When I started to work with the city, I realized that I was going to be working alongside our attorneys every single day. While I was a little nervous around them at first, we quickly became friends and all of that anxiety melted away. It was really neat to see how many different subjects they could handle, and I realized just how necessary they were for helping me to manage various daily occurrences. On this website, I thought it would be really great to start talking about how to work with lawyers, and what it might mean for you and your family if you seek legal advice early.
-
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer 30 September 2024
-
Debunking Myths About Using A Truck Accident Lawyer 9 February 2024
-
The Importance of an Attorney in Your Life 2 January 2024
Working With Lawyers Every Day
SSDI And Understanding How Much Work You Can Still Do
Cassandra Stone
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a government program providing many disabled workers with monthly benefits. To be paid, however, applicants must show that they have a serious condition that prevents them from working. To learn more about a particularly confusing aspect of the approval process and how to overcome it, read on.
What Keeps You From Working?
You probably already know all too well what you can no longer do at work. Most applicants are so affected by their ailments that they are forced to resign and seek benefits. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses other ways of finding out if you are sick enough to be paid benefits. Along with how much money you have earned in a certain period of time in the past, they look at the work you may still be able to do given your medical condition.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)
The above term covers what workers may still be able to do. After work history and earnings are checked and the applicant's medical condition is verified, it's time to check the disabled worker's RFC. Unfortunately, disabled workers have to prove that they are not able to perform the tasks required of them at any job. Evaluating applicants for RFC means looking at several levels of exertion that range from heavy to sedentary. The SSA evaluates applicants for both physical and mental conditions. Ability to do work that involves sitting, standing, carrying objects of a certain weight, and other guidelines are considered along with the applicant's age and medical condition.
Getting Turned Down
Unfortunately, not only are RFC guidelines complex and confusing, but they are one of the main reasons that applicants are turned down for benefits. Fortunately, you don't have to figure out your RFC or anything else when you apply and are turned down. Social Security lawyers understand how a faulty RFC evaluation can lead to issues and they also know how to make things right at the appeal hearing. Look at your denial letter from the SSA and contact a lawyer right away — you only have so much time to request an appeal. They can provide the administrative law judge who oversees your case with information that disputes things like:
- Your inability to find a job that may align with the RFC in your local area.
- How your medication side effects prevent you from performing work at any level of exertion.
- How the SSA caseworkers failed to take into consideration your lack of education or training for other jobs.
Talk to a lawyer to learn more about disability law.
Share