Resources

The Social Security Administration (SSA), Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) each have a specific definition for "disability." A disability lawyer in Ocala, Florida will help you understand why they differ. Americans With Disabilities Act and Social Security Administration The difference in definition of "disability" between the SSA and ADA is set down in a memorandum from the Associate Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, sent to staff and judges alike. Under ADA, disability has to do with the completion of "major life activities," which is different from the definition of disability according to the SSA. Your disability lawyer in Ocala, Florida can explain this difference in more detail. DOT The Dictionary of Occupational Titles…Read More

In addition to obtaining your own testimony, your disability attorney in Ocala, Florida will question the witnesses in your case. Possible Questions Your disability attorney in Ocala, Florida may ask a witness questions regarding such issues as the following: Ability to Walk: Have you noticed over the last several years that the claimant has been unable to walk with ease? How far can the claimant walk (in city blocks) before needing to stop? When the claimant rests, how long does this take? Use of Hands and Arms: What difficulties, if any, have you noticed in the claimant's use of hands and arms? (Your disability lawyer in Ocala, Florida will ask the claimant to provide a description.) Does the claimant have…Read More

The assistance of an experienced Ocala disability attorney can be of great value as you prepare your testimony concerning fatigue at your hearing. An Ocala Disability Lawyer Lists Questions to Expect at Your Hearing Your Ocala disability attorney can advise you to expect the following questions about your fatigue: When did you notice its onset? Was the onset sudden? Please provide a description of your fatigue. Is your fatigue similar to sleepiness or drowsiness? Could your fatigue be compared to feeling tired, weak or enervated? At such times, do you become impatient? Does fatigue affect your motivation to accomplish tasks? What conditions exacerbate this condition? Does your condition worsen when you are: unhappy? Stressed, depressed or anxious? How has stress affected your…Read More

In addition to yourself and your Ocala disability lawyer, there will be a few other people at your disability hearing. Who to Expect at Your Hearing Only people with a direct bearing on your case will attend this private meeting. These include the administrative law judge (ALJ), the judge's assistant recording the meeting, yourself, your Ocala disability lawyer and witnesses. Only outsiders with permission from you and the ALJ are permitted to observe the proceeding. Witnesses Depending on the ALJ's normal procedure, witnesses may or may not be present during your testimony. If they are not, they will be called from a waiting room when their testimony is required (this is referred to as sequestering). The ALJ may sequester a…Read More

Your mental health may significantly impact your case. Your Ocala, Florida Social Security disability lawyer can help to prepare you for questions concerning this subject. Abilities Your Ocala, Florida Social Security disability lawyer can help prepare you for questions concerning your abilities; for example, whether or not you can: Follow, comprehend and recall directions and/or instructions Use your judgment Answer to supervisors and people you work with in ordinary work circumstances Be flexible when dealing with the unexpected Stress Your Ocala, Florida Social Security disability lawyer will prepare you for questions concerning your ability to handle stress, and will counsel you to give complete answers to the judge concerning the kinds of situations that are stressful to you, particularly work-related…Read More

Naturally, you want to keep in touch with your Ocala, Florida Social Security disability attorney as much as possible. However, there are certain circumstances in which a phone call is unnecessary. When Not to Call You do not need to advise your Ocala, Florida Social Security disability attorney each time you see your doctor for ordinary care. Your lawyer will provide you with a form on which you will document and describe all medical visits since until your hearing date. Your attorney needs complete contact information of every facility, physician, or therapist you visit. You can assist by collecting the business cards of each medical professional and forwarding them to your Ocala, Florida Social Security disability lawyer when asked to update your…Read More

Back injuries are more frequently cited by claimants seeking Social Security disability benefits than just about any other injury or condition. Because back injuries are so common, your Ocala disability lawyer is aware that despite the many symptoms related to back pain, medical examinations and testing may not show anything abnormal. Medical Imaging Results May Not Correlate to a Claimant's Back Pain Doctors usually agree that medical imaging, x-rays and other tests don't always match with a claimant's symptoms. An Ocala disability attorney has seen instances in which a person has imaging tests that show significant degeneration of the bones and joints, yet experiences minor symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, other people may have tests showing what appear to…Read More

When receiving disability benefits, your Ocala disability attorney will tell you that there are advantages to maintaining an income that is lower than the "trial work period services" amount. According to the rules for the trial work period, a person receiving benefits can earn any amount of money each month over a nine-month period and continue receiving their benefits in full. After nine months of work, the benefits stop. Trial Work Period Allows a Return to Work While Keeping Benefits As an Ocala disability attorney can explain, the idea behind the trial work period is to provide benefits with an opportunity to go back to work on a full-time basis. If, for example, you returned to work for seven months,…Read More

It can assist your Ocala disability lawyer if you have tangible examples when you testify at your hearing for disability benefits. At the hearing, you might be asked about the activities you partake in throughout the day, your medical records, what kind of work you have done, and other questions.Read More

Once the Social Security Administration deems you disabled, you will likely have a great deal of questions for your Social Security attorney in Ocala. A Social Security Attorney in Ocala Discusses Direct Deposit One of the more common questions a Social Security lawyer in Ocala must answer is whether or not a claimant should sign up to get benefits directly deposited into a bank account. Those interested in getting direct deposit can do so by communicating with a Social Security office. However, those who failed to sign up before their hearings may not be able to have any back benefits paid that way. It is likely that the Social Security Administration already mailed out a check for any back payments that…Read More