Suffering from an injury or illness that causes you to have a long-term disability can seem like a disheartening catch-22: you need money to pay for your medical bills so you can heal, yet you must work in order to get the money to pay the medical bills. To help keep you out of this terrible situation, the Social Security Administration offers aid to those who can prove that they indeed have a long-term disability.

The Social Security Administration, or SSA, provides two types of disability coverage. First, Social Security disability insurance, or SSDI, can help provide for you as well as sometimes your dependents after you are injured. Secondly, supplemental security income, or SSI, takes into account your financial status and gives aid accordingly.

If you believe that you have an ailment that prevents you from working, you will have to prove that you are eligible for SSDI or SSI. Although the SSA provides as much help as possible, they are still very strict on approving people to receive long-term disability benefits. One important aspect of your application is the medical evidence showing that you are disabled.

In putting together your case, the SSA requires certain types of medical evidence. This evidentiary information must be provided by a doctor who either evaluated or treated you after your accident, preferably the latter. This is because a physician who was in charge of treating your injury or illness likely spent more time evaluating the overall effects on your body and the extent to which it could be healed.

Medical and osteopathic doctors, as well as optometrists, psychologists, and podiatrists must all be properly licensed in order to count as a source of evidence in your case. Additionally, psychologists can be certified, and speech pathologists must be appropriately licensed or certified as well.

From these sources, the SSA will ask for a variety of information. Although you are responsible for providing this medical information, the SSA can help you gather the reports with your permission. The reports that the SSA looks for include:

Medical history
Clinical and laboratory findings
Diagnosis
Prescribed treatment plan
Prognosis
The activities that you can still perform despite the injury or illness

Sometimes, no matter how detailed the medical information you provide and the proof that you have of your disability, the SSA may decide to deny your claim. If you have been denied long-term disability coverage and plan on filing for an appeal, you should enlist the help of an experienced long-term disability attorney to help you with your case.

For more information, contact a long-term disability lawyer from the Law Office of Charles D Hankey, P.C., today.

By: Joseph Devine

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Before undergoing knee replacement surgery you should check with a good disability lawyer about Social Security and disability benefits. Social Security benefits are handled by State authorities, and not all States automatically treat knee replacement arthritis as a disability. You should be able to get benefits, at least for the duration of recovery from knee replacement pain, and potentially after. You will want to learn in advance what the application process is and what you need to do to get a disability award before you have the knee replaced.

It is possible you could qualify for Social Security assistance to help with the cost of knee joint replacement surgery. A panel for the National Institutes of Health reported the cost of total knee joint replacement pain surgery could often be less than paying Social Security benefits over the remaining years of expected life. They went on to say mobility and quality of life could be improved for 90% of the patients. If you have knee arthritis, even if you haven’t undergone surgery, you could still qualify for Social Security benefits. You may even qualify for knee replacement arthritis surgery. Speak to a disability lawyer about the range of motion required to qualify and then have your doctor certify how much mobility you have (or have lost) due to arthritis.

If you have already undergone knee joint replacement arthritis surgery and the knee replacement pain is excessive or unbearable, to the point after six months you are still not mobile enough to walk without assistance, you can apply to the Social Security Administration to be classified as disabled. If you have been denied benefits, again, speak with a good disability lawyer. A skilled disability lawyer will understand what you’re going through and the processes that will get you the benefits you deserve. They can guide you through the process, often filing papers on your behalf. Should you need to reapply they can do that too. Claims by people with attorneys are granted more often than those who file without the help of an attorney.

Disability is not an advantage, but if you are disabled due to knee joint replacement arthritis or a lack of mobility, you have a right to disability benefits. These benefits are designed to help make your life easier when faced with immobility from knee replacement pain. Don’t let the pain and immobility of your knees keep you from getting what you rightly deserve.

