Resources

The best testimony strategy is to focus your testimony on the details of your impairment. Your Ocala Florida Social Security disability lawyer will help prepare you for testifying by explaining how to stay on point. Your Ocala Florida Social Security Disability Lawyer on Avoiding Character Testimony Regardless of whether you are the nicest, most honest person in the world, the fact is that the judge is simply not interested in this information. Being a person of exceptional character has nothing to do with the severity of your impairment and your eligibility for disability benefits. In fact, the more you try to explain how good you are, the more the judge may doubt that this claim is genuine. Thus, your Ocala…Read More

Regardless of the result, a medical diagnosis alone is not enough to render you eligible for Social Security disability benefits. As long as you and your Ocala Florida Social Security disability lawyer can prove that your condition has adversely affected your ability to work, you will remain eligible for SSD benefits.Read More

Back pain cases are not always easy for the SSA to evaluate, and there are often several factors to consider. Below, your Ocala Florida disability attorney has outlined some important information about the assessment of back pain claims. Your Ocala Florida Disability Lawyer on Evidence Considered by the SSA There are three specific areas SSA looks at when assessing back pain claims. Objective abnormalities of your injury, your symptoms and pain level and your credibility will each be important to the SSA's decision. The SSA understands, though, that it is not unusual for there to be a lack of objective medical evidence in back pain cases as medical tests are not always reliable at showing severity of an injury. Your…Read More

In order to be found disabled as a result of joint dysfunction or arthritis, SSA must determine that you are unable to "ambulate effectively." Below, your Ocala Florida disability lawyer will give you some information about what this means and how to prove it. Your Ocala Florida Disability Lawyer Defines Inability to Ambulate Effectively If your ability to walk or engage in normal activities is severely limited by your impairment, SSA considers this an inability to ambulate effectively. Typically, this means that in order to do these types of things, you rely on walking assistance devices, such as canes or a walker. Additional limitations, like an inability to stand for long periods, complete everyday activities or go up steps without…Read More

If you plan to continue working while you receive disability benefits, you will need to be sure to keep your income below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level. Speak to your Ocala disability attorney about your employment plans and how they may affect your benefits. Substantial Gainful Activity Level The 2010 SGA level was $1,000 monthly in gross income. Your Ocala disability lawyer will be able to give you the most recent information about SGA levels. To continue receiving your disability benefits, you must keep your monthly income below this level. Your Ocala Disability Attorney on the Trial Work Period SSA allows claimants to take a nine-month trial work period. After this trial period has ended, if your average monthly earnings…Read More

The results of a consultative exam will be important to determining whether or not you are disabled. Let your disability lawyer in Ocala Florida know if you would prefer your own doctor to perform this exam as you will need special permission from SSA. Asking Your Disability Lawyer in Ocala Florida to Have Your Own Doctor Perform the Exam Before your attorney submits a request to SSA for your doctor to perform a consultative exam, he will first want to be sure that your doctor would qualify. Your physician must be credentialed in the appropriate field of medicine. Next, your attorney will ask your physician if he would be willing to perform the exam. Some doctors are resistant to do…Read More

The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) may ask a vocational expert (VE) to testify at your hearing. Your Ocala disability lawyer will go over what you can expect from the VE and the impact he will have on your hearing. What Is a Vocational Expert? If your Ocala disability attorney informs you that a VE will be present at your hearing, it is important to understand his role. VEs are present in order to testify regarding vocational issues stemming from the Social Security Act and Medical-Vocational Guidelines. Thus, the VE should address your ability to work based on your age, education and past work as well as what positions exist that you might qualify for despite your impairment. Why Would an…Read More

When seeking Social Security disability benefits, one of the issues you and your Ocala Social Security disability law office must be concerned with is the testimony of a vocational expert (VE). Your Ocala Social Security Disability Law Office Will Be Prepared for a Vocational Expert The government might use a vocational expert in your case. Commonly, the vocational expert is appointed by the Administrative Law Judge. There are certain instances, however, in which your Ocala Social Security disability law office will have a VE testify on your behalf. Your Ocala Social Security Disability Law Firm Sees Vocational Experts Testify More Often Than Medical Experts The Social Security Administration has VEs testify more frequently than medical experts. They have their own…Read More

An important part of your hearing testimony will be describing your physical abilities and limitations. Below, your Ocala Social Security disability lawyer has listed some areas typical of this type of testimony. Lifting and Carrying Testimony Your Ocala Social Security disability attorney will advise you to be prepared to speak about your ability to lift and carry as well as your limitations with each. Thus, things like the most weight you are able to lift and carry and what would happen if you exceeded that limit will be important to your testimony. Your Ocala Social Security Disability Attorney on Movement Limitations The judge will ask about your postural abilities and your limitations in movements like twisting, bending, kneeling, climbing and…Read More

At your hearing, it will be important to respond appropriately to the judge. Below, your Ocala Social Security disability attorney has described some common mistakes made by claimants and how to avoid these mistakes yourself. Let Your Ocala Social Security Disability Lawyer Argue Your Case It may seem difficult not to argue to the judge that you are unable to work, but stick to the limitations and symptoms caused by your impairment using specific examples and anecdotes. Your attorney should be the one to make a case to the judge and argue that the testimony you have provided justifies a finding of disabled. Sympathy and Comparisons Judges do not like when a claimant tries to make them feel badly about…Read More