Tennessee SSD Lawyers Helping Obtain Benefits

There are people who, for many reasons, are simply not capable of holding down a regular job and earning a dependable income. When these situations arise, there needs to be some sort of outlet for them so that they can provide for their own basic needs and avoid becoming a burden on their family members or society at large. No one wants to face that reality, but when these situations arise there are options available. One of these options is obtaining Social Security Disability, or SSD benefits.

Below you'll find information regarding the application process for obtaining SSD benefits, conditions that qualify for disability, what occurs when an application is denied, how the appeals process works with the Social Security Administration and finally how the process of applying for and obtaining benefits could be aided greatly by the help of experienced Nashville SSD lawyers.

The Social Security Disability Application Process in Tennessee

Everyone who needs SSD benefits in Tennessee needs to begin the process of obtaining them by completing an initial application. This can be done in-person at the local Social Security Administration office, over the phone in a telephonic interview conference or even online. While the initial application seems to be quite simple when viewing the document itself, the reality is that it is a complicated and highly technical exercise that must be done with Social Security Disability attorney expertise in order to present the strongest case possible for benefits.

Those who realize that they will not be able to work for a period of at least twelve months should begin this application process as soon as possible, as the Social Security Administration, or SSA, is a federal bureaucracy and the initial response to the application can take months to obtain. In addition, there are certain factors that should be included and highlighted on the initial application that will provide persuasive evidence that benefits are warranted and necessary for an applicant. The best way to put your best foot forward in this circumstance is to seek the help of a Nashville SSD attorney immediately.

TN Social Security Disability Denial Notification

Despite everyone's best efforts at putting forth the strongest position possible on the initial application, the fact is that the vast majority of initial applications for benefits in Tennessee are denied by the SSA. There are many reasons for these initial denials, but most are denied simply because the applications did not contain enough information and the case worker assigned to the applicant was simply not convinced that benefits should be awarded.

When the initial application is denied, the applicant is made aware of the opportunity to file an appeal. The timeframe for filing a proper appeal is within 60 days of receiving notification of the denial of the application for benefits, as a failure to request an appeal within that time limit will basically force the applicant to start all over because of an 'untimely appeal' request.

The Social Security Disability Appeals Process in Tennessee

If an applicant is initially denied benefits and requests an appeal by completing a form known as a 'Request for Reconsideration', that appeal usually involves the scheduling of a hearing at the local SSA office in front of what's known as an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ. The ALJ is not an official judge that hears cases in the federal courthouse, but rather is generally an employee of the SSA whose duty is to hear these appeals cases.

The appeals hearing is somewhat like a court hearing in that the applicant can provide a statement, documents and other evidence can be offered for proof of the need for benefits and arguments can be made by an experienced Nashville SSD lawyer in an attempt to persuade the ALJ that the initial denial of benefits was an improper decision.

Unfortunately, it is possible that a vocational expert will attend the appeal hearing and testify as to why the applicant should not be granted benefits, and because the rules of evidence are relaxed substantially in these settings, the applicant may not know if such a witness will be present until the hearing is held.

After the appeal hearing is complete, the ALJ will take the evidence into account and eventually issue a decision. Once again, it should be noted that the SSA is a federal bureaucracy, which means that it's not uncommon for a decision on the appeal to take one year or even longer in some cases, although that timeline can vary based on the number of pending appeals with a certain location.

SSI Benefits and Appeals in Tennessee

SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income, and this is a benefits program that provides financial benefits to those who are disabled and who will be unable to engage in gainful activity for at least one year if not until death, and the application process is involved and most are initially denied, which means that a 'Request for Reconsideration' must be filed by our Nashville SSI lawyers within 60 days of this denial so an appeal hearing can be held in front of an ALJ so that evidence can be offered

Hiring a Nashville Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help

As can be see, the process of applying for Tennessee SSD benefits is involved and highly technical. This is particularly stressful for applicants because they generally have a dire need for this money. Therefore, those who find themselves in this position should seek the immediate help of experienced Tennessee SSD lawyers, as the attorney handling the case will be able to help you move through this process with a stronger position. Contact Michael D. Ponce & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.