If you apply for Social Security disability benefits and the application is not approved, what is your next move? First off, if your application is denied, you are in good company; about three quarters of all applications are denied. There are plenty of reasons, perhaps your income is above the benefit threshold, maybe your disability is not expected to last a full year or perhaps the individual that processed your application simply made a mistake.
Regardless of why your application was denied, many applicants find that by working closely with a Social Security attorney in Oak Ridge that they win benefits on appeal.
The levels of appeal available to you:
* Review: You can simply ask the Administration to reconsider their decision. Your application will be reviewed by a different individual but even with that, very few applications are approved at this stage; let’s face it, nothing changed so why would the decision change?
* Hearing: If you are convinced that you have a valid claim you are given 60 days to ask for a hearing in the presence of an Administrative Law Judge. It is at this stage of the appeals process that giving a Social Security attorney in Oak Ridge at your side pays dividends. Statistically, almost 70 percent of appeals that reach this stage are approved when there is a knowledgeable attorney involved.
* Using the reasons given when your claim was first denied, your attorney will gather and submit missing information and data. Your attorney will submit an up to date medical report and tutor you on how to handle the questions that you can expect to be asked.
* Appeals Council: For the thirty percent of applicants that are still denied benefits after their hearing, they can ask to have their case reviewed by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will only agree to a review if they find a flaw in the decision made as a result of your hearing.
Winning an appeal can be very difficult if you attempt to handle it yourself, an experienced Social Security attorney in Oak Ridge can help improve your chances when you reach the appeals level.
Hiring a Social Security attorney in Oak Ridge is the best way to ensure that you will have the greatest chance of winning disability benefits on appeal. You are invited to discuss your case with the Law Offices of Miller & Drozdowski, P.C.
