Do You Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits?
At the law office of Douglas W. Hutson, Attorney at Law, we help people with disabilities in East Tennessee get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve. You may qualify for SSDI benefits if:
- You have a sufficient work history, meaning that you have paid enough payroll taxes into the Social Security Disability Insurance program.
- You are unable to work at your current job and unable to adapt to different work due to a physical and/or mental ailment.
- Your disability has either lasted one year or is expected to last one year or until death.
If you have a qualifying disability but do not have a sufficient work history, we can work to help you obtain SSDI or SSI benefits. From our office in Athens, we serve clients throughout eastern Tennessee.
Common Disabling Conditions Recognized By The SSA
The SSA recognizes a broad spectrum of physical and mental disabilities when evaluating SSD claims and appeals. Below are some of the more common types of recognized disabilities:
- Cardiovascular conditions, including chest pain, heart failure, heart transplants, recurrent arrhythmias, high blood pressure (hypertension) and congenital heart disease
- Digestive problems, including bowel incontinence, colitis, Crohn’s disease, colon cancer, leaky gut syndrome, liver disease and hepatitis
- Immune system disorders such as lupus
- Mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and depression
- Chronic back and neck conditions
- Lung conditions
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Vision and hearing loss
- Various cancers and other serious diseases
- Diabetes and associated conditions such as neuropathy and edema or hypotension
- Rheumatoid arthritis
The Social Security Administration has a Compassionate Allowances program for disabled workers who have specific, serious medical conditions. If you have a condition that is listed as part of this program, we will work to help get your application or appeal on a fast track for approval. Regardless of your condition, the strength of your medical documentation plays a decisive role in whether your claim moves forward successfully.
What Medical Evidence Does Social Security Generally Require?
A successful SSDI benefits claim requires comprehensive medical evidence showing the severity of your condition, not just your diagnosis. Medical documentation is the key to a successful claim. The records you may need to gather include:
- Diagnostic reports
- Imaging test results
- Laboratory test results
- Treatment notes from your primary care physician or a specialist
- Any relevant hospital records
- A physician’s written notes regarding your functional limitations
Certain types of evidence are especially helpful for proving a disability. Objective medical evidence, such as test results from the doctors providing you with treatment, is among the most helpful evidence, but notes from your office visits and evaluations of your functional limitations by physical therapists or other professionals are also important.
Documentation that outlines the specific symptoms you experience, how those symptoms affect your ability to work and what treatment medical professionals have offered to address your condition can help show your condition meets the SSA’s strict standards. Once the SSA reviews your medical evidence, it will use that information to assess what work-related functions you may still be capable of performing. This process is known as residual functional capacity assessment.
Understanding Residual Functional Capacity Assessments
A residual functional capacity assessment is used to determine what work functions you may be able to perform for eight hours a day, five days a week, given your current symptoms and limitations. The residual functional capacity form is meant to be completed by a physician. Sometimes, that will be a doctor paid by SSA to perform a consultative examination, while other times it will be your own treating physician.
The physician will be asked to evaluate your mental and physical capabilities. They will document your ability to sit, stand, lift, walk, push and pull. They also assess your ability to recall information, carry out an employer’s instructions, adapt to changes, keep pace with others, concentrate and cope with work-related stress. Separate assessments are not necessary if you have multiple comorbidities. The assessment focuses on your overall residual ability to work based on the totality of your impairments.
Securing disability benefits shouldn’t be a guessing game. At Douglas W. Hutson, Attorney at Law, you gain decades of SSDI experience to manage every complex detail of your application. Our legal team meticulously audits your medical records for the common “red flags” that lead to denials, providing clear, actionable steps to strengthen your case before it ever reaches the SSA. Whether you are filing for the first time or appealing a denial, having an experienced legal team review every detail of your claim can make the difference between approval and another setback.
Helping People Get Disability Benefits Since 1983
Douglas W. Hutson has helped people with disabilities access the benefits they need and deserve since obtaining his license to practice law in 1983. As a dedicated and compassionate lawyer, he provides personalized, one-on-one legal counsel to his clients, helping them gather and present the objective evidence they need to provide the SSA with proof of qualifying disabilities.
We provide free initial consultations to those who need help with their Social Security Disability claims. In fact, we charge no legal fees until we win. Call 423-453-3021 or fill out this form to schedule your free consultation at our law office in Athens.