September 2, 2008
- Can I File for Disability if I am Working 20 Hours Per Week?
A common question that I see has to do with part time work. As I have written previously, I am not a big fan of part time work, as you will see from my answer to this question that I recieved by email:
I have had fibromyalgia for many years, an autoimmune disease requiring weekly chemo injections, herniated discs in my back. (…)
June 8, 2008
- Is Notice of a Video Hearing by an Out-of-State-Judge a Good or Bad Thing?
What does it mean if you hear from Social Security that your case file is being sent to an out-of-state judge for a hearing? Is that good news or bad news? A reader named Vicki asked just that:
my chart was sent elsewhere for a video hearing. (…)
May 26, 2008
- Case Studies and Case Strategies
Over the past few months, I have added a new section to my Georgia Social Security Disability Attorney web site called "Case Strategies and Case Studies." The purpose of this section is to set out strategy summaries for the cases I am trying before Social Security Administrative Law Judges. (…)
May 18, 2008
- How I Prepare Clients to Testify at a Social Security Disability Hearing
In my law practice, I generally schedule a pre-hearing meeting with my clients prior to any hearing before a Social Security Administrative Law Judge. The purpose of this pre-hearing meeting is for me to spell out the issues that will be addressed at the hearing, to the question and answer process with my client and to answer any questions that my client may have about the hearing process. The pre-hearing meeting also gives me a sense of how my client might testify so that I can adjust my questions accordingly. (…)
April 26, 2008
- Will Attending College Hurt My Chances for Social Security Disability?
What types of activities can you participate in while you are waiting for Social Security to decide your claim? I received this question from a blog visitor:
Hello. I attend college, but my health has been declining for some time. (…)
March 12, 2008
- Why Do Physicians Charge to Write Medical Narrative Reports?
Why is it a doctor will say they will help you to get disability because they believe you are disabled but then require extra money just to write an attorney a letter? (…)
March 4, 2008
- Last Minute Lawyer Substitution - Is This a Problem?
This is completly frustrating! I wrote a dire need letter to my congressman and got an expidited hearing scheduled for March 5, 2008. (…)
January 28, 2008
- Strategy for Winning a Seizure Disorder Case
Jonathan, I have an appeals hearing on 1/30/08 with an ALJ. I have multiple medical problems, the worst of them being a seizure disorder. (…)
December 28, 2007
- Two Disability Claims Pending and Nothing is Happening - What Can I Do?
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. (…)
December 19, 2007
- 57 Year Old Arthritis Patient Wonders if She Would Qualify for Disability
I am 57 I have been a RN for the past 30 yrs. I have auto immune arthritis which is severe in my SI joints graded 3+ bilaterally. (…)
December 6, 2007
- Can a Rare Medical Condition Like Dupuytren's Disease Qualify Me for Disability?
I recently responded to a question on Yahoo Answers about a disease called Dupuytren's Disease. Dupuytren's is a disease of the connective tissue in the palm of the hand. The tissue becomes rigid and immobile, causing the patient's hands to become fixed in a bent condition. (…)
November 30, 2007
- I Have Multiple Medical Problems - Should I Focus on All of Them? Just One?
I have more than one disability, should I focus just one or provide info on all to help my case? (…)
November 27, 2007
- Fibromyalgia Argument Accepted by Court of Appeals After 10 Years of Appeals
Despite a general acceptance in the medical literature that fibromyalgia is a real illness that can be disabling, there are still judges out there who refuse to accept that this chronic pain condition exists. There are no "objective" tests that can be run for fibromyalgia - its existence can be inferred by symptoms such as generalized body pain, tender points, poor sleep, fatigue, digestive issues, balance problems, anxiety and depression. (…)
November 21, 2007
- Will Social Security Accept Records and Conclusions of a Homeopathic Provider?
I have been suffering from Hypertension, muliple pain syndromes (Fibromyalgia, Multi-Lateral Cervical Stenosis, Degenerative Disk Disease, Femoral and Ulnar neuropathies, Migraines, Sciatica, Bursitus, Osteoarthritis) and Clinical (including SAD) Depression. (…)
November 19, 2007
- Will Hepatitis C, Chemotherapy and Back Pain Support My Claim for Disability?
i am asking if i might be eligable due to back injury and hepatits c treatment i will be on chemotherapy for 1 year and am unable to work
–J.B. (…)
October 30, 2007
- What Kind of Medical Evidence is Needed in a Depression Disability Claim?
I see that a Social Security claim cannot be approved based only on self-reported symptoms - that there must be medical evidence such as tests. (…)
October 2, 2007
- Hernia Patient Asks if Her Case is Strong
i have a medical max of no lifting, pushing, pulling of no more than 5lbs. i have had multiple hernia operations. i have worked in the capacity of housekeeping, nurses aide, and a ward secretary all of which i was hurt while working with a jackson pratt drain in, pulled on a drawer that did not open and pulled apart my abdomen which resulted in another operation at ohio state university hospital. i have had 7 previous operations. the county in which i live has also deemed me disabled. do i have a good case? (…)
September 18, 2007
- Vocational Rehab Says I Have No Marketable Skills - Is That Enough to Win a Disability Case?
I have been to vocational rehab and they ran some evaluationsand they found that i have no marketable skills and i am going to mental health and i am under a case manager and a phychiatrist. (…)
September 9, 2007
- Does Accepting Unemployment Benefits Hurt My SSDI Case?
Should you accept unemployment benefits while your SSDI case is pending? My experience has been that Social Security judges will have concerns if you accept unemployment compensation during your wait for your Social Security hearing. (…)
September 6, 2007
- Give Social Security Judges Clear Answers to Simple Questions
Recently I tried a disability case that demonstrates the importance of testifying clearly about your activity limitations. My case involved a gentleman with chronic back pain. During our pre-hearing meeting in my office two weeks prior to the hearing, I reviewed with my client the likely questions that would be asked by the judge at the hearing. Among the questions that we discussed were questions about his capacity for walking, standing and sitting. (…)
