the standards correctly. However, an Atlanta SSDI denial lawyer can help you continue the appeals process by filing a claim in federal court.
Regardless of where you are in the process, the guidance of a steadfast Social Security disability advocate for the disabled can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. For a free consultation to learn more about the advantages of working with our lawyers who help with disability claims, call our intake team now.
