Greenville Social Security Lawyer
The Social Security Act was signed by President Roosevelt in 1935 as a means of providing income to those who were unable to work to provide for themselves. The purpose of the Social Security Administration is to assist disabled people in obtaining a livable wage, whether they have been hurt or have succumbed to an illness.
If you have a qualifying disability or illness, you may be able to obtain government benefits from the Social Security Administration, and a Greenville Social Security lawyer can help. In 2017, over 62 million Americans will receive approximately $955 billion in Social Security benefits. In December of 2016, disabled workers earned approximately $1,171 in monthly government benefits. Contact a qualified attorney today to learn more.
Determining Eligibility
The first step to filing a social security claim is determining whether the claimant is the type of person that the Social Security Act was designed to protect. The Social Security Administration defines “disability” as a mental or physical affliction that is medically verifiable and will last for more than 12 months. According to the Social Security Administration, the following disabilities are covered by the Act:
- Chronic heart failure
- Multiple sclerosis
- Asthma
- Dermatitis
- Disorders of bone marrow failure
- Loss of speech, vision, or hearing
- Hyperglycemia
- Epilepsy
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Soft tissue injury
- Bipolar disorder
- Respiratory failure
- Non-mosaic Down syndrome
- Chronic liver disease
- Cerebral Palsy
- Depression
- Amputation
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Transplant of a lung, heart, liver, or kidney
- Burns
- Diabetes
- Parkinsonian syndrome
- Certain cancers
If an individual does not have a disability or illness covered by this list, the individual should still contact an attorney to determine what other avenues can be pursued to obtain compensation. In some cases, the examination of a medical professional may be necessary to determine if an individual has a disability or illness covered by Social Security.
How to File a Social Security Claim
Filing a claim can be a long and arduous process. An individual interested in filing a claim should contact a Greenville Social Security attorney to discuss the most efficient course of action. An attorney can assist the claimant with avoiding common pitfalls that can delay the claim, or worse – deny the claim altogether. The attorney can also assist the individual with gathering medical evidence to file with the claim in support of the application.
Importance of an Attorney
Utilizing the services of an attorney is of the utmost importance from the very beginning because many claims are denied. In 2010, the Social Security Administration reported that 2,838,485 applications were filed with 878,497 technical denials and 688,348 medical denials, allowing for an award rate of only 34.8%. However, just because the initial claim was denied does not mean that the claim is over. The attorney should file the initial claim so that they are familiar with the application in the event that an appeal is necessary. Depending on the circumstances of the claim and the denial, an appeal may be made to an appeals board, an administrative law judge, or a federal court. A Greenville Social Security lawyer can answer a claimant’s questions with regards to a claim for benefits.
Contact a Greenville Social Security Lawyer Today
Filing a social security claim in a timely manner is important to obtain compensation. Even though the Social Security Administration has not set a time limit for filing a claim, there is no retroactive benefit payment beyond 12 months prior to the date of the application. Failure to file a claim in a timely manner can result in months, or even years, of no compensation for a covered disability or illness. For an initial consultation, contact a Greenville Social Security lawyer now.
