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December 20, 2008 by Dirk.
It usually is a long hard road till you have your trial and get your decision from the Social Security Judge.
But the day will eventually come. And after you win several things will happen.
You will receive a notice, typically within 30 to 60 days. It will tell you when you will receive your first monthly check and the amount. In some cases you may be entitled to SSI payments also. Your local Social Security office will contact you to set up a meeting to review your financial information to determine whether you are entitled to SSI.
If you had any minor children during the onset of your disability the Social Security Administration will want to make sure they receive benefit payments and back benefits.
You may also want to set up direct deposit arrangements for your monthly Social Security Disability payments.
Finally, once you are eligible for Social Security Disability medicaid will be available to most people, and eventually you will be eligible for Medicare.
Give me a call if you have any questions about the Social Security Disability process: Central Illinois Social Security Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371
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December 11, 2008 by Dirk.
Does President Obama’s election mean that Social Security Disability cases are going to be decided faster?
It is certainly more complicated than who is president. Of course, it is probably more likely with President Obama’s election that more resources may be available for the Social Security Administration.
However, there are all kinds of budget pressures from defense spending to bailout funding. The bottom line is that more staff is needed and better use of technology and increased technology spending are all needed to move disability cases faster.
The two year plus wait is terrible and inexcusable but I do not see it changing dramatically till late in President elect Obama’s first term.
The ray of hope is that the Obama Administration will be more sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities.
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December 5, 2008 by Dirk.
A trial for your Social Security Disability case is nothing like what you see on Television.
In Central Illinois- Peoria, Bloomington, Pontiac, Champaign and Springfield- the hearing is either held in the Hearing Office hearing room, a video conference room, or a Federal Court Conference room depending on where you live. The room itself is not that large. It does not look like a TV courtroom. There is no jury. So there is not a jury box.
The only people present are the Social Security Judge, known as an Administrative Law Judge, a monitor who runs the recording equipment, the vocational expert, yourself and your lawyer.
The monitor makes an audio recording of the hearing. Later a transcript may be necessary.
The vocational expert answers questions from the judge regarding jobs that you may be able to perform based on your limitations.
The Administrative Law Judge usually will ask you many questions about your educational and work background, your medical condition, and your limitations. Social Security does not have a lawyer so the judge will ask many more questions than other types of cases.
You will then have the chance to explain to the judge how your problems keep you from working and to question the vocational expert.
If you have any questions regarding your upcoming Social Security Disability hearing please call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.
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November 21, 2008 by Dirk.
People with cancer can be eligible for Social Security Disability.
Social Security will want to see the latest medical records from your treatments. It is also important to have information from your doctor addressing how your treatments will affect your daily activities, how long and what treatments will be needed, and your prognosis.
In Social Security you must be disabled for 12 months or expect to be disabled that long. Your doctor will have to provide an assessment for Social Security whether you will be disabled for more than 12 months.
Of course, there are many other things going on when you have a disease such as cancer. Part of my job is to meet with your doctor and ask for the information that Social Security needs to find you disabled.
Please feel free to call me, Attorney Dirk May, at 309-827-4371.
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November 13, 2008 by Dirk.
I have had a few people hire me as their lawyer right before their hearing. One big mistake they have made is not updating their medical records.
Social Security gets the medical records up until the time you request a hearing. After the hearing request you must get your records for any medical treatment you have. The problem is that it is taking up to two years from Request for Hearing until the hearing date is set. If you do not have your records updated you will most likely lose your case.
Keep track of your doctors and when you go for treatment. Order your records and send them into the hearing office. If you represent yourself you will have to pay for your own records. Some lawyers will also make you pay for your own records.
I pay for my clients records myself and ask for reimbursement at the end of the case if we win. Any questions about medical records and what you need to do please call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371. Serving Bloomington, Peoria, Springfield, Decatur and Champaign, Illinois.
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November 6, 2008 by Dirk.
The bottom line in Social Security Disability cases: no medical treatment, no win. How do you get treatment in Illinois?
Call me for a free information sheet on medical treatment, or to discuss health providers in Central Illinois. Ask for Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.
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October 31, 2008 by Dirk.
Your Social Security Disability hearing is coming up soon. Are you nervous? Most likely. You do not know what to expect and the result is very important to you.
It is not like what you see on television. There is no big courtroom. There is no jury. The only people in the room are the judge, yourself, the vocational expert and the hearing room monitor(tapes the hearing).
In order to be more relaxed you need to know that the judge is going to ask you about your symptoms, your limitations, your daily activities, your work history, your education, your ability to do chores. The hearing is going to last from 40 to 50 minutes and you are going to have to ask the vocational expert questions. The judge will usually not decide your case on the spot. The judge will take from 30 to 60 days to issue a written decision in your case.
If you have any questions about what is going to happen at your Social Security Disability hearing please feel free to call me, Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.
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October 24, 2008 by Dirk.
Last night was the Disabilities Expo put on by Access Allies of Bloomington Normal. It was another great event. Thanks, Chris!
The weather did not cooperate but it was good to see the people who came out and to have so many exhibitors who provide important services to the community.
If you were unable to attend be sure to call me, Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371, if you have questions about Children’s SSI or Social Security Disability.
Let me know if there are any other fairs in the Central Illinois area. I will be glad to attend and talk with you about Social Security Disability.
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October 16, 2008 by Dirk.
Social Security News blog has updated statistics regarding the time it takes a Social Security Disability case to go from application to final decision. The National Average is 532 days.
In November 2007 it was 500 days.
The Peoria, Illinois Hearing office ranks 137th out of 147 Hearing Offices. The average case time is 761 days. That is very sad. The really bad part is that is that the Social Security Budget does not allow for much personnel increase at all. Which means the average is not going to go down dramatically in the near future.
The Peoria, Illinois office covers Peoria, Champaign, Springfield, Decatur, Pontiac and Bloomington, Illinois.
It is hard to tell your clients when they file that they will have to wait over 2 years for a hearing.
Questions about the long wait? Call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371
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October 9, 2008 by Dirk.
Depression and other mental health conditions are often very disabling.
Social Security recognizes mental conditions alone, and in combination with physical problems, as grounds for finding someone disabled.
The most important approach for depression and other mental conditions is to see a psychiatrist. A primary care doctor can prescribe anti-depressants and diagnose you with depression. However, Social Security gives more weight to a psychiatrist opinions and records.
Many counties in Illinois have mental health providers that will provide services on a sliding scale. This type of treatment is vital to your Social Security Disability case.
Bloomington, Illinois has very good psychiatrists who can help people who are out of work. Champaign, Peoria, Decatur and Springfield, Illinois also have similar programs.
Should you have any questions about seeing a psychiatrist in your area, or what is needed for your Social Security Disability case please feel free to call Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.
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