Applicants for SSDI or SSI disability benefits commonly find the process quite challenging as completing documentation and proving that your disability meets the SSA's criteria can become stressful.
Many disability applications are initially denied but help from a disability attorney can make all the difference. You can get a free case review by talking to a skilled disability lawyer in Alabama. Disability lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront fees and you only make payment if your application is approved. Fill out a free case evaluation today.
Why Disability Claims Are Denied in Dothan City
Even if your disability is genuine, applications are most likely to be rejected because of the lack of documentation supplied with the application. This includes a lack of medical evidence for the disability, incomplete application answers, and failure to include information about your work record, income and, for an SSI application, assets.
The nearest SSA office in Dothan is the Social Security Field Office, located at:
1778 Whatley Drive,
Dothan, AL 36303
(Phone: 1-334-671-9346).
The Dothan field office is currently experiencing a backlog of over 9,000 cases still to be processed. It is taking on average 422 days to process initial applications in Dothan.
Considering how long applications are taking to process, it is certainly advisable to ensure your application has been supported as well as possible with documentation with the help of an experienced disability lawyer.
How a Disability Lawyer in Dothan City Helps at Every Stage
A disability lawyer can help at any stage of the disability application process, which follows these stages:
Initial application – Reconsideration – ALJ hearing – Appeals council
Initial application
At the initial application stage, a lawyer can help to ensure you have sufficient medical evidence of your disability and that it should meet the SSA's criteria for that condition. The lawyer will check to see that evidence of work history (for SSDI) and /or income and assets (especially for SSI) is well documented.
Reconsideration
If the initial application is rejected, the first step of an appeal is to request reconsideration. Your lawyer will review the SSA's reason for rejecting your application and ensure evidence is strengthened for reconsideration.
ALJ hearing
The next stage in an appeal is a scheduled Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing. Your lawyer can prepare you for the hearing, providing you with persuasive answers to any questions from the judge or expert witnesses called to the hearing.
The final step in a disability appeal, if all else fails, is an appeal to the SSA's Appeals Council or to a federal court. You will need your lawyer to represent you if it gets to this stage.
Conditions That May Qualify for Disability Benefits
Disability lawyers in Dothan deal with all possible conditions which the SSA considers a disability sufficiently severe to be awarded benefits. These medical conditions include both physical and mental disabilities. Examples of conditions which lawyers are used to dealing with include the following:
- back and spinal injuries,
- neurological disorders,
- auto-immune disorders, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis,
- cancer,
- mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression,
- chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes.
These are just a few of the disabling conditions for SSDI.
What to Expect From the Disability Process in Dothan City
The SSDI application process in Dothan is structured into separate stages, depending on whether you need to proceed with an appeal after an initial denied application.
The first stage is to complete and submit your application together with as much supporting documentation as possible. The SSA may take many months to process your application and send you a decision. If your application is rejected, you can still appeal. The steps in an appeal include reconsideration, then an ALJ hearing and finally an appeal to the Appeals Council if all else fails.
The whole process, especially if an appeal is necessary can take well over a year, so it is advisable to be as proactive as possible at every stage to ensure your claim keeps moving forward.
When Hiring a Disability Lawyer Makes the Biggest Difference
You can ask a disability lawyer to help you any stage of a disability application, but the lawyer will make the greatest difference if you have just received a denial letter and need to appeal a disability denial, you are unsure whether your medical evidence is complete enough, you have been forced to stop working because of your medical condition or feel too unprepared when you are waiting for an ALJ hearing.
If you have not already contacted a disability lawyer, these are the points in the application process when it would certainly be advisable to contact a suitable lawyer before it is too late.
Get Help From a Social Security Disability Lawyer in Dothan City
A free consultation with a disability lawyer in Dothan can help to confirm you should be eligible for disability benefits and outline the next steps. eligibility and next steps. It is worth remembering that disability lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront fees and payment is made only if your application is approved. Fees are capped by federal law.
Speak with a Social Security Disability lawyer in Dothan to understand your options and get your claim on track toward approval. Fill out a free case evaluation today.
