What are the options?
You can apply online by accessing the United States Social Security Administration official web site at www.ssa.gov and following the instructions given on the site. However, your Augusta disability attorney will point out that the most popular method is to call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and begin the process over the phone. Your call will be answered by an attendant who will set up a meeting for you with an agent at the SSA office in your area.
Must I go to an in-person meeting?
It is not necessary to meet with your SSA representative in person to begin the paperwork for your claim, although the option to do so is open to you. Your Augusta disability lawyer can tell you that you also have the alternative of setting a specific time for the SSA agent to return your call for a telephone interview.
At that time your application can be completed by computer using the information that you provide during the call. Once complete, a hard copy along with other related documents will be sent to you through the postal service for your signature. Your Augusta disability attorney cannot sign the benefits application for you unless specifically chosen by the court to perform that function.
Can my Augusta disability attorney sign the application electronically?
No. The same regulation that prevents your disability attorney from signing a hard copy also applies to an online (electronic) application. However, this does not mean that your Augusta disability attorney cannot provide you with help in completing the paperwork required by the SSA. Again, if you visit the official SSA web site given above, you will find the appropriate instructions.
Who confirms the medical aspect of my disability claim?
The medical analyses of your first and/or resubmitted claims are not made by the SSA. This function is completed by a state agency contracted for this purpose. The state team is made up of a physician and another examiner who will study your information and assess the claim accordingly. There are tentative programs being tested by the SSA whereby simple evaluations may be made without physician involvement. Once this part of the procedure has been completed the SSA will accept the agency’s decisions.
What if I think the decision is wrong?
You are within your rights to submit an appeal if you feel that the initial determination is wrong.
Who will handle my claim if I resubmit?
If you resubmit after a disputed determination your claim will not be handled by the same people who examined your claim to begin with. However, it is unlikely that the resulting decision will be much different from the original determination and only in rare cases are benefits awarded. This does not mean that ultimately you cannot win an appeal. Many appeals succeed at the administrative hearing level.
Find the Answers you need from Augusta Disability Attorney
If you are attempting to file a disability claim, don’t try to navigate this process alone. Call an Augusta disability attorney for help.