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My wife has been disabled since late March and ineligible for NJ state disability as well as unemployment. I'm looking at possibly applying for Social Security Disability but I've heard enough horror stories about applications that I'd like to go through this with a lawyer.
Does anyone have a recommendation? I've heard horror stories about Binder & Binder so I'm really concerned about going with them. I called the Union County lawyer referral service and none of the lawyers returned my calls.
They turn almost everyone down the 1st time even if they do qualify by SSD standards. Apply, and appeal before the deadline, then apply again, and get a lawyer. Make sure she is not shy about telling her doctor about symptoms & pain severity. If she is falling depressed behind being unable to work, then she should tell her doctor this also, and ask for a referral to a good psychologist. Everything must be documented, especially if she is young. I'd avoid Binder & Binder, as I heard bad things about them. Checking any lawyer with the Better Business Bureau is wise. Sorry I couldn't recommend anyone.
from what i've heard unless you are legally blind its always turned down.
This is a pretty common misperception, I suspect it comes from the fact that the most vocal people are the ones turned down for SSDI.
The application is fairly straight forward and requires a description of the disability and how it interfers with her Activities of daily living. She will be required to supply info about all of the people who have treated her (dates, addresses, phone numbers).
DDS will request the medical/psychiatric info (if you can expedite that process by urging her care providers to supply ALL of their records- go to their office and stand over the medical records people until they hand you copies of her record, then keep copies for yourself and send the others to DDS, this helps a ton).
That info is reviewed and a determination might be made at that point. If she has more than one impairment, include them all as colorfulchic stated. Frequently, one impairment is not enough but coupled with others might qualify her. Her age, education and work hx are also considered.
If the records are not enough to make a determination, she might be sent to a State appointed physician/psychiatrist who will do an evaluation based on the disability guidelines.
If she is denied, appeal that decision right away. If she is denied at the appeals level she will have the opportunity to appear before an Administrative Law Judge......do that too. This Judge is not bound by any SSDI requirements and if you plead her case (backed up by the records you have kept) there is a good chance he/she will overturn the denial. He/she has the diffinitive say.
Although it can be a tedious process (it is the government), it is a matter of follow through and patience.
This is a pretty common misperception, I suspect it comes from the fact that the most vocal people are the ones turned down for SSDI.
The application is fairly straight forward and requires a description of the disability and how it interfers with her Activities of daily living. She will be required to supply info about all of the people who have treated her (dates, addresses, phone numbers).
DDS will request the medical/psychiatric info (if you can expedite that process by urging her care providers to supply ALL of their records- go to their office and stand over the medical records people until they hand you copies of her record, then keep copies for yourself and send the others to DDS, this helps a ton).
That info is reviewed and a determination might be made at that point. If she has more than one impairment, include them all as colorfulchic stated. Frequently, one impairment is not enough but coupled with others might qualify her. Her age, education and work hx are also considered.
If the records are not enough to make a determination, she might be sent to a State appointed physician/psychiatrist who will do an evaluation based on the disability guidelines.
If she is denied, appeal that decision right away. If she is denied at the appeals level she will have the opportunity to appear before an Administrative Law Judge......do that too. This Judge is not bound by any SSDI requirements and if you plead her case (backed up by the records you have kept) there is a good chance he/she will overturn the denial. He/she has the diffinitive say.
Although it can be a tedious process (it is the government), it is a matter of follow through and patience.
Good Luck!
AMEN. I have quite a few friends in the VVA that I served with that have gone through this process. You are spot on with your description of how the system works. I didn't know that the A.L.J. decision was definitive. I thought that S.S. usually abides by the ruling but did have the option to deny (I'm probably wrong). I have driven a few guys to their hearings. They were all done via video conference. Documentation is the key.
Thank you all for the advice, and thank you Rhys for the info in your DM - I have reached out to them.
It's really tough since her disability is a balance disorder, which more or less has completely eliminated her from her career - her background is physics and she's been teaching in high school, and that requires the ability to stand and walk around a classroom all day. I hope we'll at least be able to get a little bit back on our feet and exist a bit easier if SSD kicks in.
NPR just did a story on Binder and Binder, the 400-pound gorilla of Social Security disability lawyers.
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