Detroit Social Security Disability Lawyers
Was your application for Social Security Disability benefits in Michigan denied? Detroit Social Security Disability Lawyer Marc Shefman can help.
Do you live in Oakland County, Wayne County, Macomb County, Washtenaw County, Livingston County, or the cities of Detroit or Southfield, or elsewhere in the metro-Detroit area? Has the Social Security Administration rejected your disability claim?
If you believe you cannot work, you should appeal the denial of your application and then any denial of that appeal.
Why? Because the Social Security disability determination system favors appellants, but is unkind to applicants. Nationally, two-thirds of applications are denied, but more than half of claimants who appeal are found disabled. Michigan Social Security disability applicants are up against the same odds, so do not let rejection discourage you.
Our Detroit Social Security Disability Lawyers can help if you want an experienced and sympathetic Social Security lawyer to assist with your appeal. Complete the form to the right and I will respond promptly. Your claim will receive my personal, one-on-one attention.
In the meantime, you may learn about the Michigan Social Security disability appeal and determination process from the articles and videos on our Detroit Social Security Disability Lawyers website.
Our Detroit Social Security Disability Lawyers wish you success.
Marc J. Shefman
Social Security disability attorney
17000 W. Ten Mile, Suite 150
Southfield, Michigan 48075
E-mail
Phone 248-298-3003
Fax 248-559-7710
Explanation of Michigan Social Security disability
Over 100 web pages on appealing a denial of Detroit disability benefits and the hearing are contained in this website. Some of the more valuable materials are:
- Appealing a Denial of Benefits, my free e-booklet, provides additional tips. See the top right corner of this page.
- For a short and visual explanation of how an administrative law judge evaluates eligibility, watch the video How the Judge Determines Disability pictured above.
- To understand how the Social Security Administration in Michigan evaluates particular impairments and obtain medical opinion forms, see Applying for Disability Benefits When You Have…
- Look at Your Disability Hearing for a detailed and practical look at the best opportunity for most claimants to be awarded benefits.
Appealing a denial of benefits in Michigan
Social Security disability claimants have three choices when appealing. Be sure you receive proof of your filing whichever method you employ. Then you will not have to start over if the Social Security Administration (SSA) loses your paperwork.
1. File online. Use SSA’s website at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/iAppeals/ap001.jsp. It will only take a few minutes, and you can print a confirmation. You will need your denial letter, the names and addresses of all the medical providers you have seen since you filed your claim or last appealed, and a list of your current medications. You may also complete the Disability Report – Appeal online, but this step will take more than a few minutes. In case you are timed out, obtain a reentry number so you can get back in to finish the Disability Report.
2. Telephone and then mail. Phone the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 and inform them that you want to appeal. SSA will send you the appropriate appeal form, an Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration (SSA-827), and a Disability Report – Appeal. Use certified mail, return receipt requested, to mail the appeal papers back to SSA.
3. Your local Social Security office. Your denial letter has the address of your local Michigan Social Security office. Once received, bring your denial letter, a list with the names and addresses of all of your medical providers you have seen since you last updated SSA, and a list of your current medications. This information will allow you to complete all of the appeals papers at the Social Security office with the assistance of a claims representative. When finished, ask the representative for a copy of everything you have submitted and receipt for your appeal.
Tips for filling out the forms
1. File your appeal on time. You have 65 days from the date on your denial letter to file your appeal. You will need to start over with a new application if you are late without “good cause.”
2. Do not elaborate when asked why you disagree with the prior ruling on the Request for Reconsideration or Request for Hearing. Simply write, “I am disabled.”
3. The form Disability Report – Appeal is designed to gather information about additional treatment, new diagnoses, changes in your condition, and modifications of your daily activities since you last updated SSA. If no changes have occurred, you may say so. If there have been changes, describe them accurately. Neither exaggerate nor minimize.
4. Detail how your activities have changed since you last completed a disability report. Provide a current list of your medications and the name and address of every medical provider you have seen since your last SSA update.
5. Have a witness sign the Authorization to Disclose Information and list his or her telephone number or address.
Michigan Social Security Disability Attorney, Marc J. Shefman can help!