If your Michigan Social Security disability claim was denied and you are considering an appeal, be sure to bring your denial letter (or letters) to your initial interview with any prospective disability attorney. An experienced Michigan Social Security disability lawyer can use your denial letter as a first step in determining why your claim was denied, whether the denial was in error, and how best to address that error on appeal.

For example, if your denial letter says you can “engage in normal activities,” this means your claim was denied at Step 2 of the sequential evaluation process, based on a non-severe impairment. This finding probably reflects a deficiency in the medical evidence. In that case, it will be your Michigan disability attorney’s job to complete the record. If your denial letter says you are capable of doing a former job (i.e., past relevant work), this is a denial at Step 4 of the sequential evaluation process. Even if the letter does not state which former job you are able to perform, you and your lawyer may be able to figure that out by talking about your easiest job. Similarly, if your denial letter concedes that you cannot do any former job, but says that you can engage in “lighter work,” a knowledgeable Michigan disability attorney can explain the Social Security definitions of “sedentary work” and “light work,” and discuss with you possible reasons you are not able to do that type of work. Your Michigan disability lawyer can then set about gathering information to corroborate this.

If you live in the Detroit metropolitan area and are considering appealing a denial of your Michigan Social Security disability claim, please contact my office. We can schedule a time to meet to review your denial letter and discuss your case.