If you have a disability and/or severe medical condition, and you think you may be out of work for at least 12 months, you might be wondering whether you should hire a disability lawyer to help you with your disability benefits claim. Hiring and working with a disability lawyer may give you a better chance of being awarded social security disability benefits (SSDI). If you do decide to use the help of a disability lawyer, here is a list of the top 5 things you should know about social security disability lawyers.

The Social Security Administration requires individuals applying for disability benefits to meet various eligibility criteria. One of the ways in which the Social Security Administration evaluates a disability claim is through the residual functional capacity, known as RFC.

Sustaining an injury or developing an illness can trigger acute fear and anxiety. The negative emotions morph into debilitating emotional distress because you can no longer work.

Submitting an application for Social Security disability benefits can alleviate some of the negative emotions. However, what if the SSA denies your disability claim? If you are older than 50 years, what happens if the SSA denies your claim for SSDI?

With the Social Security Administration (SSA) denying a majority of claims for disability benefits, what happens if you suffer from a severe disability that prevents you from earning a living? Do you have to wait like every other applicant for the SSA to get around to reviewing your claim for financial assistance? The answer is no because the SSA runs a program called compassionate allowance that fast tracks claims for disability benefits in cases in which applicants suffer from debilitating and sometimes life-threatening diseases.

If the Social Security Administration (SSA) has denied your claim for disability benefits, you have the right to appeal the federal government agency’s decision. The first step in the four-step appeal process is called reconsideration, which is the resubmission of the initial disability claim application.

A different team of medical examiners from the SSA reviews your appeal for reconsideration and if your appeal is also denied by the SSA, you have the right to file an appeal for a disability hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

When submitting an application for disability benefits it is important to seek a doctor’s assessment and follow his or her treatment recommendations. This includes accepting surgery if that helps to eliminate your medical condition.

Refusal to undergo surgery, unless you have good reason, may mean you are no longer eligible to receive disability benefits. There are a number of acceptable reasons that may support your case for refusing surgery as a treatment option.

Spinal stenosis is a serious condition that can cause debilitating pain as well as mobility issues. If spinal stenosis is untreated, it can progress and lead to permanent spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can cause severe disabilities because it leads to weakness, numbness, and balance difficulties. Here is a closer look at spinal stenosis.

If you plan to file for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you can expect to complete and submit several forms that include an Adult Function Report. Also referred to as a Disability Function Report, an Adult Function Report provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) with answers to numerous questions that describe your Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America, affecting over 50 million adults. Symptoms vary, but they usually include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and decreased range of motion.