Loudonville
Social Security Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. How Berger and Green Supports Loudonville, Ohio, Claimants
2. Proving You Are Unable to Work Because of Your Condition
3. SSDI Versus SSI: What Are the Differences?
4. We Will Navigate the Stages of a Social Security Disability Appeal
5. Get Your Free Consultation with Our Team Today

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

April 04, 2022

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

If your health impedes your financial stability, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Known jointly as “Social Security Disability,” these two programs provide a source of income for those whose disabilities keep them from working. A Loudonville Social Security Disability lawyer from Berger and Green can pursue the benefits you need. 

We provide free consultations about your legal options. You can start one now at no cost or obligation. 

How Berger and Green Supports Loudonville, Ohio, Claimants

At Berger and Green, our attorney’s fees are based on contingency. We receive a portion of your back pay if we are successful in navigating the appeals process and getting you approved for benefits. You do not need to pay us anything upfront and nothing out of your monthly income from SSDI or SSI. 

Our team will review your initial application, ensuring you have included all necessary information. This will allow the Disability Determination Services representative to accurately assess your application.  

If you received a denial, understand you are not alone. The Social Security Administration (SSA) denies most claims upon their first submission, and most people who receive benefits have to challenge a denial. You have options. We can explain this process, and our lawyers provide representation for claimants.

Proving You Are Unable to Work Because of Your Condition

The SSA requires claimants to prove that their disabilities are so severe that they impede their ability to work. When you apply for benefits, you include your doctors’ information on the claim. As a part of the evaluation process, a Disability Determination Services representative reviews your relevant medical records, test results, medical imaging scans, and other information.

They use this documentation to see if your case meets the evidentiary requirements outlined by the SSA. If the SSA does not obtain the full records necessary from your doctors, you forget to include key care providers, or they simply overlook key evidence, the Disability Determination Services representative may decide you do not have enough evidence to support your application. 

This is where our team comes in. We can review your application for completion and accuracy, advise you on what information could support your claim, and help you navigate any appeals proceedings. 

SSDI Versus SSI: What Are the Differences?

While both SSDI and SSI fall under the umbrella of Social Security Disability benefits, the two programs are actually quite different. They both serve those living with severe, lasting disabilities, but that is where the similarities end. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

Your Eligibility for SSDI Depends on Your Work History

SSDI serves those who have worked jobs that paid Social Security taxes but now cannot work due to a disability. They must have a minimum number of “work credits” earned each year they work. In general, older workers usually need more credits, while younger workers need fewer credits.

SSDI does not limit how much income can come into a claimant’s household. As a part of proving you cannot work, however, you will need to have an earned income below the 2022 substantial gainful activity limit: $1,350 per month. 

SSI Depends on Your Countable Assets

SSI is an income-based program that provides supplemental pay for households where there are few resources and little money coming in. The program helps people make ends meet when it comes to paying for their basic needs, including food, shelter, heat, and more. 

There is no work requirement for SSI, but there are strict income and asset limits that apply. For example, as an unmarried person, you cannot have more than $2,000 in countable assets to qualify for SSI. 

We Will Navigate the Stages of a Social Security Disability Appeal

When you receive a denial based on your initial application, it is because a Disability Determination Services representative identified a problem with your claim. 

For instance, if you didn’t provide enough supporting information, this could result in your claim’s denial. However, if you are approved during the appeals process, you may also receive back pay to cover the time back to your initial application.

A Berger and Green Social Security Disability attorney serving Loudonville can manage your appeal, challenging the determination made for your claim. This requires: 

Reconsideration

We generally have up to 60 days to request reconsideration after our client receives a denial notice. Reconsideration includes the same agency—Disability Determination Services—reviewing the same information it already has on hand. The person that reviews your application will be different from the first person who reviewed it. 

Meeting with an Administrative Law Judge

Only after a denial through reconsideration can we request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This hearing includes an ALJ reviewing the application, all available evidence, and other information. This meeting can be done by phone, video conference, or in person. 

We regularly represent clients during this step in the appeals process, and many can gain approval for their benefits if their condition is well-documented. 

Next Steps

If we do not gain approval for our clients during reconsideration or through the ALJ hearing, we can continue the process by asking the Appeals Council to review the application. Lastly, requesting a Federal Court review is the final step in the process, if your application is not approved in the previous stages.  

Get Your Free Consultation with Our Team Today

You can discuss your application or appeal with an attorney from Berger and Green today for free. Our team provides complimentary consultations where we offer application reviews, advice, and information. We can also assess your options if you have already applied and received a denial for SSDI or SSI. Contact our team serving Loudonville today to learn more.