By: Jerry Seaman

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Taking the pain out of finding a specialty doctor

Most individuals find the process of applying for disability tiresome. Forms with special letters and numbers coupled with extensive questions and the request for additional records often leaves a disability applicant exhausted, both mentally and physically. After a claimant files his/her initial application either online, on the phone, or at a local security office, most claimants feel the only thing remaining following their efforts is to wait patiently for a ruling, hopefully a favorable one. However, to increase the claimant’s probability of receiving social security disability benefits, the pursuit must go on. Depending upon an individual’s medical condition, most illnesses, especially those complex in nature, require supportive medical documentation from a specialist. For example, due to the severity and complex nature of disorders such as Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and RSD, several doctors (often ranging from a family physician to pain management doctors/specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and sleep disorder physicians) are involved with the care of the individual.

A specialist is a physician that has received additional training in a particular field. Most often, he/she is able to perform tests that family physicians are unable to either because they do not have access to specific and required testing equipment or they have not been trained in a specialized area of medicine. This article is written with the disability applicant in mind, especially those claimants that are already mentally and/or physical exhausted by the disability process. This article provides readers with a basic roadmap, a place to start by incorporating unique tools surprisingly common to network marketing. By utilizing these tips, claimants will be able to find highly trained and reputable physicians specializing in particular disorders. A reminder to readers – it is essential after finding a physician that claimants take the next step by following through with an appointment and beginning treatment as soon as possible. However, always check with your attorney and/or representative before making your final decision and beginning any course of treatment. Your attorney should always be skilled in the area of disability and will know the best strategy needed for helping you receive disability benefits.

Below are the top three ways recommended for finding a doctor, one that is both knowledgeable and has a reputation of integrity:

Referrals – Referrers consist mainly of family, friends and co-workers. More often than not, when a referrer makes a referral, he/she is basing their opinion on knowledge a disability applicant may or may not have privilege to. The referrer may already have a relationship with a particular doctor. In this case, the referrer has past knowledge of a particular doctor’s “bed-side” manners so to speak. In addition, those referrers who have used a doctor in the past can share information related to clinic directions, hours of operations, etc. Often word of mouth referrals are better than any other kind of resource a claimant has available.

Church, Synagogue, etc. – Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship serve as a valuable resource for finding doctors in specific fields of medicine. Because of the diversity that members of a church organization bring, it is often the quickest and safest place to network with others when trying to locate a particular person of interest. Usually the church leader is able to make a quick recommendation, as he/she has knowledge of the members’ professions.

Support Groups – There are multiple means in which to find support groups for any medical condition. If you are uncertain if a specific support group exists in your local area, the internet is a beginning point, especially for those disability claimants who are house bound. Simply go to a search engine such as google and type in, for instance, key words such as “fibromyalgia support groups in Atlanta, GA.” In addition, most major illnesses have national foundations, so if the above search does not yield any positive results, try key words such as “national arthritis foundation.” In this particular example, The Arthritis Foundation found at arthritis.org sponsors many fibromyalgia support groups in the US. In addition, the National Fibromyalgia Association website can be found at fmaware.org. A similar approach will help disability applicants find specific doctors trained in their illness. While using the same manner described above, use key words such as “fibromyalgia physicians in Atlanta, GA.” Some illnesses have websites devoted strictly to helping individuals find doctors in a chosen field. For example, the website http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm provides a list of doctors who deal primarily with fibromyalgia patients.

Support groups not only provide emotional support to individuals stricken with the disease, but some groups provide support or additional resources for family members. All illnesses, despite their degree of severity, affect immediate family members whether being an emotional and/or physical toll or an increased financial obligation. In addition to emotional support, these type groups are a great source for networking with other individuals similarly situated. Support groups often meet monthly or bi-weekly while others have weekly scheduled meetings. Because of their likeness in an illness, support group participants are a great resource tool for finding a specialist. Local newspapers often have a section that lists all local support groups available in a common area.

