Ashland
Social Security Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. Berger and Green Knows Social Security Disability Benefits and Can Help
2. Proving Your Eligibility Is a Must Before Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits
3. You May Be Eligible for SSD Benefits if Your Condition Keeps You From Working
4. We Will File an Appeal After an Ashland, Ohio, SSD Claim Denial
5. Call Today to Review Your Ashland, OH, SSD Benefits Claim With Us for Free

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

April 04, 2022

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Social Security Disability can help people with disabling conditions to draw an income despite being unable to work. If your health prevents you from working at your job, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. An Ashland Social Security Disability lawyer from Berger and Green may be able to help you apply for or challenge a denial.

Berger and Green’s team can complete and file initial applications for people in Ashland and greater Ashland County, Ohio, who are seeking disability benefits. We can also navigate the appeals process if the Social Security Administration (SSA) has denied your claim. You can get legal advice and determine your next steps during a free consultation. If we accept your case, there are no fees for legal representation. We get paid only if you recover benefits. Call us today for a free consultation.

Berger and Green Knows Social Security Disability Benefits and Can Help

Berger and Green’s lawyers have helped our clients achieve positive case outcomes for their legal matters for more than 40 years. We know how the Social Security Disability (SSD) application, determination, and appeals processes work, and we will ensure you have the best chance of getting approved based on the facts of your case.

When we review the claims process with you, we will explain how you or your relative can apply for disability benefits and the benefits you could apply for. You could be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both. We will answer your questions and concerns and simplify complex or confusing language concerning Social Security Disability claims. 

We will go to work for you and establish your eligibility for benefits if your condition makes it difficult for you to work in Ashland, Ohio. We will ensure your initial application’s information is correct and complete to avoid any errors that could delay your case. We will also meet all deadlines.

Work With Doctors to Get Medical Evidence for Your Ashland, OH, Disability Claim

It is especially important that we ensure you include key information about your medical care providers who treat you for your disabling condition. Your medical records will play a key role in your application’s evaluation, so it is important that you work with your doctors  to obtain them. 

Once your application is complete, we will apply for benefits. Our support won’t end there. We will navigate the entire process and can represent you if you receive a denial.

Proving Your Eligibility Is a Must Before Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits

Before Disability Determination Services (DDS) approves your Social Security Disability benefits, proof is needed that you are eligible to receive SSDI or SSI. This is where your medical records must prove your condition is so severe that it keeps you from earning a living.

The necessary evidence differs based on your diagnosis and the factors that cause your condition to be disabling. The SSA lists which medical conditions qualify applicants for disability benefits in its Book listing of impairments. Examples of qualifying impairments include illnesses such as: 

• Cancer
• Heart failure or disease
• Respiratory ailments
• Kidney failure or disease
• Neurological disorders
• Severe injury to a limb

Qualifying conditions also include mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this book, SSA provides the evidentiary requirements based on several qualifying conditions and symptoms.

How Does SSA Determine Who Has a Disability?

SSA deems a disability as qualifying if it is a physical or mental impairment that is expected to last at least 12 months (a year) or result in death. It is also a condition that means you cannot perform or engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA). An Ashland Social Security Disability lawyer from our firm will explain this further and how it affects your claim.

What If My Condition Is Not Listed in the SSA’s Blue Book?

People with disabling conditions not in the SSA’s Blue Book listing of impairments can still apply for Social Security Disability benefits. The disability, however, must still meet the federal agency’s definition of disability.

If your condition is not listed in this book, SSA will still use your medical records and other information from your doctor to determine if it can assign a residual functional capacity (RFC) or if you must attend a consultative examination.

Berger and Green’s team knows how vital the information from your care providers is to getting approved for benefits. This is why we ensure that all medical providers are identified in your application. We advise you to start contacting your medical providers and let them know you need their assistance with your disability claim. You can also call our law office today to get help. Our team is on standby to speak with you.

You May Be Eligible for SSD Benefits if Your Condition Keeps You From Working

Before you can begin drawing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must prove your medical condition is so severe and disabling that it keeps you from working.

This is why documenting your medical treatment, outcomes, symptoms, limitations, and overall prognosis is so essential to your claim. Proving you have a qualifying condition that keeps you from working is generally the hardest part of getting approval for Social Security Disability benefits.  

Which Social Security Disability Program Is Right for Me – SSDI or SSI?

Most people will only qualify for SSDI or SSI, although some can qualify for both programs. Our team can help you determine your best option if you have questions.

• Social Security Disability Insurance is a program for those who have a history of working but now cannot. There are no household income limits for SSDI and no limits on unearned income. In addition to proving your health prevents you from working, you will need to have a minimum of 20 work credits—or about five years of work history. Younger applicants may not be required to have as many credits as older workers.
• Supplemental Security Income, on the other hand, has no requirement for work history. However, it does consider household income and resources. You must meet strict financial requirements to qualify. It is designed to help those who cannot meet their most basic needs, such as food and shelter.

We Will File an Appeal After an Ashland, Ohio, SSD Claim Denial

Most applicants for Social Security Disability benefits do not get approved based on their initial application. If a Disability Determination Services (DDS) representative notifies you that SSA denied your claim, you are not alone. Many other people have experienced the same thing and later received approval for their benefits. Berger and Green is here to help you navigate the next stage after a claim denial.

Our Ashland disability attorneys know how the Ohio Social Security Disability appeals process works and the steps we can take to help our clients gain approval. We must act quickly, so we encourage you to let us know about your denial as soon as possible.

The appeals process in your Ashland, OH, disability benefits case could involve the following steps:

• Reconsideration: A DDS representative reviews and reconsiders the application and supporting evidence to decide if a denial was the correct decision.
• Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): Often done by phone, video conference, or in person, our lawyer represents clients in this hearing. The Administrative Law Judge weighs the evidence and decides if they will overturn the denial and approve the claimant for benefits and back pay.
• Appeals Council review: Occasionally, we need to go beyond the Administrative Law Judge and ask the Appeals Council to review medical records, the application, and the previous decisions in the case.
• Federal Court review: The final step for fighting a denial is to ask the Federal Court to review the case and weigh in.

Call Today to Review Your Ashland, OH, SSD Benefits Claim With Us for Free

If you are living with a disabling condition in Ashland, OH, or Ashland County, we are ready to talk with you about the next steps you can take to start the application or appeals process. These compensation benefits can help you meet your household expenses despite your inability to work. 

Berger and Green will fight for your deserved Social Security Disability benefits in Ashland, Ohio. We have helped thousands of clients resolve their legal matters over the past 40 years, and we want to do the same for you. Call us today for a free, confidential consultation about an SSDI or SSI claim. Let us go to work for you. You won’t owe us any attorney’s fees if you don’t receive benefits.