Many New Jersey workers are unable to work due to hardships and physical disabilities, but the Social Security Administration provides benefits for people who are unable to work due to a debilitating personal injury or chronic illness.
New Jersey
Social Security Disability Attorney
Unfortunately, the majority of applications for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are denied, which can lead to a long, drawn-out appeal process to get benefits established.
The best way to ensure your case is successful is to hire an experienced New Jersey Social Security Disability attorney who is ready and willing to go to battle for your rights. Attorney Craig Voorhees has been helping the people of New Jersey for over 20 years and is ready to work with you on your case so that you can get the benefits you deserve and move on with your life.
“Craig was successful in representing me in two cases. We won a Worker's compensation claim, and a social security disability case (after two rejections). Craig is a total professional, and I recommend him to all future clients.”
- Eugene
Social Security Disability and Qualifications
The Social Security Administration determines disability through a five-step process. They examine:
- Whether you are working
- Whether your condition is “severe” (i.e., affects your ability to perform basic work-related tasks, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and remembering)
- Whether your disability falls into a category on this list (some of the most common include orthopedic impairments, psychiatric disorders, cardiac impairments, multiple sclerosis, etc.)
- Whether your impairment prevents you from performing any of your past work
- Whether you can perform any other type of work
An additional requirement is that you must have been employed in jobs covered by Social Security and worked long enough to be entitled to disability benefits.
The biggest problem with the SSD claims process is that most people do not fit neatly into the categories required by the Social Security Administration to qualify for benefits. On the contrary, many people have multiple physical or mental conditions that make their case more complicated.
Another difficulty is that official Social Security Administration policy requires disability claims to be granted only when someone has a serious mental or physical condition that prohibits them from performing “any” job. For this reason, many claims are often denied.
Social Security also periodically reevaluate recipients of benefits for improvement in their disabling conditions, because the awards are granted for disabilities that would last for a very long time and maybe even till the death of the recipient.
Because of these complications, it’s best to have a trained legal advocate on your team who can help you argue your case for benefits.
Social Security Disability Appeals
There are a few key differences between SSD and other disability benefits you might receive from an employer through workers’ compensation.
- SSD only covers total, permanent disability, since it’s a federal system you “pay” into as you work for qualifying employers.
- After two years of SSD benefits, you may also be eligible to receive Medicare to help insure you and protect your health.
Unfortunately, the majority of initial SSD claims are denied, which means you’ll have to appeal your case. You can start by simply requesting a reconsideration, in which they will review your claim again to determine eligibility.
If that doesn’t work, you file a request for hearing by an administrative law judge. Your attorney will obtain medical evidence necessary to prove your disabilities and prepare you to testify at your hearing.
How Attorney Craig Voorhees can help
Attorney Craig Voorhees has been successfully obtaining favorable Social Security Disability decisions for over 20 years. He will work with you by collecting all the required documentation, including:
- Medical records
- Treating provider statements
- Functional capacity opinions from your treating health care providers
- Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) records
- Helpful statements from friends, family, and/or past employers
Having an attorney on your side will also help you advocate for your case by ensuring that you never exaggerate your medical problems, but that you don’t downplay them either.
Craig will also help you with the appeals process when necessary, and encourage you to keep seeing your doctor regularly throughout your claim. Long periods without medical treatment may be used as evidence that you were healthy during that time.
Craig has worked every day to help make sure those who can no longer work get the disability benefits they deserve.
How Attorney Craig Voorhees can help
Attorney Craig Voorhees has been successfully obtaining favorable Social Security Disability decisions for over 20 years. He will work with you to collecting all the required documentation, including:
- Medical records
- Treating provider statements
- Functional capacity opinions from your treating health care providers
- Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) records
- Helpful statements from friends, family, and/or past employers
Having an attorney on your side will also help you advocate for your case by ensuring that you never exaggerate your medical problems, but that you don’t downplay them either.
Craig will also help you with the appeals process when necessary, and encourage you to keep seeing your doctor regularly throughout your claim. Long periods without medical treatment may be used as evidence that you were healthy during that time.
Craig has worked every day to help make sure those who can no longer work get the disability benefits they deserve.
Contact a New Jersey Social Security Disability Attorney today
Getting the benefits you need to support yourself and your family is vital, especially for long-term injuries or chronic illnesses. At s, we believe in our clients and do everything we can to help them get the benefits they need to move forward with their lives. Let us help you get everything you are entitled. Contact us today for more information.
