Most claimants are not aware of why the Adult Function Report is the trickiest disability form. In fact, until the claim is filed, most claimants don’t even know this form exists. Usually, the idea of filing for Social Security Disability starts with a doctor stating that a person’s working days are over. It also starts …
Tag: denial of disability
How to Fix Damaging Statements in a Social Security Disability Claim
This question comes up very frequently on my Facebook Groups and other groups I participate in: How to fix damaging statements in a Social Security Disability claim? The short answer is: avoid them, to begin with! What is Considered Damaging Statements and How Do They Make it to the Social Security File? This post contains …
How to Appeal Your Claim at the Appeals Council Level
In this post, I will give you some tips and tricks on how to appeal your claim at the Appeals Council level (Let’s call them AC). You went to your disability hearing with the ALJ and you just received your denial. Now What? I know what you are thinking, “I presented evidence of my disability and …
How to Cross Examine a Social Security Vocational Expert
I see this question a lot: How to cross-examine a Social Security Vocational Expert? Especially when the claimant decided to go to a hearing without an attorney. The main reason I tell my readers to hire an attorney is because of how tricky it can be to cross-examine a vocational expert (let’s call him “VE“- and …
5 Best Books About Filing for Social Security Disability
I’ve been meaning to write this post on the 5 best books about filing Social Security Disability for a while. A lot of claimants start the process of filing for disability by either searching online or by reading books about filing. The amount of information can be overwhelming. And even with all this information, claimants …
How to Survive Financially When Applying for Social Security Disability
One of the questions my clients ask me the most is: “How to survive financially when applying for Social Security Disability?” This is usually a tough question because in most cases the claimant is unable to work. Or at least, unable to work full time. And Social Security tends to deny benefits if the claimant …
How to Win Social Security With An Invisible Illness
Winning a Social Security disability claim for an invisible illness is difficult but not impossible. These illnesses require a little bit more work since they don’t always show up in films (Xrays, MRIs, etc). They also rely mostly on “self-reported” symptoms. This means that the judge has to believe you without a lot of proof …
4 Myths and Realities of a Social Security Claim
There are many myths and realities in a Social Security claim. Most are learned from non-attorney friends and family. And most of them either heard from someone else or had their own unique experience in their claim. Listening to other people’s experiences can give you a glimpse of what you could expect in your own …
How to Use a Residual Functional Capacity Report to Win Social Security
[social_warfare]When filing for Social Security Disability you must prove that you are not capable of working in any capacity. The best way to accomplish that is by submitting a Residual Functional Capacity Report completed by your doctor. Of course, if you read my previous posts you already know that medical records are key to winning your claim. …
4 Reasons Why Social Security Attorneys Are Rejecting Your Case
[social_warfare]There are many reasons why attorneys are rejecting your case. The biggest question is: what does that mean to your case? Every claimant thinks they have a “slam dunk” case because they live their “disability” every day. However, a lot of conditions, even if visible, require documentation to show how “limiting” things are for you. …