Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability Lawyers Helping Clients Obtain Benefits in New York and Long Island

Are you unable to do your regular work because of a physical or mental impairment, or a combination of both? If your condition is expected to keep you out of work for 12 months or more, or your condition is terminal, you may qualify for federal Social Security Disability benefits. You should talk to the experienced Social Security disability lawyers at Turley Redmond & Rosasco, L.L.P. about filing for benefits — or appealing your denied claim.

Social Security Disability can pay you a monthly benefit of over $2,600 per month in 2014, depending on how much you paid into the system during your working career. If you have dependents, your benefits could total more than $3,000 per month for your entire family. In addition, if you are granted Social Security Disability benefits, you are also entitled to receive the same Medicare health insurance that people age 65 and over receive from the federal government.

Turley Redmond & Rosasco is recognized as one of the leading Social Security Disability firms in the New York metropolitan area and Long Island. Our firm has won more than 10,000 claims in the past 25 years, from initial application through administrative law judge (ALJ) hearings and federal court appeals. Our attorneys teach courses in Social Security Disability law at local law schools and to other attorneys at national conferences.

Our strategy is simple – unlike some other firms, we personalize your claim rather than treating you like a widget in a “disability factory.” This takes a little more work – but our results speak for themselves.

Contact us today for a free consultation at any of our Long Island locations — including Nassau County and Suffolk County. Our social security lawyers have secured benefits for all types of impairments, from back injuries to heart disease to mental illness.

Our Manhattan and Long Island Social Security Lawyers Are With You Every Step Through The Disability Process

You will never be alone when you hire Turley Redmond & Rosasco, L.L.P., to help you win your disability claim. The Social Security Administration (SSA), just like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is a massive federal bureaucracy that can easily intimidate claimants with disabilities. Thankfully, we have had great success guiding our clients through the “disability maze” for over 25 years throughout New York City and Long Island — with offices in Manhattan, Nassau County, Suffolk County and more.

Unlike many law firms, we assist clients with the initial application for benefits. We carefully listen to clients and document their symptoms and treatment, then develop an appropriate strategy for the case. We have been successful at every level of the process:

• Initial claims
• Administrative law judge (ALJ) hearings
• Appeals Council review
• Federal court appeals

Our goal is to control the claims process by knowing more than the Social Security Administration and the ALJ assigned to your case. The key is diligent research (especially for rare or uncommon conditions), proper documentation and presentation of medical evidence, and sitting down with clients to prepare them to tell their story at the hearing. We break out the medical textbooks when we have to.

We treat every case individually, based upon the specific facts of the case. For example, we will prepare an application for a construction worker with a bad back much differently than we would for a bank manager with heart disease, or a teacher with depression, or a nurse with cancer.

Qualifying Impairments for Social Security Disability Benefits

A diagnosis, or even a visible injury or impairment, is not enough to win Social Security Disability benefits. You must meet specific medical criteria, and demonstrate that your medical condition causes serious physical or mental restrictions that prevent you from working. You must prove your disability claim. That’s where an experienced SSD lawyer comes in. 

At Turley Redmond & Rosasco, L.L.P., we have a reputation for results even in hard-to-win categories of impairment, such as fibromyalgia and mental illness claims. Over the past 25 years, our social security lawyers have won benefits for more than 10,000 clients in disability claims, hearings and appeals.

Our Social Security disability law firm represents individuals from Suffolk County, Nassau County and the New York metropolitan area. Contact us today for a free consultation for assistance with your claim.

Success With Physical And Mental Impairment Claims

• Spinal disorders — Herniated disk, spinal stenosis, compression fractures, spinal fusion, artificial disk replacement, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis
• Mental illness — Depression and bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, ADD/ADHD
• Orthopedic disabilities — Shoulder surgery, hip surgery, knee surgery, hand surgery
• Heart disease — Congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, heart attack, enlarged heart, heart transplant, valve disease
• Neurological disorders — Stroke, seizures, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, myasthenia gravis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s, brain tumor, dementia
• Inflammatory disease and immune system — Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, HIV/AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Cancers — Breast, lung, prostate, stomach, pancreas, kidney, liver, testicular, ovarian, colon, skin, throat, esophagus, melanoma, bladder, brain, bone and blood (leukemia)
• Diabetes and complications — Diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, brittle diabetes, thyroid disease, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, morbid obesity
• Gastrointestinal — Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis
• Lung ailments — Asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, asbestosis, black lung, lung cancer, sarcoidosis
• Liver and kidney disease — Hepatitis, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, renal failure
• Skin disorders — Scleroderma, burns, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, melanoma
• Blood and lymph disorders — Sickle cell disease, anemia, hemophilia, Raynaud’s, lymphoma, polycythemia
• Addiction — Dual diagnosis, alcoholism, prescription painkillers, heroin
• Vision and hearing — Macular degeneration, vertigo, tinnitus, pierced eardrum

