Little River Social Security Disability Lawyer

Little River Social Security Disability Attorney

Social Security disability can be a tremendous financial help for those who find themselves in need of it. Unfortunately, though, it is a program that can often be taken advantage of by fraudulent actors. This means that the program has put in a lot of measures to avoid that fraud. However, it has created a tangled web of bureaucracy that often rejects those who do legitimately need the benefits.

To ensure that you don’t get caught up in that mess, you should work with a lawyer to ensure you are following proper procedure. At Axelrod & Associates, P.A., we have talented Little River Social Security disability lawyers who can help you with your claim and give you a better chance at getting the help you need.

Qualifications

In order to receive Social Security disability benefits in South Carolina, there are a few qualifications that must be met. They are:

• You must be under 65 years of age.
• You must be a resident of South Carolina.
• You need to have paid into the Social Security program for at least ten years, although in cases of the severely disabled who have never been paid to work, this requirement may be waived.
• You must have a condition that is categorized as “severe” by the government, meaning that it keeps you from being able to work for pay.
• The condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

If you have questions about if you meet the qualifications, a disability lawyer can help you understand your options.

How a Lawyer Can Help

You might not think you need a lawyer to help with disability in Little River, SC, but not using one could end up costing you in the long run. The Social Security disability system can be incredibly complex, and any error in forms or procedures can lead to delays or outright rejection of your claim. If that happens, you may need to go through the appeals process to get your claim covered, which means you’ll wait even longer before getting the help that you need. Save yourself a lot of unnecessary time and hassle by working with our Social Security disability lawyers at Axelrod & Associates, P.A.

Appeals

It’s possible that your initial application will be rejected. As part of trying to manage fraud, this possibility has become more frequent. There is, though, an appeal process that you can go through to try to get your case approved. This can be another difficult process to manage, but a lawyer can help you through it. There are four steps for appealing a claim. They are:

• Review – You can file for a review that is basically just asking them to take a second look at your case. A new employee will review your application and make a decision. If you have any additional evidence that can be added to your case, you may send that in for consideration.
• Hearing – You may request an administrative hearing where a judge reviews and rules on your case.
• Appeals Council – If your case is still not approved after a judge looks at it, you can file for the Appeals Council to also examine your case and make a determination.
• Federal Court Evaluation – Lastly, if the Appeals Council has also decided to reject your case, then you may file for a federal court to look at your case and make their own ruling. However, their ruling will be final, as there are no further options for appeal beyond the federal court.

Social Security Disability Benefits FAQs

Q: Do You Need a Lawyer to Get Disability in South Carolina?

A: You don’t have to have a lawyer to get disability benefits in South Carolina, but it can help improve your chances. Social Security disability can be a complex process, and forms and validation steps can be difficult for the unfamiliar to navigate. A lawyer is not only familiar with the process and can help with exactly what is necessary for your case, but they also understand the appeal process. Therefore, if your initial claim is denied, a lawyer can help you understand your options for appeal and execute them.

Q: How Long Until There Is a Decision on My SSD Claim?

A: There are a number of different factors that determine whether or not a claim is approved, but in general, applicants hear back in three to five months on their claim. A lawyer may be able to check on the claim and see if there is any way to expedite the process. Any errors on forms and in the submission of the claim could also lead to delays, so it can be helpful to have a lawyer help with your submission to ensure it’s done properly.

Q: What Qualifies for Disability in South Carolina?

A: There are a few qualifications for receiving SSD. The first is that you have paid into the Social Security program for at least ten years. There may be occasional exceptions to this when the individual has never been able to work because of a severe disability. The second qualification is that you are under the age of 65. Thirdly, you must have a physical or mental condition that prevents participation in the duties necessary to work for pay. Lastly, that condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

Q: What Kind of Appeals Are There if My Claim is Rejected?

A: If you are rejected from an SSD claim, there are four different levels of appeals you can make, from an informal review at the local level all the way up to a lawsuit in the United States District Court. Working with a lawyer can help you better understand what options are appropriate for your case.

Get Help on Your Claim

We understand the desire to try and file a claim on your own without using a lawyer, but we find that often results in someone coming to us after having gotten caught up in the tangled web of Social Security bureaucracy. In several cases, it would have been more effective for them to work with us in the first place — we could have helped avoid unnecessary delays. If you want to make sure you exhaust every option as efficiently as possible for your Social Security disability claim, contact us today.