Social Security Disability
Are you disabled and unable to work? If so, then Mike Breen would like to help you with your Social Security Disability claim.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE DISABLED AND ENTITTLED TO SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILTIY?
Simply saying "I'm disabled" just isn't enough. To be considered disabled for social security purposes, you must
- Be unable to do any substantial work because of your physical or mental condition(s); and
- Your physical or mental condition(s) must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months (1 year), or be a terminal illness that is expected to result in your death.
You must have medical evidence (i.e. records and diagnostic tests) to support your claim of disability. Also, unlike some private disability insurance programs, Social Security Disability is awarded to people who are completely disabled - there is no "partial" Social Security Disability.
TYPES OF BENEFITS 
There are two types of benefits awarded by the Social Security Administration:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is for "insured" workers, their disabled surviving spouses and children (disabled before age 22) or disabled, retired or deceased workers; and
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for people who have not worked enough to be considered "insured" for SSDI purposes, and who currently have little or no income and resources.
WHAT Mike Breen CAN DO TO HELP WITH YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM
At Mike Breen, we represent clients seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We will assist you from the very beginning when you file your initial claim, and we will continue to advise and consult you through your appeals and hearing. At Mike Breen, we know that obtaining SSD and SSI benefits can be complicated and frustrating. Therefore, we work hard to ensure that you have a trusted advisor on your side, and that you are well informed about the process.
WHO WILL REPRESENT YOU
Many lawyers advertise for Social Security Disability Claims. But, the reality is that most of the lawyers you see on TV and the Internet NEVER set foot in a Social Security hearing. In fact, many law firms often send inexperienced attorneys to represent the disabled at their long-awaited hearings. Even more puzzling is the trend for law firms to send "Claimant Representatives" to the hearings - these so-called representatives are typically not even licensed attorneys.
That is not the case at Mike Breen - with us, what you see is literally what you get. At Mike Breen, Mike Breen will personally represent you at all levels of your application and will personally appear on your behalf at your Social Security hearing. Mike Breen takes your claim seriously, and he will work hard to get the results you deserve. Mike Breen will not send an inexperienced lawyer or a claimant representative to your hearing - Mike Breen will be with you at your hearing and he will fight for you.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLAIM PROCESS
Making a claim for Social Security Disability benefits can be confusing and time consuming. At Mike Breen, we want to help you understand the system.
Step 1 - File your initital application
To start, you must first make an initial application for Social Security Disability Benefits. To file your initial application, you can either:
- Go to your local Social Security Office, or
- You can use the Social Security Administration's online application process; or
- You can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the SSA TTY number: 1-800-325-0778.
When you file your application, you will be asked to provide information regarding, among other other things,
- Your past work experience, including the name and address of employers and your job title and description,
- Your health care providers' names and addresses, and
- The medications you take, including dosage amounts and the number of times you take the medication in a day, and
- If you are also filing for SSI, a list of your assets, including bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and other items of value.
- It is very helpful and will save time if you have this information written down before you begin the application process. To assist you, please download the following documents and have them filled out BEFORE you begin your application
- Starter Kit Worksheet; or
- Begin your own Adult Disability Report
If you are still uncomfortable with the application process, call Mike Breen at 1-800-737-0010. We will be happy to assist you with your initial application.
Step 2 - Receipt of Initial Decision and Request for Reconsideration
Once your application is filed, you will have a waiting period. During this period, your claim will be processed. After several months, you will receive your initial decision. If your claim is approved, you will receive written notification of the approval, as well as instructions on the payment of benefits. If your claim is denied, your next step is to appeal the initial decision and request a reconsideration. HOWEVER, please note that you only have a limited amount of time to request a reconsideration, and failure to request a reconsideration within the limited amount of time could result in your claim being dismissed.
At this point, if you have not done so already, you should seriously consider contacting a law firm. At Mike Breen, we will be happy to assist you in requesting a reconsideration of the denial, and assisting you with all other aspects of your Social Security Disability Claim. Please, call us or contact us online - we want to represent you.
Step 3 - Receipt of Reconsideration Decision and Request for Hearing
Once your Request for Reconsideration is filed, you will have another waiting period. During this period, your Request for Reconsideration will be processed. After several months, you will receive your reconsideration decision. If your claim is approved, you will receive written notification of the approval, as well as instructions on the payment of benefits. If your claim is denied, your next step is to appeal the reconsideration decision and request a hearing. HOWEVER, please note that you only have a limited amount of time to request a hearing, and failure to request a hearing within the limited amount of time could result in your claim being dismissed.
At this point, if you have not done so already, you should seriously consider contacting a law firm. At Mike Breen, we will be happy to assist you in requesting a hearing, and assisting you with all other aspects of your Social Security Disability Claim. Please, call us or contact us online - we want to represent you.
Step 4 - The Hearing
If you were denied at the initial application and reconsideration levels, your next step is to have a hearing. The hearing is held before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The hearing is usually at a location convenient to the claimant, but there may be some travel involved. Often the hearing is "live", with the ALJ presiding in the room with the claimant and your attorney. However, due to the great backlog of cases, the SSA is increasingly using "televised" hearings, where the claimant and the attorney are in one city and the ALJ is in another city.
At the hearing, the ALJ will hear the evidence related to your claim, including your own testimony. The judge may ask a Vocational Expert or Medical Expert to provide additional testimony at the hearing. Once all evidence and testimony has been presented, the ALJ will take the case under submission for a decision.
Mike Breen is ready to serve your needs at the hearing level. Mike Breen will prepare you for your hearing, and you will be confident when you present your claim to the ALJ. Mike Breen will ensure that all evidence related to your claim is submitted to the ALJ before the hearing, and Mike Breen will work to make sure that you get your fair shot at receiving the benefits you deserve. Most importantly, Mike Breen will personally represent you at the hearing, so you can be certain that you have experience on your side.
If you are at the hearing level, give Mike Breen a call at 1-800-737-0010 or contact us online. We would like to help you.
Step 5- After the Hearing
Once your hearing has occurred, you can expect to wait up to 3 months or more for the final decision. If your claim is approved, you will receive written notification of the approval, called a Favorable Decision, as well as instructions on the payment of monthly benefits and your backpay award, if applicable. If your claim is denied, your will receive written notification in the form of an Unfavorable Decision. If you receive an Unfavorable Decision, Mike Breen will be happy to meet with you and discuss other options, including an appeal to the Appeals Council, and the possibility of filing a new claim.
Whatever the outcome, you can rest assured that Mike Breen will be with you every step of the way, guiding you through the process of obtaining the benefits that you deserve.
For More Information
At Mike Breen, we want you to be fully informed of your rights and the process for obtaining Social Security Disability benefits. The information contained in on this web site is intended to be an overview of the process. If you have questions or want more specific information, please feel free to call Mike Breen at 1-800-737-0010. We will be glad to talk to you and discuss your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. You can also search the Social Security Adminstration's Web Site for more information.
Our Social Security Disability Lawyers Can Help You
Mike Breen wants to help you. Just contact us online or call us for a free, no obligation, confidential consultation.