Social Security Disability Initial Applications And Hearings

We assist clients in “putting their best foot forward” on the initial application. However, the majority of claims are turned down even with legal representation at the initial level. We have a very high success rate at the next level — disability hearings before an administrative law judge (ALJ). This is the first time you will actually meet with a decision-maker “face to face” to explain why you can’t work. We will always send your judge a “pre-hearing legal memo” explaining why we think you should win your case, so he/she is not surprised at the hearing.

Our New York and Long Island social security disability lawyers will fully prepare you for your testimony prior to this hearing and sit next to you during the hearing. At the hearing, we will explain to the administrative law judge (ALJ) our “theory of the case” and why you should be approved for benefits. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we have experience appearing before almost every ALJ in the New York area and Long Island. Our attorneys have a solid reputation for integrity and legal knowledge before these judges. Unlike some firms that have a reputation as “disability factories,” we know how individual judges conduct hearings and what evidence they each require to approve claims. We tailor your claim to the individual judge hearing your case so you have the best chance of winning. If you fall within the small minority who lose at the ALJ hearing level, Turley Redmond & Rosasco, L.L.P., is fully prepared to appeal your case as far as the federal courts if necessary.

Let Our Social Security Disability Lawyers Help You Avoid Mistakes When Applying for SSDI

While it is not necessary to hire a disability attorney to apply for SSDI benefits, doing so can not only increase your chances of approval, but can also keep you from making mistakes that can be fatal to your application. Below are some of the most common mistakes claimants make when applying for SSDI benefits. For more information about any topic presented here, please contact a Long Island Social Security disability law firm like ours. 

1. Applying for SSDI Benefits While Receiving Unemployment Benefits

There is no strict prohibition on applying for unemployment benefits while you wait to receive a decision on your SSDI claim. However, it can significantly complicate matters. When you apply for SSDI benefits, you are telling the SSA that you are disabled and unable to work for at least 12 months. However, when you apply for unemployment benefits, you certify that you are able and willing to work should you find the appropriate position. Thus, while not necessarily fatal to a disability claim, your certification to your state unemployment board that you can work may harm your case at the SSA.

2. Earning Too Much Money

The SSA considers individuals disabled and not able to work if their disability prevents them from pursuing “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). If your monthly income is below the threshold dollar amount the SSA considers SGA, you may continue working. However, if your income is more than the threshold, you may want to consider quitting your job. As of the date of publication, the SGA amount for non-blind individuals is $1,260 per month.

3. Discontinuing Medical Treatment

Eligibility determinations for SSDI benefits require a great deal of documentation, which comes mainly in the form of medical evidence. If you have discontinued treatment with your physician, your medical documentation may be too old for the SSA to make an accurate determination. For some conditions, the SSA also requires evidence that your symptoms have not improved despite following your treatment plan, and such failure could harm your eligibility.

4. Not Including Psychological Illnesses

When evaluating your eligibility for benefits, the SSA wants a complete and accurate picture of your health, and that includes your mental health. While mild to moderate mental illnesses — such as depression or anxiety — on their own may not be enough to qualify for benefits, they can strengthen your claim when considered alongside your physical injuries or illnesses.

5. Not Appealing a Denied Claim

Applying for SSDI benefits is a long, drawn-out process that often involves multiple levels of review. Most SSDI applications are denied at the initial level of application, but the approval rate rises significantly for those who appeal their denials. If your initial claim is denied, it does not mean that you cannot receive SSDI benefits — only that it may take more effort.

Our Social Security Disability Lawyers Have the Experience and Commitment to Win Your Case

Our lawyers are familiar with a wide range of Social Security Disability impairments and the medical criteria under the Social Security Administration listings. We are also knowledgeable about alternative criteria, such as the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, and special consideration for claimants age 50 or older. The key to our success is working closely with clients and paying attention to the details that can make or break a particular case.

Call the experienced social security disability lawyers of Turley Redmond & Rosasco toll-free at 800-671-4927 or contact us online. We offer a free consultation, with convenient office locations in  Nassau County and Suffolk County. 

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