Pittsburgh
Asperger’s Syndrome Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. Our Pittsburgh Disability Attorneys Can Lead Your Getting Disability Based on Your Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosis
2. Our Pittsburgh SSD Lawyers Help People Seeking SSD Benefits for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
3. We Can Handle Your Pittsburgh Disability Appeal If SSA Denies Your Claim
4. Don't Know Whether to Apply for SSDI or SSI? We Will Tell You
5. Getting Disability Benefits for Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Based on Your  Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)
6. Meeting Technical Qualifications for a Disability in Pittsburgh, PA

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

January 01, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

If symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome make it challenging to maintain a job in Pittsburgh, you might qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. These benefits, available through the Social Security Administration (SSA), could include monthly cash benefits that can help you cover your medical bills and household expenses.

Berger and Green’s Social Security Disability lawyers can help you or a loved one apply for SSD benefits or challenge a claim denial if SSA denied your benefits application. Call us today for your free case review with our Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Lawyer.

Our Pittsburgh Disability Attorneys Can Lead Your Getting Disability Based on Your Asperger’s Syndrome Diagnosis

Asperger’s syndrome is no longer considered a separate diagnosis in the medical and autism community. Instead, people with the condition can receive an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Still, if you or a loved one has autism or Asperger’s syndrome symptoms, SSA can evaluate your disability benefits claim similarly to how it considers other autism cases.

SSA lists autism in Section 12.10 – Autism Spectrum Disorder of its Blue Book of qualifying impairments. Per this listing, medical records must prove you have the following to qualify for benefits for Asperger’s symptoms:

• Deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication; and
• Limited and repetitive interests, behaviors, and activities

and

Extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following:

• Understanding or remembering information
• Interacting with others
• Concentrating
• Managing yourself

When you apply for disability benefits, you must provide contact information for your primary care physician and others familiar with your case. The disability examiner will use this information to request your medical records. Because diagnosing many mental and cognitive disorders is subjective — and because Asperger’s is generally thought of as a mild form of autism — it can be challenging to get medical evidence to prove your impairment.

Our Pittsburgh SSD Lawyers Help People Seeking SSD Benefits for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Our Pittsburgh Social Security Disability lawyers can lead your case for benefits, ensuring you navigate the process, which is often time-consuming and challenging for many applicants. Before you start down the path, we can review your situation to determine if you qualify for SSA help.

When you become our client, we can help with all the following and more:

• Reviewing your status to determine which Social Security Disability program you qualify for (SSDI, SSI, or both concurrently).
• Explaining how you apply for disability benefits and how we can guide you through the process and answer your questions.
• Gathering and presenting evidence to prove you meet the SSA’s requirements for a qualifying disability, including medical evidence.
• Ensuring SSA can access your records and contact information as it decides on your application.
• Preparing the application correctly and filing it with the SSA.
• Meeting all critical deadlines and keeping your case on track.
• Managing communications with the SSA and other parties involved in your case.
• Filing an appeal and managing all parts of the appeals process.

We Can Handle Your Pittsburgh Disability Appeal If SSA Denies Your Claim

Not everyone who applies for Social Security Disability benefits is denied, but many applications are. According to the SSA’s 2020 Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, an estimated 67 percent of initial applications receive denials.

If this is your situation, you can review your options and how our attorneys can help you. We have 40-plus years of legal experience and extensive experience with these claims, so our Pittsburgh disability attorneys know what it takes to get approved for Social Security Disability.

We also understand the challenges of proving your claim to the SSA. Now that you know SSA has denied your initial claim, you must move forward and take prompt action. Generally, after receiving a denial notice, you have 60 days to appeal the SSA’s denial.

Call us as soon as possible after you receive a denial notice. If time permits, we can request your appeals hearing and build a solid case to get you approved for benefits. We will:

• Investigate why the SSA denied your claim.
• Correct any errors we may find on your application.
• Collect evidence to counter the denial.
• Present your case to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) during your hearing.
• Advocate for the monthly benefits and back pay or retroactive benefits you deserve.

The SSD Claims Process for Asperger’s Syndrome Can Take Time

It is important to note that it can take more than a year between your denial notice and appeals hearing to see results. We know this wait is long and frustrating, but we will be here to answer your questions and address your concerns along the way.

Don’t Know Whether to Apply for SSDI or SSI? We Will Tell You

If living with symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome or a diagnosis of autism is making it difficult to work, you could receive assistance from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Our attorneys can advise you on whether you qualify for both.

SSDI

SSDI is for people who can no longer work for a year or longer because of a disability. You could receive assistance from SSDI if you paid into the program during your employment. We can review your work history to determine if you have enough work credits. 

You are considered an insured worker if you meet the Social Security credit requirement, which is typically 40 credits. We will review your work history and how much you paid into Social Security to determine if you can receive SSDI benefits.

SSI

Some disabled claimants receive benefits through this federal program if they don’t have enough credits to qualify for SSDI. Applicants must show they have little or no income and a disability. SSI is based on an individual’s current earnings, not their work history. So, we will review your income, resources, and other areas and advise you accordingly.

SSDI and SSI both pay monthly federal payments to recipients, but they are different programs with different eligibility criteria. We will explain how they work and whether you can receive payments from either program (or both) during your free consultation.

Getting Disability Benefits for Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Based on Your  Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)

It is a challenge to meet the criteria under the impairment listing for autism spectrum disorders. Many people with Asperger’s syndrome qualify for benefits based on their residual functional capacity (RFC) instead. In an RFC assessment, you will be evaluated on your ability to get and keep a job. It considers:

• The type of work you have done, the type of work you can do, and the jobs you may be eligible for.
• How long you can work.
• How often you can work.

Your RFC is an evaluation of your remaining abilities despite your impairment. There are three ways an RFC assessment can be carried out:

• The disability examiner will evaluate your RFC based on your application and records.
• Your doctor will complete a special form to evaluate your RFC.
• You will go to a consultative exam, where a doctor paid by the Social Security Administration will evaluate your RFC.

You will likely be approved for benefits if the disability examiner finds that you cannot perform all the functions pertaining to jobs you may qualify for. You may also get approved if you can work but require workplace accommodations.

Meeting Technical Qualifications for a Disability in Pittsburgh, PA

In addition to proving you have a qualifying impairment, you must meet the Social Security Administration’s technical qualifications. While many people overlook these rules, these criteria are critical.

The staff members at the local Social Security field office must ensure that you meet all the technical qualifications for benefits before they forward your application to the Office of Disability Determination Services. If the staff members find you do not meet one of the technical criteria, you will receive a technical denial before anyone ever looks at your medical records.

Common reasons for technical denials include:

• You earn above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limits.
• You do not have the required work credits for SSDI.
• You do not have recent work credits for SSDI.
• You do not meet the household or individual income limits for SSI.
• Your assets are too high for SSI.
• You failed to complete all the required paperwork.
• You answered identifying information incorrectly on your paperwork.

If our Pittsburgh disability benefits attorneys file your claim, we will double-check your application and other paperwork before submitting it. This reduces the risk of a technical denial. Call us today to get started or to learn more about why the Social Security Administration denied your claim on a technicality. 

Call Today: We Are Ready to File Your Social Security Disability Claim for Asperger’s Syndrome in Pittsburgh, PA

If you cannot get work or maintain a job in Pittsburgh because of Asperger’s symptoms, the legal team from Berger and Green is here to help. We can review your disability case for free and fight for the monthly disability benefits and back pay you deserve.

To learn more about how we can help or to get started today, call us today.