Your Impairments & Functionality
The ability to function physically or mentally is the biggest factor in determining the extent of your disability. While Social Security lists impairments in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Volume 20, Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404 listing of Impairments, not all disabilities will fall into one of these categories.
Primarily, if your condition can be controlled with medication and through lifestyle changes, your impairment can be considered “not severe”. Conditions that may not be improved through any method including surgery, may qualify for Social Security Disability.
There are many factors Social Security Administration (SSA) takes into consideration to determine if you qualify. Here is a partial list of the most common ones:
- You are no longer able to perform the job duties you were hired for, even with reasonable accommodations
- Your work hours have been reduced due to your inability to work the required hours/perform the work
- Your doctors have determined that traditional treatments will not improve the condition
- You are unable to perform any job for which you have already been trained
- You are “gainfully employed”
Costs & Benefits
Hiring the professional attorneys at Villaume &Schiek, PA that specialize in disability claims will significantly increase your chances of being awarded disability. A Social Security disability attorney’s fees are regulated by federal law. They will receive 25% of the back pay awarded to you or $6,000, whichever is less. The fee is contingent upon you winning your case and the benefits far outweigh the costs.
When to Hire an Attorney
Ideally, you hire your disability attorney at the beginning of your claim. However, most people filing for Social Security disability need as much of the money as they can get to pay delinquent bills. The attorneys at Villaume &Schiek, PA are available to evaluate your situation and guide you on the correct course of action.
Statistically, the Social Security Administration more often approves those represented by legal counsel, and much more quickly, than those without.
At Villaume &Schiek, PA, our Social Security disability attorneys have the inside track on how to represent a client and cast the most favorable light on your case. We advise you on the best strategy to help you win your case. We fast-track collecting and submitting medical evidence, collect doctor’s opinions, communicate with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), and prep you for questioning at your hearing by the judge; we will also extract supportive testimony from you and may cross-examine the Medical or Vocational Expert to validate your inability to work.
In the event your case goes to the Appeals Council or federal court, the attorneys at Villaume &Schiek, PA are best qualified to argue that you were wrongfully denied.
We offer a free consultation to evaluate your circumstances and strength of your case; we can also assist you with your initial application. If you are approved immediately, you would owe Villaume & Schiek, PA a smaller fee since no back benefits have accrued.
Social Security Disability Claim Denied? We Can Help.
Choosing to go it alone can be risky; however, if you do and are denied benefits, that would be the right time to hire an attorney at Villaume & Schiek, PA. At that point, if your financial situation is critical, i.e. foreclosure is imminent or you have a terminal medical condition, we can request an “on-the-record” (OTR) decision, (though not usually successful), whereby you could be approved for benefits without a hearing.
Once you submit your initial application, a Social Security attorney is not very beneficial to you unless you are denied benefits, at which point, you should contact us immediately thereafter.
Convenient Location and Quality Representation
If you’re considering filing a Social Security Disability claim, please call Villaume &Schiek, PA at our Twin Cities law firm at 952-641-7734, or send us an e-mail to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.
Our law office is conveniently located in Bloomington, Minnesota, right off Interstate 494 (I-494) and across from the Mall of America, and has ample free parking.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.