People
often ask whether it matters when you file for disability. The answer
is yes. When you file for Social Security disability, SSA will ask if
your medical condition has
lasted or can be expected to last for 12 months or more. If the
answer is no, your application will be denied. Social Security provides
no benefits for short term disability that lasts less than one year.
Does
that mean that you must wait 12 months from the date you become
disabled to file your claim? Absolutely not. If you expect your
condition will last at least 12 months into the future, go ahead and
file for benefits. It is in your best interest not to wait too long,
for a number of reasons.
Let's
look at an example. A worker named Joe has an injury and becomes
unable to work on January 1, 2013. Social Security has a 5 month
waiting period, so the earliest he could possibly qualify for benefits
would be May 1, 2013. Social Security allows you to claim disability as far as one year before your application was filed.
But Joe is busy and he doesn't get around to filing his application
until October 1, 2014. Since benefits can only go back one year, he can
only receive payment back to October 1, 2013, at the earliest. The
payments that he could have received from May to October have been
lost. This could potentially amount to thousands of dollars in benefits
that can never be recovered.
Another
reason not to wait is the simple fact that claims take so long to
process. Progressing from initial application through the appeals phase
to a decision can easily take 18 months or more. Those months of waiting don't start until the initial application is filed. The sooner you file, the sooner you can get a decision from SSA.
Have other questions about filing for disability? Give our local
office a call today. We will be happy to offer you our best guidance at
no cost to you.
(256) 799-0297
Huntsville, AL office
(615) 732-6159
Franklin, TN (Nashville) office
Losing the ability to work is one of the most frightening experiences of our lives. Work means security, peace of mind, an assurance of being able to provide for our basic needs. Loss of that ability can be very worrisome because most of us haven't prepared for that contingency.
Fortunately there is a "safety net" for disability that is provided by the US Government for most Americans. It's called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). We pay for it by taxes deducted from our paychecks, matched by taxes from our employers. Most Americans who work are covered by SSDI.
Social Security disability can pay a disabled person up to about $2,500 per month. The actual amount is based on how long you worked and your average wages.
To receive benefits, you must prove that you are no longer able to perform full-time work due to blindness or other disability. The disability can be from physical or mental impairments or a combination of both.
The rules for a finding of disability are rigid and complex. 70 percent of individuals who apply will be denied because they "do not meet our rules for disability." These decisions are often made in error and go against the very purpose of Social Security disability programs. Often, the unfavorable rulings can be reversed with appropriate appeals.
A disability advocate is a professional who is trained in the Social Security laws and regulations. He or she knows how to evaluate a case, prepare it for appeal, and walk it through a legal process with the optimum chance of success. An advocate or representative may not charge you a fee until you win your case and collect past due benefits. There are no charges for office or phone consultations, advice, opinions, etc.
If you would like to explore options about a Social Security disability claim, please contact one of our offices listed below:
The Forsythe Firm The Forsythe Firm
Huntsville, AL Nashville, TN
(256) 799-0297 (615) 732-6159
We are experienced Social Security disability advocates in the Nashville area. If you need to file for disability, appeal a decision, or just want to explore your options--please contact the Forsythe Firm for a free consultation.
For most people who can no longer work, there is a great deal of uncertainty that makes life very uncomfortable. We understand that. We know how important it is to get some direction and security back into your life as quickly as possible. That's why our team is dedicated to working hard for you and doing all we can to make the Social Security system work for you.
Best of all, there is no cost to you until we win your case and put money in your account. Peace of mind is priceless. Stop worrying and let our professional disability advocates develop a plan to get you the income and medical care insurance that you need and have paid for. We work in many middle Tennessee communities, such as Nashville, Franklin, Pulaski, Columbia, Spring Hill and Murfreesboro, to name a few.
The Forsythe Firm
725 Cool Springs Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37607
Phone (615) 732-6159
FORSYTHE FIRM - SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ADVOCATES
FRANKLIN, TN (615) 732-6159
The Forsythe Firm, one of the area's most successful Social Security disability advocate firms, has located an office in Franklin, TN. The firm specializes exclusively in Social Security disability.
"Our job is to take a look our client's disability situation and figure out the fastest way to help him or her obtain Social Security disability benefits," a spokesperson said.
That may be filing the initial application correctly--to give the claimant the best chance of being approved on the first try. Or, it may involve framing an appeal that will take a denied case before a special judge for reconsideration. Actually, most Social Security disability cases are approved at the hearing level.
There is no fee for case evaluations, office consultations, or helping to file a claim or appeal. The firm is paid for its representation only if the case won and back pay or retroactive benefits are granted. Then, Social Security will withhold an approved fee and pay it directly to the representative. If a claimant does not win, no fee is due.
To contact a Social Security disability specialist at the Forsythe Firm in Franklin, please call:
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
725 Cool Springs Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37067
Phone: (615) 732-6159