Although there are potentially many more networking avenues available for finding a specialist, the above is a great starting point. While utilizing any of the above, claimants should be able to locate a physician that will be able to work with them throughout the disability process. These highly trained doctors are familiar with both the documentation and tests needed to aid the disability claimant with their application. In closing, it is recommended that a claimant take an active “PART” in any visit that he/she has with a physician, whether it be a family physician or a specialist. Being active prior to and during an appointment yields a productive session. The word “PART” is broken down as follows:

P – Prepare: make a precise list of questions or concerns before your appointment. This is not strictly limited to the first appointment only. Prepare for each appointment. As both your treatment and illness progresses, new questions will arise. By having a list of questions ready, you will be able to make the most of the time afforded to you by your doctor.

A – Be Active: begin the visit with a brief description of what your main concerns are. Be honest and tell the doctor exactly how you feel. Also, be sure to be specific on where you experience pain, if any and how this pain affects your daily life.

R – Repeat: State back to the doctor what the doctor has said to you. Doctor’s visits are often short and follow-up calls often result in returned calls by a nurse only. Make sure you understand what your doctor is saying.

T – Take Charge: As the visit ends, ask yourself if you have everything, you need to take charge of your illness. Remember, you are in charge of your life. You run your life, not your life runs you.

Again, as mentioned earlier, before making a final decision on a specialist, check with your disability attorney and/or representative. Specialty doctors are expensive and routinely order a series of extensive testing. Be sure that any tests ordered are necessary to further your disability cause.

By: Jonathan Ginsberg

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If you have reached your mid-40’s and you enjoy playing in tennis, basketball or racketball leagues, there is a good chance that you have experienced lower back pain. Although you may not feel much different than you did in your 20’s, your body has, in fact, changed and your exercise routine needs to change as well.

Assuming you have no significant medical issue such as a herniated disc or ligament tear, and you follow your doctor’s advice about exercise, there is no reason why you cannot remain competitive in your leagues for many years to come.
An effective warm up routine help prevent strains and sprains and may help prevent more serious injuries

as well. There are any number of effective warm up routines – you can use the following routine as a starting point for your own pre-exercise stretching.

Your warm up routine should become a habit. Middle aged bodies are extremely susceptible to muscle andligament strains and tears if you begin vigorous exercise without proper hydration and warm up.
Hydration should be your starting point for effective warm-ups. Many of the foods and liquids we consume as part of our diet can dehydrate our bodies, and many adults in America exist in an almost constant state of dehydration. At least 30 to 60 minutes before your workout, begin drinking copious amounts of water. Appropriate hydration alone will guard against many muscle strains.

Next, start your exercise with a total body stretch. In my routine, I take a 10 lb. medicine ball, extend my arms and swing the ball side to side in a 180 degree arc as I walk the length of a basketball court and back. This stretching exercise loosens my lower back, the muscles of my arms and my legs.

The next part of my warm-up routine involves the use of exercise bands. Exercise bands are large rubber bands that are usually sold in a package of 3, with different tensions. In my case, the blue band is the thickest, followed by the red band, then the yellow. I put one of the bands around my ankles then I use a “crab walk” going forward for the length of a basketball court. I will then crab walk backwards the same distance. Next I turn and slide side to side down the court and back. These rubber band exercises loosen the hips and lower body.

With the rubber bands removed, I then “high step” the length of the basketball court and back. A high step looks like an exaggerated march where you raise your knee as high as it can go while walking. This exercise loosens your lower back, thighs and knees.

The final part of my warmup requires the use of an exercise mat. I lie on my side with my body in a straight line and one leg resting on the other. I bend my top leg and slowly swing my knee forward and backward as far as I can go. This stretch warms up my hips and lower backs and it also requires the use of the arms for balance. Twenty to thirty of these hip rolls should be sufficient.

This entire warm-up routine may take 15 to 20 minutes and will prepare your body for more strenous exercises. Like any exercise routine, stop if you become dizzy or experience any significant pain and seek prompt medical attention. I use this routine before my morning workout and before playing in my 40 and over basketball league.

Weekend warrior athletes and sedentary professionals who exercise regularly need to allow time for a regular warm-up routine before exerting themselves. If your warm-up routine covers all of your major muscle groups, you can avoid painful injuries.

By: Jonathan Ginsberg

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Civil Lawyer

Do I need a Lawyer?

