Social Security Disability Lawyers in South Carolina
The Social Security Disability application and approval process can be complicated. Between the government’s red tape, deadlines, and filings required, you may feel completely overwhelmed. This only exacerbates the stress of not being able to work because of your impairments. The South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC have experience with the system, and we know how the process works. If you qualify for benefits, we will work on your behalf to get them as soon as possible.
Around 80-90% of disability claims are denied initially. If you need Social Security disability benefits (SSDI), you should consider hiring a South Carolina disability lawyer to help you obtain the benefits to which you may be entitled. The South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC can help you today.
Do I Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
To determine whether you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, consider these issues:
Are you working?
If you are working and have average earnings of more than $1,260 per month, you likely cannot be considered disabled. If you are not currently working, you may be eligible for social security disability benefits.
Is your condition “severe”?
If your condition does not interfere with certain activities, Social Security may find that you are not disabled. In order for your condition to be considered severe, it has to interfere with basic work-related activities. Some examples of “work-related activities” are walking, sitting, concentrating, standing or maintaining pace. If your health condition interferes with these types of basic work-related activities, you should consider applying for benefits.
Is your medical condition on the SSA’s list of disabling conditions?
The Social Security Administration keeps a list of medical conditions that are so severe that having a diagnosis for one of these conditions may automatically qualify you for disability benefits. If you have a condition that is not listed, the SSA will make a determination as to whether your condition is equal in severity to another listed condition. If your condition is found to be of equal severity to one of the listed conditions, the Social Security Administration will consider you disabled. Even if your medical condition is not on the above list, you still may be considered disabled if you are not able to work full-time. If you are 50 years old or older and you have certain physical limitations, the standard for disability is lower than it is for younger people.
Can you do any other type of work?
If you are no longer able to do the same kind of work you used to do, Social Security must then decide whether you are able to adjust to some other type of work. Social Security will consider your age, education, past work experience, medical conditions, and any other skills you may have that you can put to use in another field. If the SSA finds that you are unable to adjust to another type of work, your claim for benefits will be approved. If they find that you are able to adjust to other work, they will deny your claim.
Can you do the work you did previously?
If your medical condition is considered severe, but not equal in its level of severity as a medical condition on SSA’s list, then the next step will be for Social Security to determine if your condition interferes with your ability to keep working. If your medical condition does not interfere with your ability to continue working, then SSA will deny your claim. If your medical condition does interfere with your ability to keep working, then the next factor for consideration is whether you are able to do any other type of work.
How do I apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?
You can apply for Social Security Disability benefits at your local social security office, online at www.ssa.gov or by telephone by calling 1-800-772-1213. Once you have finished the application process, you must wait for notification from SSA about whether you have been accepted or rejected. If you are denied, you will have sixty (60) days to appeal the decision.
The South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm can help you apply. By trusting our attorneys to complete an application on your behalf, we can be certain that your application is complete and free from error. After we submit your application, we’ll work with you throughout the entire process — all the way to a Federal Court case if necessary.
What Happens if I am Denied?
Most people who apply for Social Security Disability benefits will be denied. We can help you fight denied benefits and assist you in filing for reconsideration. Honest claimants with legitimate illnesses and disabilities are often initially denied before they are successful in obtaining disability benefits. You have the right to appeal a denial and request a reconsideration of your claim.
What Happens After I am Denied a Second Time?
If your claim is again rejected after a request for reconsideration, the Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm can file an appeal on your behalf and continue to pursue benefits for you. We accomplish this by requesting a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge.
What Happens if a Judge Rules Against Me at a Hearing?
If the Administrative Law Judge rules against you and your claim for Social Security Disability benefits is denied, our attorneys will draft and file a legal brief and again appeal the denial. The brief we file will be submitted to an appeals council for review.
What’s the Next Step?
If all previous appeals are exhausted, the next step is to file suit in Federal Court. We will review your case to determine if this is appropriate for your claim. When seeking a lawyer, you should ask if the lawyer will take the case to Federal Court. Not all lawyers are admitted to practice law in Federal Court in South Carolina, and many Social Security attorneys simply refuse to take cases to Federal Court. While not every denial at the Appeals Council should be appealed to Federal Court, at the Strom Law Firm, we will always consider that option and pursue it if there are legal errors in your case.
Will I Get Approved or Denied SSDI?
Every application is different. It is important to hire an experienced lawyer to fight on your behalf during this process. The Social Security Disability Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC will assist you from day one, from handling your claim, to keeping you updated throughout the entire process. Our goal will always be to get you the benefits to which you are entitled and to do it as quickly as possible.
What Kind of Benefits Am I Eligible For?
You may be eligible to collect Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security. Less popular types of benefits also include adult child disability benefits, requiring you to be disabled before the age of 22 and the child of a deceased or disabled worker, and widow and widower benefits when you are disabled and seeking benefits based on the earnings history of a deceased spouse.
At the Strom Law Firm, we will analyze your eligibility for all potential benefits. To determine which type of benefits you might be eligible for, call the lawyers at the Strom Law Firm today and let us assist you with your claim for benefits. The Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm are eager to help. Call us at (803) 252-4800 to schedule a free consultation to discuss how our lawyers can help you.
Do You Have More Social Security Claim Questions?
If you still have questions about your eligibility for Social Security benefits in South Carolina, please contact us at (803) 252-4800. Our initial consultations are always free. The Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC can help you apply for your disability benefits, file for reconsideration, request a hearing, appeal a hearing decision and file suit in federal court.
How Do I Hire a South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyer?
If you qualify for benefits based on the Social Security Administration’s requirements discussed above, the South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC may be able to help. Our attorneys will manage the entire process for you from the application and appeal to the final decision. This way, you can focus on your family and your health instead of worrying about the technicalities of your case.
If you are still unsure about whether your medical conditions or impairments make you eligible to collect disability benefits, you can call us with any questions by calling (803) 252-4800 to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers. Whatever your question or issue regarding Social Security Disability benefits, our South Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers can meet with you for free to answer your questions and see if we can help. We are available 24/7. Call us at (803) 252-4800 today and let us apply our experience, passion, and knowledge to your case.
