what are your chances of winning a case at a hearing when there is no voc rehab guy or medical specialist to assist the alj in a decision. –Lamont My response: Lamont, I think that yes you can win if the judge does not use a VE or an ME. Here is how I [...]
Filed under Administrative Law Judges, Appeal issues, Disability hearings, Medical experts, Vocational Experts by 
I just got unfavorable decision for my SSI Disability and I can hardly walk or use my hands. I have RA and my doctor said I was permanently disabled. So why am I being denied? – LaTrica My response: LaTrica, firstly you should understand that there is an appeal you can filed to challenge the [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Rheumatoid arthritis and disability by
I frequently get emails from frustrated disability claimants who are upset at the long delays. Often the claimant expresses frustration with his lawyer because of the delays. Earlier this week, for example, I received an email from an individual who is suffering with a fairly significant medical problems and who is about to lose her [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Disability Lawyers by
This morning, I received an email question from a woman named Elena. I’m not sure if Elana is an attorney, a non-attorney rep or a relative of the claimant, but she raises an interesting issue about SSI offsets. I don’t deal a lot with SSI issues on this blog mainly because I don’t take a [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, SSI issues by
My question is this. I had a lawyer in NC for my disability hearing which I lost. His representation was horrible, not to mention his communication with me. Anyway, I told him I no longer wanted his services for my appeal. He said he would file a form with SSA stating that he was not [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Disability Lawyers by
My husband has Osteonecrosis (AVN), it is death of bone condition in both shoulders and both hips. We initially hired an attorney in April 2003, claim was denied and it is in the Hearing Stage in Virginia. We had to reopen a new claim in 2006. We attached all information needed, even information from the [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Pain and disability, Strategies for winning by
I just got a fully favorable ruling from an ALJ, but the onset date has been amended. Without going into a huge amount of confusing detail, I was supposed to get a partially favorable for a closed period, instead I now have a fully favorable with onset date starting Nov. 15, 2007. To prevent losing [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Disability hearings, Work attempts by
What do you do when the attorney you hired did not file your appeal on time and did not notify you until the last minute. He says that he sent a letter out but I never got it. Now I have to reapply all over again. –Barbara Jonathan Ginsberg responds: Barbara, at the very least [...]
Filed under Appeal issues by
Jonathan, I was recently approved for ssd by the ALJ. I had my 3 heart attacks, the last on May 5, 2005. At that time I became disabled to work. This has been my Doctors statement all along. Like a lot of people trying to get ssd, my financial situation got serious. I filed for [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Heart problems and disability, Lump Sum Awards by