To a degree, seeking social security disability (SSDI) benefits often seems like you are speaking a different language. The process involves complicated and often confusing forms and medical documentation. The Social Security Administration does nothing to make the process clear or understandable. As a result, contending with the myriad of administrative rules and forms can be extremely time consuming and stressful. Even worse, errors in filing may result in a social security disability claim denial.

The end result is that up to seventy percent of all claims for disability get denied at the initial claim level!

With a social security disability lawyer, you significantly improve your chances of success. The fact is that, with representation, over fifty percent of cases heard by Administrative Law Judges get approved. That figure alone makes retaining one of our experienced social security disability attorneys a wise choice.

Additionally, there is no risk. No legal fees are collected if your social security disability claim is not successful. You can also be assured that all aspects of your case, including complicated paper work, will be handled confidentially and professionally.

How Can I Improve My Case?

Your chances for approval on your social security disability (SSDI) claim increases dramatically by very simply following through with regular medical treatments for the condition. This will allow you to provide complete documentation of your impairment and how it affects your daily activities.

How Long does Social Security Disability Process Take:

Once your initial Social Security Disability (SSDI) Application has been filed, your documentation is provided to Disability Determination Services. After being processed, the application and any supporting documentation is provided to a social security disability examiner. This is where the process starts. The social security disability examiner will often seek any missing medical records that document the applicant’s impairment. Waiting for those records may take many months. It is only after those records have been thoroughly reviewed that the claim is initially allowed or denied.

If denied, a Social Security Disability (SSDI) Hearing must be scheduled. There are detailed procedures that must be followed to seek that hearing. After that Social Security Disability hearing has been requested, it may still take up to one year before you have your hearing. Even after that hearing, it may take another three to six months for a Judge to render a decision.

If your claim is then denied, you may immediately seek reconsideration of that denial. A decision on that request for reconsideration may take several months. If the claim is denied, you may immediately file a request for a hearing.

By: James Greeman

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To get disability in West Virginia you must first file an application with the Social Security Administration, by either filling out an application online or going in person to your local social security office. It is not at all difficult to file for social security disability benefits in West Virginia.

However, it is difficult to win social security disability (SSD) or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits in West Virginia, where in recent years only about 3 out of every 10 disability applications have been approved. If your initial disability application is turned down and you choose to fight the decision, you can file an appeal with the state Disability Determination Services (DDS) agency; however, since this is the very same agency that shot down your claim the first time around, you should not be overly optimistic about the outcome.

Actually, the West Virginia DDS has one of the worst approval rates for disability appeals, or requests for reconsideration, in the country. Nationally, only about 15% of reconsideration appeals are successful. In West Virginia, the numbers are even more dismal: In only about 1 out of 10 reconsideration appeals is a disability examiner’s decision to deny a claim overturned.

If you live in West Virginia and have been denied disability benefits, there is still hope. Keep in mind that, although it is true that very few disability cases are successful in West Virginia, the odds aren’t great anywhere else in the country either.

In West Virginia, like every other state, the best chance for winning disability benefits is at the second appeal level. Why? Because the second appeal for benefits is decided by a federal administrative law judge (ALJ), rather than a state disability examiner. For whatever reason, ALJs are statistically more likely to grant disability claims than DDS. And, if you have a lawyer, the odds of approval are even better-more than 60 percent of all disability appeals are approved when the claimant has legal representation. Keep in mind that, due to current backlogs in the system, it can take up to two years to have your case heard before an administrative judge! After the long, long disability determination process: initial application, reconsideration appeal, and finally, your chance to appear before a federal judge; you really need to be well prepared.

So, if your initial claim for social security disability benefits is denied, start looking around for a good disability attorney or non-attorney rep as soon as possible, as it’s highly likely you will need to appear at a disability hearing. A lawyer experienced in representing disability cases can help you present your medical records in the most convincing light possible.

In West Virginia, where the odds of being approved for SSD or SSI are even lower than the national average, a well-organized, persuasive, legally sound case is critical to winning benefits.

By: Timothy Moore

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