We Will Come To You! We visit clients located anywhere in Michigan.
At Gray, Sowle & Iacco, P.C. we focus on representing claimants at their disability hearings. That means we assist people who have had their disability claims denied. We can help these claimants by:
- Filing your Request for Hearing (Appeal)
- Coming up with a winning theory
- Obtaining medical support for preparing you for your hearing
- Presenting a persuasive case
When you are dealing with Gray, Sowle & Iacco, P.C., you will only have attorneys handling your case, unlike some national Social Security firms who use non-attorneys to do the work. In addition, unlike national firms, the first time you meet the attorney will not be the day of your hearing. We will make it a point to have direct personal contact with you and always schedule a final meeting in advance of your hearing with the Social Security Administrative Law Judge.
Should I apply?
If you have a physical or mental disability that is severe and your condition limits your activities of daily living and your disability has lasted longer than twelve months and your doctor agrees with this assessment, you should apply for Social Security Disability.
Evaluation Factors:
Social Security has a strict definition of disability that ignores many real life aspects of the job market. Difficulty finding a job, thinking that no one will hire you with your condition, believing you cannot pass a job requirement physical, or even knowing that the pay you would receive for the work you can do is too little to live on, etc. are all real world considerations that do not matter to the Social Security Administration when evaluating a claim for benefits.
What does matter?
Medical Evidence. As is the case with most legal claims, what counts in disability evaluations is what you can prove. If no medical records exist to support your claim of disability, then you are unlikely to be successful. Social Security figures that if your medical condition is severe enough to keep you from working, then it should justify doctor visits, tests, diagnosis, and treatment.
Keep good records.
Without records you are unlikely to remember the date of every doctor visit, diagnostic test, medication, and therapy received. You should obtain the business card of every doctor you see and keep them in a safe place. It is also a good idea to keep a list of your medication, the dosage, the reason for taking it, and any side effects.
Symptoms:
SSA does not expect you to be an expert on medical conditions. What SSA wants to receive from you are details about your symptoms. For example, how severe is your pain? Is it constant or intermittent? What aggravates your pain? What reduces it? No one knows your symptoms better than you. Do your best to explain them in detail without exaggerating or minimizing them. Do not omit or gloss over any lesser conditions just because you have one severe condition and several minor ones.
Physical Limitations:
What can't you do? Sit for lengthy periods? Stand and walk? Lift and carry? Bend, twist, kneel, and stoop? Manipulate objects with your hands? Remember that the Social Security Administration will focus on your limitations rather than your diagnosis.
Effects of symptoms and limitations:
How does your medical condition affect your daily activities? Tell social security about the impact on your personal care (hygiene, dressing, bathing), physical care (driving, shopping, cleaning), and social functioning (hobbies, sports, interaction with friends and family).
Past work:
Make sure that when you are listing your past employment that you are very specific in detailing the job duties and requirements. Make sure you adequately and correctly describe the physical demands required by each of your past employment.
Consistency:
It is important that you make every effort to be accurate and honest in your responses to the Social Security Administration. Contradictions, errors, memory lapses, and discrepancies all work to erode your credibility and nothing will sink your claim faster than questions about your truthfulness.
|