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Workers Comp & Social Security Disability Attorneys
Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA and Delaware
We have always been known as a law firm that protects the rights of working people and we are proud of that tradition. Over the years, we've helped thousands of individuals cope with life after an on-the-job injury and we have a highly successful track record. If you are hurt on the job or become disabled and cannot work, you need to understand your rights and responsibilities. For example, you need to let your employer know about the injury, even if it doesn't seem serious. If you need medical treatment, you should file a claim to protect your eligibility for a number of benefits, including disability benefits for lost wages and medical expenses. Should you be permanently disabled, you may be entitled to long-term compensation and damages as well.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Most people of working age are keenly aware of the Federal
Social Security Retirement Program, however, until they are
personally affected not everyone is familiar with the Social
Security Benefits Program.
Generally speaking, there are two programs which provide benefits to qualified individuals who meet the disability definition in the law.
Social Security Disability Benefits (S.S.D.) are paid to disabled persons who have worked in recent years, usually five out of the last ten years. For persons under the age 31 years, the requirements are a little different since they have not been in the work force as long.
Supplemental Social Security Income Benefits are paid to qualified individuals depending upon certain income standards regardless of whether or not the person has worked in the past. There are also benefits available under this program for disabled children depending on the income of the child's guardian.
Under the Social Securities Disabilities Act, disability means the inability of a person to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or is expected to result in death.
With the above general description of the programs available, there are certain things you should be aware of:
- A person should
file as soon as it is determined that he or she will be
unable to work for at
least 12 months or that the
condition will lead to death. Initially, most claims
for disability benefits are filed by the claimants at the
local Social Security
office.
- At some period after the initial filing, the claimant should receive a determination either accepting or denying the claim. If the claim is denied the claimant has the right to file for a reconsideration and submit any additional relevant information at that time. If the request for reconsideration of the claim is denied, the claimant has the right to file an appeal, which will be heard before an Administrative Law Judge.
It should be noted that a claimant has the right to seek legal
advice and to be represented at any time during this entire
process, however, the appeal before the Administrative law
Judge is the most formal part of the entire process and most
claimants, if they have not already done so, seek representation
immediately after receiving notice that their request for reconsideration
has been denied. It should also be noted that there is no fee
for representation unless the claimant is successful and collects
benefits.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos who represent claimants in Social Security Disability claims recognize that disabled individuals would much rather be healthy and working. Additionally, they recognize that the process to receive benefits can be complicated and frustrating for claimants who have been denied benefits, sometimes taking a year or more from initial application to final determination. We do, however, strongly believe that the Federal Law intended that those who have become disabled within the meaning of the law should not be discouraged and should exercise their rights in obtaining the benefits they deserve.
If you've been hurt on the job, suffered injury from working conditions or become disabled and cannot work, talk to us. We'll help you protect your rights and explore all of your options.
