If you have a disability and are either unable to work or not work as much as you were able to before the disability, then you may be entitled to Social Security Disability. When you utilize Social Security Disability or “America’s safety net,” you can get monthly cash benefits in your time of need. It’s important to understand that many Social Security Disability claims get rejected, which is why you should talk with a Social Security Disability attorney in Camdenton and Lebanon, MO, before and after submitting your claim. Deputy & Mizell offers free consultations to disabled people in Jefferson City, Columbia, Rolla, Lebanon, Camdenton, and all around Missouri. Keep reading for a few things you may not have known about Social Security Disability.
3 Things You May Not Know About Social Security Disability
What the Disability Hearing is Like
Claimants are often nervous before the disability hearing simply because they do not know what to expect. When you appeal your case, you can request an in-person hearing or a Virtual Teleconference Hearing.
- If you choose a Virtual Teleconference Hearing, your hearing could be at a local Social Security Administration Office. In this part of the state, these types of hearings take place at the Social Security Administration offices in Jefferson City, Lebanon, and Sedalia.
- If you choose an in-person hearing, it will be held at an Office of Adjudication and Review (ODAR). In this part of the state, in-person hearings are held at the ODAR location in Columbia.
If you have an in-person hearing, it will take place in a courtroom that is much smaller than a courtroom you would see at a county courthouse. There will be an administrative law judge, a court reporter, and a vocational expert in the courtroom. The court reporter will swear you and the vocational expert in, and the hearing will begin. The administrative law judge will have already reviewed your file with all of your medical records and will ask you questions about your past work, your physical and mental limitations, your daily activities, and your social life.
After you are done testifying, the administrative law judge will then ask the vocational expert hypothetical questions about what jobs a person with your disabilities could perform. You will then have a chance to cross-examine or ask the vocational expert follow-up questions.
The Administrative Law Judge will not make a ruling at the end of the hearing. It typically takes three to six months to receive the final decision.
How to Pay for a Social Security Disability Lawyer
We have had countless clients tell us they were hesitant to get a disability attorney because they could not afford one. Our fee is completely contingent on winning your case, which means we do not get paid unless you win. If you hire us, we will have you sign a fee agreement which allows us to collect 25% of the past due benefits you are awarded, up to a maximum of $6,000.
What Back Payments from the Social Security Administration Are
Back Payments are payments the social security administration should have been paying you while you were going through your appeal. Back payments are calculated differently based on the type of claim you file.
- For Social Security Disability claims, the back payments begin at the alleged onset date. The alleged onset date is the date you believe your disability or combined disabilities prevented you from working.
- For Supplemental Security Income claims, the back payments will typically begin at the date you applied for Supplemental Security Income.
Typically, Social Security Disability claims are pertaining to those who have worked a significant amount of hours, Supplemental Security Income claims are for people with low-income who haven’t worked enough to qualify for Social Security Disability.
Claimants need to keep in mind that the Social Security Administration or the Administrative Law Judge may disagree with your alleged onset date and change it. We have had several cases where Administrative Law Judges changed the alleged onset date because the Judge did not believe there was enough objective medical evidence to support the alleged onset date, or the Judge believes the claimant was capable of working still after the alleged onset date.
Need Legal Assistance With Your Social Security Disability Case?
Our Camden County Social Security Disability lawyers understand how challenging it is to live with disabilities that prevent you from working, and we have the experience it takes to get the disability benefits that you deserve. To schedule your free consultation, call Deputy & Mizell at 573-346-9990.
Contact Deputy & Mizell, LLC to schedule your private (FREE) consultation today.
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