Social Security Law Attorneys

Serving West Virginia and Ohio, including Parkersburg, Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, Wheeling, Belpre, and Athens

If your first claim for Social Security Disability (SSD) was denied, you’re not alone. Approximately two-thirds of all first-time SSD applicants are denied.

And while it’s possible to be approved for SSD without an attorney who specializes in Social Security law, it can also be difficult. The denial rate increases when applications are reconsidered, and the process to overturn a denied claim can be complex and time-consuming. The West Virginia and Ohio Social Security lawyers at Jan Dils & Jim Leach, Attorneys at Law have the experience to help you properly file your SSD paperwork or stand by your side through the appeals process if your initial claim has been denied.

Social Security Disability Basics

SSD provides monthly financial support to people who have worked previously but who are now unable to work due to a qualifying mental or physical disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict qualifications for approving SSD, and your claim must be comprehensively documented.

If you do not correctly fill out your SSD application or have enough documentation to back up your claim, you may be rejected regardless of the legitimacy of your disability. This can cause you to lose out on the financial support you need for everyday living expenses as well as the medical care required by your condition.

To prevent fraud, the SSA requires extensive documentation of your employment history and medical conditions, and it will review your case just as thoroughly. If you believe your SSD claim was wrongfully denied, there are four levels of appeal:

• Reconsideration: Your claim is examined by a new caseworker, and additional evidence may be submitted prior to review.
• Hearing: If you do not receive a satisfactory result from the Reconsideration process, you may request your case be heard by an administrative law judge.
• Appeals Council: If your claim is denied by an administrative law judge, you can ask for a review by the Social Security Appeals Council. Although the Appeals Council looks at all review requests, it may also deny your request if it believes the Hearing decision was correct.
• Federal Court Review: If you believe your claim is valid despite previous denials, you may file a lawsuit in a federal district court.

Time is of the essence if your first SSD application was denied. You have only 60 days to appeal the decision, and the experienced West Virginia and Ohio Social Security attorneys Jan Dils and Jim Leach can help.

Why You Need a Social Security Lawyer

Whether you’re preparing your initial SSD claim application, submitting your claim for Reconsideration or appealing a rejected claim, you have a greater chance of success with the help of a knowledgeable Social Security lawyer.

The qualified team at Jan Dils & Jim Leach, Attorneys at Law understands the SSD application process and the information necessary to receive approval while maximizing your benefits. Our Social Security attorneys also have thorough knowledge of the SSD appeals process and can help you strengthen your claim if you have been denied.

SSD applicants represented by an experienced Social Security lawyer have a greater statistical chance of success in receiving approval for their claims than those who attempt to navigate the process alone.

If you are unable to work due to a qualifying medical condition and are seeking Social Security Disability Benefits, or if your initial SSD claim has been denied and you need someone to be your voice in the appeals process, please contact the West Virginia and Ohio Social Security lawyers at Jan Dils & Jim Leach, Attorneys at Law.