Sharon A. Christie is a compassionate advocate for the injured and the disabled. If you are unable to work and are applying for Social Security disability, it’s important to have legal advice because most applications for benefits are denied. Sharon’s successful legal career and medical training as a practicing nurse give her the experience and expertise to help you. Please contact her offices for a free legal assessment today.

Social Security Disability

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Confusing Regulations, Long Backlogs
Create Hurdles for Those Seeking
Social Security Disability Payments

Every one of your paychecks includes an automatic deduction for Social Security taxes. In addition to the federal retirement system, this tax also funds a Social Security disability program that is supposed to provide American workers with payments should they become unable to work due to a disability or illness.

Since you’ve paid into the system for your entire working life, you’d think it would be a straightforward process to apply for and receive disability benefits. But it isn’t. The Social Security disability system is struggling as a result of budget shortfalls, inadequate staffing, unwieldy regulations, and growing backlogs. According to a recent New York Times investigation, about 2.75 million people apply for federal disability payments each year. Of those, about two-thirds are turned down on the first go-round. At that point, unfortunately, many give up. About 575,000 go on to file appeals, and two-thirds of those people will eventually receive benefits.

“Eventually” is the key word because, as the New York Times article states, hundreds of thousands of people wait as long as three years for their cases to be heard on appeal. These extended delays cause extreme financial hardship for individuals and families who are already experiencing health problems and the stress and uncertainty that go with them.

If you’ve filed for Social Security disability payments or are about to file for them, I think it’s important for you to know these facts. The system is broken, and while Washington politicians pontificate and tinker away, disabled people don’t have the money to pay their mortgages or rent, buy gas and car insurance, or support their children. Social Security has strict standards for disability benefits.  The best way to improve your chances of obtaining benefits is to have a lawyer on your side.

Schedule a free evaluation of your case today by contacting the Law Firm of Sharon A. Christie, P.A. You’ll receive information to help you make an informed decision about your future. I get paid only if I am successful. When I win your case, my fee is set by federal law as a percentage of past due benefits. Please call me today at (410) 823-8200. Or email me at sharonc@ix.netcom.com.

You Don’t Have to Give Up
Or Fight Alone

My medical training and experience as a nurse led me to focus my practice on clients with health issues, including those who are disabled and unable to work. I place great emphasis on personal, caring service. This means that I will honestly evaluate your case to determine how I can realistically help you.

Social Security disability law is complex. Many factors are considered, including your physical and mental impairments, your age, your education, and the jobs you’ve held in the past. Just understanding the basics is hard enough without adding the difficulties of dealing with a huge government bureaucracy. It’s easy to understand why people who apply for Social Security disability benefits often become discouraged or intimated and give up before they receive the benefits to which they are legitimately entitled.

I can assist you at any point in the process, but the earlier you seek my help, the earlier you’ll have the assurance that every possible action is being taken to obtain your benefits.

• Even though disability benefits cannot begin until the sixth full month of your disability, I will help you determine when to file. Starting the process earlier will help you get the waiting period out of the way.
• At the early stages of the application process, my law office will assist you in completing the paperwork to avoid the mistakes claimants usually make that can result in delays or automatic denials.
• I will help you collect additional documentation to strengthen your case. This includes medical records as well as specific reports from your health care providers about your disability.
• I will prepare you to testify before an Administrative Law Judge.

You might have already gone online to check the forms needed to file for Social Security disability. The easy availability of these forms might lead you to think about the do-it-yourself approach. But the statistics show that claimants who are represented by lawyers have a much better chance of winning benefits than those that aren’t. In fact, since the majority of claimants receive benefits upon appeal, which involves a legal hearing before a judge, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll need a lawyer. Please choose one wisely.

When you work with me and my team, you’ll receive personal attention from our first meeting until the last appeal is made. A paralegal, who is also a nurse, will work with me to prepare your case. We will answer all your questions, return your calls promptly, and keep you informed every step of the way. Our objective is to work our hardest to ensure that you receive the full benefits to which you are entitled.
 

An Unofficial (But Realistic)
Guide to Social Security Disability

You need information to make the best decision about how to proceed. To help you, here is Sharon Christie’s Unofficial Guide to Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits. (For the official government guide, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/d&s1.htm.)

