What Is the Disability Claims Process in The Houston Area?

The primary factor evaluated in any social security application for disability benefits is whether or not the applicant is unable to engage in substantial gainful activity as a result of a documented medical impairment. A certified medical practitioner must be able to testify or state the documented medical impairment and how it impedes the applicant's ability to participate in substantial gainful activity. 

During the process of your application, you might retain a disability attorney in Houston to evaluate your case and perform an initial assessment to help you understand whether or not you have enough work credits, have had appropriate FICA payroll tax withheld and whether or not your disability meets the determination standards created and used by the social security administration. In the event that you have not accumulated appropriate work credits during this time, you could still be eligible for supplemental security income. 

There are similar aspects of applying for SSDI and SSI and it is beneficial to retain a disability attorney in Houston who has helped applicants with both types if you are not yet sure of your next steps. A disability attorney in Houston can assist with putting together a strong case that is worthy of approval by the SSA and helps to minimize the possibility for mistakes made that could lead to unnecessary denials. The initial application phase is in fact the most important component of your case and when done properly, can decrease the possibility of having to go through the reconsideration phase completely. 

A complete collection of documentation of the disability and all medical records should be properly organized for submission to the SSA and all paperwork should be filled out correctly. If there are any possible gaps in your case, your disability attorney in Houston can advise you about these and help you to gather the necessary evidence to support your claim. 

If you’re even thinking about applying for disability benefits, start collecting your medical records now. You might even want to discuss your condition with your doctor to get their opinion about whether you have reached maximum improvement for the time being. In addition to your doctor, consider speaking with a disability attorney in Houston to get support for your questions around receiving disability benefits for yourself. 

Likewise, if you’re trying to help a family member with this application, you know just how hard it is to understand what’s being requested in the questions asked. You’re probably fairly nervous about whether making a statement one way or another could harm your loved one’s disability application. This is a common concern and one that prompts family members to call a Houston disability lawyer. Even if you’ve already started the paperwork and information gathering process, you might want to speak to a knowledgeable lawyer sooner rather than later to make sure you haven’t missed anything. 

One of the most common reasons to reach out to a disability attorney in Houston is because you have already been denied by the social security administration. Bear in mind that it is in fact quite normal to be denied the first time around and in fact many believe that the government denies plenty of claims that could potentially be successful and counts on an applicant's lack of knowledge or lack of confidence in their claim to keep going forward. 

There are many cases that could be successful in recovering disability benefits if they were assisted by a knowledgeable disability attorney in Houston or go through the reconsideration process. A social security disability attorney in Houston will be familiar with the types of medical records needed as well as any problem solving efforts that could be required to complete missing information or any flaws associated with the case. Determinations are usually submitted approximately 120 days after the application has been filed. When you work with an experienced disability attorney in Houston, you get the benefit of not just their experience in the cases they have handled but also their access and knowledge of previous cases and past case rulings. 

Most people are not familiar with the lengthy time period involved in the reconsideration phase. The processing time for the average office of disability adjudication and review is nearly one year, clocking in at 339 days. Initial applications received by disability offices have a denial rate of 40%. At this point in time you'll need a disability attorney in Houston who is familiar with the reconsideration and disability appeals process. This has four stages including reconsideration, a hearing followed by an appeals council review and a district courts case. 

Your appeal will proceed in the order listed in the event that you obtain a denial. Having an attorney can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your case and can also guide you through this stressful process in a much simpler manner. If you find yourself in need of a social security disability attorney in Houston, you will need to be prepared to gather all of your medical records first. It is strongly recommended that you educate yourself by learning more about the process of recovering disability benefits and whether or not the social security administration has a history of categorizing your medical condition as one that prevents you from substantial gainful activity. In any of these circumstances, the support of an attorney can help ease your fears and ensure that you get your questions answered when they arise for the duration of your case.  

Time is of the essence both with a new disability case and with a request for reconsideration. Don’t wait too long to take action or the window for getting support for your claim might close. Make sure to keep track of all information related to the case and the important dates for submission; this information could prove extremely helpful in the future when it’s time to submit to the review board.