Call Social Security Disability and Personal Injury Lawyer Scott Norris.

Disability Insurance Benefits

If you are unable to work as a result of injury or illness, you may qualify for social security disability benefits. A claim is initiated by filing a claim over the telephone, in person or via the internet. Unfortunately, sick and injured claimants may become easily overwhelmed by the administrative process and not follow through with their claims. Early legal representation can bring peace of mind to the claimant who is focused on his or her health condition and in no frame of mind to deal with legal issues. Early legal representation will also insure quickly filed appeals. Also, many claimants who are unrepresented by counsel mistakenly believe they are not entitled to benefits if their claim was denied in the past at the initial stages and they never appealed. On the contrary, claimants may still file a new claim or re-open their old claims within certain time frames. With proper legal representation, re-opening old claims can result in claimants receiving substantial back benefits which they are owed.

Request for SSA Hearings

If you are denied social security disability benefits at the initial and reconsideration levels, you are entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). This is a critical stage of the legal process and every claimant should be represented by an attorney. The hearing is the forum where the claimant must preserve the record with every conceivable issue in support of disability to insure a successful appeal in the event benefits are denied by the ALJ; however, even where a claimant has received an unfavorable decision, an option still exists to file a new claim. In many circumstances, it may be appropriate to file a new claim and prosecute an appeal from the ALJ’s decision simultaneously.

SSA Appeals Council

If you are denied benefits by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) following a hearing, you still have many options. You can appeal the ALJ ' s decision to the Appeals Council, file a new claim or do both. The Appeals Council is the last step in the administrative process before you can present your case to a federal district court judge.

Appeals to Federal Court

If you have exhausted all you administrative remedies and appeals and have still received an unfavorable decision, you can appeal your case to the U.S. District Courts. A claimant initiates a federal action by filing a complaint. The U.S. District Court then makes a decision by reviewing the evidence which was submitted at the hearing before the ALJ. There is no formal trial and the claimant does not testify at any hearing. The lawyers for the claimant and government present their cases by filing written briefs summarizing the medical evidence and advancing legal arguments in support of their respective positions.

The U.S. Court of Appeals reviews the decisions of the U.S. District Courts. If you have received an unfavorable decision after appealing a denial of benefits by the Social Security Administration to the U.S. District Courts, you may appeal your case to the U.S. Court of Appeals. An appeal is initiated by filing a Notice of Appeal after receiving an unfavorable decision from the U.S. District Court. The U.S. Court of Appeals, however, limits its decision making to reviewing whether the U.S. District Court made any errors in its application of the law and facts. Experienced counsel is necessary on appeal because an adverse decision affects not only the claimant ' s case but the cases of future claimants with similar circumstances.

Please call 312-630-0064 to set up your appointment now!