1. Make your initial claim in person at your local Social Security office or by dialing 1-800-772-1213 or by going online to https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/ISBA/main.html. I recommend going in person to the local office in order to obtain a RECEIPT once the paperwork is filed.  Then, if any papers are lost you have proof of filing. This first stage of review is completed by a state agency, which makes decisions based on the paper records. You won’t have a chance to present your case in person. You can expect to wait at least three to six months for a decision.

2. Denial is routine, so be prepared for the next step, which is to file a Request for Reconsideration. At this point, you’ll want to submit additional records and doctor reports.  While you are not required to have an attorney, I believe it is advisable to obtain legal help at this point. Although this is still a paper review and many claimants are again denied at this stage, a well-documented case and additional information may sway opinion in your favor and help avoid yet another appeal, which could take a year or more. In fact, there is a new push to take a closer look at cases at this second stage. As your counsel, my objective would be to develop the strongest case possible at this stage, including new medical evidence. You can expect to six months or longer for a decision at this stage. 

3. After you’ve been denied twice, you’ll want to ask for a hearing from a federal Administrative Law Judge. If you haven’t already gotten a lawyer, don’t delay because this is your best chance to win benefits. You will have a face-to-face hearing where the judge will take your testimony, under oath. Currently, it takes a year or more to get a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

4. If you’re unsuccessful at the Administrative Law Judge hearing, you can make a further appeal to the Appeals Council or a Federal Court. This adds another year to the process of trying to obtain benefits.

From start to finish, this process takes anywhere from one-to-three years. Along the way, many people give up, saving the government lots of money. Consult me instead. I know the process, and I am a compassionate, knowledgeable guide. My experience and Social Security Disability statistics show that the majority of claimants who receive benefits have gone through multiple appeals before winning and the majority used a lawyer. I can become involved with your case after the initial filing, once your claim is denied or at any point thereafter.


No Fee Unless You Win Benefits
Call Today to Schedule an Appointment

You are not required to have an attorney represent you in Social Security disability cases. However, a lawyer with a medical background and experience handling these cases gives you the advantage that you need and deserve. Social Security disability cases are complex and difficult. Please give yourself the best chance possible by contacting me at (410) 823-8200 or by emailing me at sharonc@ix.netcom.com.

When you are successful in receiving benefits, my law office will receive a fee based on an agreement process established by the Social Security Administration. You owe me nothing for attorney’s fees or expenses if you do not receive benefits.

You will receive a free initial consultation to review your case so that you can make a well-informed decision about your next step. The best way to be sure you are doing all you can to obtain benefits is to have the help of a lawyer.

I am Sharon A. Christie, and I am here for you. Call me for a free evaluation of your case at (410) 823-8200 or email me at sharonc@ix.netcom.com.

Receive a Free Evaluation.
Call 410-823-8200
Or click here to email me

Law Offices of Sharon A. Christie, P.A.
Compassionate Advocates for the Injured and the Disabled

Library for Social Security Disability:

  • Schedule of upcoming Social Security Disability Seminars   
    Description: soacil security disability benefits seminars
  • How Does Social Security Define Disability? [PDF]   
    Description: FREE INFORMATION about getting disability benefits. Most people think that if they cannot do their job social security will automatically find them disabled. This is not the case. Social Security has a narrow definition of disability. This article explains that definition and the steps used by Social Security to evaluate a disability claim.
  • Should you hire a Lawyer to handle Your Social Security Disability Case in Maryland? [PDF]   
    Description: FREE INFORMATION about whether to hire a lawyer for your Social Security disability claim. The decision to hire a lawyer for a social Security disability claim is a crucial decision. This article explains the advantages of having a lawyer represent a claimant and explains how the lawyer gets paid.
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits: The Long and Winding Road [PDF]   
    Description: FREE INFORMATION about how to get Social Security disability benefits. Obtaining Social Security Disability benefits is a long and difficult process. This article describes the steps in the process, what the claimant can expect at each step and the appeals process.
  • Social Security Disability: A Safety Net Full of Uncertainty [PDF]   
    Description: Social Security Disability benefits should be a safety net for disabled workers. However, the high standard that a claimant must meet to prove disability as well as the incredible delay in processing claims means that most claimants must wait years to get any benefits. Hiring an attorney to assist you can help build a successful case file and relieve some of the stress of this process.

Frequent Questions for Social Security Disability:

Web Resources for Social Security Disability:

©2008 Sharon Christie, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission
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