Why Hire Me?

I graduated from John Marshall Law School, Atlanta, in December 2000, and became a member of the Georgia Bar Assiciation in June, 2001. While I have enjoyed representing clients in a variety of legal matters, for the past year I have devoted my time to Social Security disability matters.

Prior to entering law school, I was a registered nurse.  I graduated from the North Carolina Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1970, and received a BS Degree in Health Arts from the College of St. Francis located in Joliet, Illinois in 1996. I was active in nursing until entering law school in 1998.

It is the blending of the two careers, legal and nursing, that has brought me to the practice of Social Security disability law where I can utilize the skills and knowledge from both areas to assist those who have become disabled in obtaining the benefits they have earned and deserve.

Fees

My attorney fee is 25% of back benefits, up to the maximum set by the Commissioner of Social Security, which is currently $6,000. The Social Security Administration typically holds that 25% out of back benefits and pays the attorney directly.

If I do not win benefits for you, then the attorney fee is $0.

You will be responsible for payment of expenses, which may include medical records and reports, photocopying, travel, transcript preparation and the like.

Contact

Phyllis A. Layman

Address: 226 Bristol Lane, Marietta, GA 30066

Phone Number: (770) 823-2109

How Does the SSA Evaluate Mental Impairments?

Our clients often cite mental disorders in Social Security disability cases. And many of their physical impairments include hidden psychological issues. Chronic physical problems take a psychological toll. A number of these cases are denied and ultimately go to hearings.

For the Social Security Administration to evaluate your mental disorder, it requires documentation of a medically determinable impairment (discussed further below), consideration of the degree to which your mental disorder impairs your ability to work, and consideration of whether such limitation on your ability to work has lasted or is expected last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

The Social Security Administration's rules for assessing whether an applicant for disability benefits qualifies due to a mental disorder are complex. Here is an overview.

Continue reading.