We represent people who are having problems dealing with the social security administration. Most of the problems involve applying for and qualifying for disability benefits. Social Security runs several programs for disabled people. All of them require that the person be unable to perform any type of work. Proving that you cannot do any type of work can be difficult.

The attorney who represents people seeking disability benefits is Suzanne Harris. She has over 30 years experience with the social security administration. Her staff includes paralegal Mary Beth Wilson who helps gather medical records and get information from social security, and paralegal Teshecia Robinson, who assists people with problems that arise after they have been approved.

Most of our clients seek legal representation when they have been denied at the first level by social security. A person only has 60 days to file an appeal when they have been denied. We help people file the appeal forms and try to develop evidence that will prove that they cannot do any type of work. This often involves contacting doctors to make sure they fill out paperwork which will persuade social security that a person cannot work, finding old school records to show learning disabilities, helping clients find resources to treat them and develop medical evidence, and tracking down other useful evidence. However, even with good evidence, many people still get denied a second time at the reconsideration level. After the second denial, if a person appeals within the 60 day deadline, he or she will get a hearing in front of a social security judge. The hearing in front of a social security judge is the best chance a person has to get approved. Unfortunately, there is a large back log of cases waiting for hearings and it can take up to 2 years to schedule a hearing.

Certain people can ask for an expedited hearing, those who are homeless or suffer from a terminal illness. Most others have to wait for the hearing. We meet with our clients before the hearing to go over the evidence we need to establish that they cannot work. We prepare for the hearing and attend the hearing with the client. Sometimes social security calls other witnesses to the hearing, such as a doctor, or an expert in what jobs exist in the United States that a person can do with certain limitations. It is important to have an attorney who knows how to cross examine those witnesses if social security calls one to your hearing.

In most cases, we only charge a fee if the client is approved for disability benefits. Then the fee is 25% of the back money that social security owes to the client . If the client is not approved, no fee would be due. Our initial consultations are free.

There are several levels of appeal after the hearing, if we are unsuccessful at the hearing. Suzanne Harris has had extensive experience in filing appeals up to and including federal court appeals of the social security action.

In addition to disability claims there are other types of problems that a person can have with the social security system, including problems getting retirement benefits, overpayments, underpayments, and similar types of problems. If you would like a consultation about your social security problem, please call or contact us.