Medina County
Social Security Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. Berger and Green Attorneys Help Our Clients Navigate the SSDI and SSI Process
2. What Is Social Security Disability?
3. How Can I Be Sure I Am Eligible for SSDI or SSI?
4. Berger and Green Helps Ensure You Prove Your Eligibility for Benefits
5. You Can Speak to a Berger and Green Team Member for Free Today

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

April 04, 2022

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Social Security Disability may help those with disabling conditions that prevent them from working and receiving a steady income. However, getting approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is not easy for many people. If you need help applying for benefits from these programs, a Medina County Social Security Disability lawyer from Berger and Green can help.

Our team offers free consultations for Ohio residents in Medina, Wadsworth, Brunswick, and other nearby areas. You can speak to someone from Berger and Green about your application, what to do if you receive a denial, and how we can help. We represent claimants based on contingency fees.

Berger and Green Attorneys Help Our Clients Navigate the SSDI and SSI Process

Berger and Green has represented clients who need help getting the compensation they deserve for more than 40 years. When it comes to seeking Social Security Disability benefits, this includes both applying for the correct program and navigating the appeals process after a denial. 

Our Role in the Application Process

Many people contact our team before they file their initial claim for SSDI or SSI, and we help them apply for benefits. This includes reviewing their initial application for any errors. Perhaps most importantly, we can ensure that Disability Determination Services (DDS) has all the information it needs to contact our clients’ medical care providers. This is necessary because it allows DDS to review our clients’ relevant medical records and learn more about their health.

We Represent Medina, OH, Clients in Appeals

All too often, a claimant receives a denial notice from a DDS representative. There are many reasons why this occurs, but you will need only one process to hopefully overturn this decision. We help our clients navigate this process and fight for the compensation they need since they cannot work and earn a living. 

This process may include:

• Reconsideration
• A meeting with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
• An Appeals Council review
• A Federal Court review

We request reconsideration on behalf of our clients, a necessary step in this process. This entails a representative from DDS reviewing their paperwork and records and determining if they agree with the previous decision. 

If reconsideration does not gain approval for benefits, we will get our client a date for a hearing with an ALJ. This is sometimes handled in person, but it is often done through a phone call or video conference. We represent our clients to the Judge and ensure they are comfortable with this step in the process. 

The ALJ hearing often allows us to get a denial overturned for our clients. However, we have 60 days to request an Appeals Council review if they do not grant benefits to our client during the ALJ hearing.

What Is Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability (SSD) includes two programs, each with its own objectives and targeting a different population. In general, you will likely qualify for one or the other. However, some people may meet the qualifications of both under certain circumstances.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program that ensures a steady income for workers whose health has made them leave the workforce. It is not an income-based program. However, if you continue to try to work, you must have an earned income below the current substantial gainful activity limit to qualify. This is $1,350 per month in 2022 for a non-blind individual.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) serves a different purpose. It offers compensation for those who have few assets and little to no income, and whose health prevents them from working. There is no requirement for previous work. 

How Can I Be Sure I Am Eligible for SSDI or SSI?

While the qualifications for SSDI and SSI do differ, both programs require the claimant to prove their disability is so severe that it keeps them from working. This can be done in one of two ways: 

• Meeting the criteria for their condition listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book
• Undergoing a residual functional capacity assessment and the outcome showing they cannot complete any of the jobs they qualify to hold

For SSDI, applicants also must meet the work credit requirement. In general, they are eligible if they have at least 20 credits, which is about five years of recent work. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. It depends on a person’s age. 

SSI is an income-based program, so the applicant’s household will need to meet strict requirements about their income and assets. Our team can help you assess your qualifications based on your financial situation. We help claimants file their applications.

Berger and Green Helps Ensure You Prove Your Eligibility for Benefits

To get approved for SSDI or SSI, you must show a DDS representative that you cannot work because of your health. You will have to show that your condition is so severe that it causes disability or because your overall health prevents you from earning enough money to pay your expenses. 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides evidentiary requirements for claimants based on the condition that causes their disability. These requirements usually include test results, scans, failed treatments, and other medical details only available through your medical records. This is why we must make sure DDS can use the information on your application to contact all your care providers and obtain the necessary records.

If you already received a denial, it may be necessary for you to line up testing or appointments, undergo certain assessments, or take other steps to properly document your condition and how it affects your everyday life. Berger and Green can evaluate your case and determine the best route to pursue the benefits you need. 

You Can Speak to a Berger and Green Team Member for Free Today

At Berger and Green, our team can assess your application or denial today at no cost to your family. We provide free consultations, and our attorneys represent clients based on contingency fees. You can learn more about your options and how we can help you through the application and appeals process. Contact us now to get started.