The Social Security Administration’s own analysis through statistics prepared by the Inspector General shows that people seeking disability benefits have a better chance of getting an award if they are represented by a Social Security lawyer.

The Inspector General’s report does not identify why having a lawyer helps. However, the Social Security regulations are very complicated, and it seems only reasonable that having an expert who works with the Social Security disability system all the time will improve your presentation and make it more likely that you will be able to get a favorable result.

Ways that a Virginia Social Security disability lawyer will help you

There are many different types of things that a Social Security lawyer may do for you. Different cases require different things, so some of these may not apply, but the following are some of the ways that a Social Security lawyer may help:

• Look at your application and other documents on file with the Social Security Administration. If you filed your application without a lawyer then it may be that the Social Security evaluator is missing some important things. Even if your original application was complete, the Social Security files may need to be updated with new information that may change the outcome.
• Review your medical records. Some doctors don’t fully understand what the Social Security Administration is looking for, so their medical reports may be missing something important. A Social Security disability lawyer is familiar with the Social Security Administration and may help your doctor cover the right things.
• Analyze whether you could use a different medical specialist. Sometimes people are not being evaluated by the specialist that is best for them.
• Help you decide who might be good witnesses for you at your appeal hearing. You may be able to get family members, friends, or co-workers to testify for you.
• Represent you at your appeal hearing. Your lawyer will help keep you on track during your hearing, and make appropriate legal arguments to the Administrative Law Judge.

The rules and regulations of the Social Security Administration are complicated and can be very confusing for people who do not work with them all the time. Help yourself by getting a Virginia disability lawyer on your side.

If you are not already represented by a Tennessee or Virginia Social Security disability lawyer, ask us for an evaluation or your claim. Give us a brief description of your claim using the form to the right, or contact our office at:

Serving southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee from three offices:

408 Wood AvenueBig Stone Gap, VA 24219

No. 2 Church StreetJonesville, VA 24263

1619 Highway 11WBristol, TN 37620

Call: 888-493-9703

Who qualifies for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration

The first question that most of our Tennessee and Virginia Social Security disability clients have is whether they will qualify for disability benefits.

Sometimes we can predict the outcome, but many times it is hard to know and we simply need to start the Social Security application process. However, we can explain the Social Security claim process to you and give you the definition that the Social Security Administration uses to evaluate whether you are disabled.

The definition of “disability” under the Social Security disability program

For purposes of Social Security disability benefits, the determination of whether or not you are disabled is based on your ability to work.

The Social Security Administration says that it considers you disabled if all three of the following requirements are met:

• You cannot do work that you did before you became disabled.
• You cannot adjust to other work because of your disability.
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or result in death.

What does the Social Security Administration mean by “other work”?

One of the requirements for qualifying for Social Security disability benefits is that your medical condition renders you unable to adjust to “other work.”

This can be a difficult requirement to satisfy because the Social Security Administration rules define “other work” very broadly. For purposes of qualifying for Social Security disability benefits, “other work” does not mean work that you have done before, or work that you want to do, or even work that is available where you live.

Instead, the Social Security Administration requirement is that your disability prevents you from doing “any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy.”

Since there is some sort of job, somewhere, for almost everyone, proving that you are unable to adjust to “other work” can be a difficult hurdle to overcome in your quest for Social Security disability benefits.