Peter M. Viles has been practicing as an attorney since his graduation from Tulane Law School in 1996. He has successfully represented clients in Social Security matters, personal injury cases, family law disputes, business litigation, criminal defense, and immigration. He is admitted to practice in Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Washington, D.C. and before the Southern District of Texas:

Working through the Social Security Administration’s five steps and then dealing with its appeal process can be confusing and frustrating.

I can take that burden from you, by helping you at all phases of the process. I can help prepare the papers that you need to file; I can work with your doctor or therapist to see that their reports support your claim; I can teach you what to expect at the hearing stage; and I can help you select witnesses who can provide testimony that will promote your claim.

If you live in Houston or elsewhere in southeast Texas and want help with your Social Security disability claim, whether it is filing the initial claim or appealing a denial, please contact my firm.

For a free claim evaluation please contact me or visit my website: http://www.socialsecurityattorneyhouston.com.

Viles Law Firm, PC

Houston Texas Social Security disability attorneys

E-mail

Phone: 713-622-4647

Fax: 713-622-4196

3040 Post Oak Blvd., Ste. 1020

Houston, Texas 77056

9 Tips for Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits

1. Likelihood of success. If (a) your physical or mental disability is severe, (b) your condition limits your activities of daily living, (c) your medical impairment will last or has lasted longer than 12 months, and (d) your doctor agrees with this assessment, you should apply for Social Security disability.

2. Irrelevant evaluation factors. SSA has a strict definition of disability that ignores many real-life aspects of the job market. Difficulty finding a job, thinking that no one will hire you with your condition, believing you could not pass a job-required physical, or even knowing that the pay you would receive for the work you can do is too little to live on … all of these important real-world considerations do not matter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) when evaluating your claim for benefits.

Proof from doctors

3. Medical evidence. As is the case with most legal claims, what counts in disability evaluations is what you can prove. If no medical records exist to support your claim of disability, you are unlikely to be successful. SSA figures that if your medical condition is severe enough to keep you from working, then it should justify doctor visits, tests, diagnosis, and treatment.

4. Failure to follow treatment. SSA expects you to try to get better. That means doing what your doctor prescribes. If you do not believe that your doctor’s recommended treatment will help, then be sure your doctor documents the treatment’s odds of success or failure.

5. Keep good records. Conversely, if you do follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment, document your efforts. Without records, you are unlikely to remember the date of every doctor visit, lab test, medicine taken, and therapy received. Obtain the business cards of every doctor you see and file them. Save your pill bottles. Keep notes of your pain and other medical events.

Evidence from you

6. Symptoms vs. diagnosis. SSA does not expect you to be an expert on medical conditions. Even if you are, SSA would rather learn about your impairment from your doctor and your medical records. What SSA wants to receive from you are details about your symptoms. For example, how severe is your pain? Is it constant or intermittent? What aggravates your pain? What reduces it? Do you suffer from shortness of breath or fatigue? No one knows your symptoms better than you. Do your best to explain them in detail without exaggerating or minimizing. Do not omit or gloss over any lesser conditions just because you have one severe condition and several minor ones.

7. Physical restrictions. What can’t you do? Sit for lengthy periods? Stand and walk? Lift and carry? Bend, twist, kneel, and stoop? Manipulate objects with your hands? Social Security disability is a functional program. SSA will focus on your limitations rather than your diagnosis.

8. Effect of symptoms and restrictions. How does your medical condition affect your daily activities? Tell SSA about the impact on your personal care (hygiene, dressing, bathing), errands and housework (driving, shopping, cleaning), and social functioning (hobbies, sports, interaction with friends and family).

Final point

9. Consistency, accuracy, and honesty. Contradictions, errors, memory lapses, and discrepancies all work to erode your credibility, and nothing will sink your claim faster than questions about your truthfulness.