Social Security Disability Appeal Lawyers in South Carolina

Offering Legal Help to Get the Benefits You Deserve

Suffering an injury or illness severe enough to keep you from working is devastating. This situation is made even worse when you assume you can rely on Social Security Disability to pay your bills, only to be turned down. If this is your reality and you don’t know where to turn for help, the answer is to call Chad Brown Law, PLLC to get legal guidance from Social Security Disability appeal lawyers in South Carolina.

Our legal team has spent years helping clients pursue the benefits they’re entitled to. We understand how helpless you might feel when you’re suddenly unable to work after supporting yourself for years. This is why you can trust our compassionate Social Security Disability appeal attorneys to work hard appealing the rejection you received from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Contact us for a free consultation.

What Are the Steps of the Appeal Process?

Understanding the Social Security Disability appeal process in South Carolina can ensure you know what to expect once you contact a lawyer. There are four stages in this process, including:

• Reconsideration request: This is a request for the Disability Determination Services (DDS) to take a closer look at your application. You should include any new evidence that could strengthen your claim and increase the chance of the denial being reversed
• Administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing: If your claim was denied again during the reconsideration request, the next step is to request a hearing so a judge can examine your evidence and listen to your testimony about why you’re eligible for benefits
• Appeals Council review: If your claim was turned down at the ALJ hearing, you can proceed to the third step. This is when an Appeals Council determines whether the administrative law judge made a legal mistake when rejecting your claim, which could lead to an approval or at least another hearing
• Federal court lawsuit: If your Social Security Disability appeal was rejected during the previous stages, the last step is to bring a lawsuit against the SSA. Few clients progress to this legal action, but in those rare cases where the SSA wrongfully denied a claim, it can be an effective way to get benefits

An experienced South Carolina Social Security Disability appeal lawyercan guide you through these steps on your way to getting the benefits you need. If you’re curious about which legal action is right for you, contact Chad Brown Law, PLLC to have a skilled attorney examine your application before determining how to fight the denial.

How Long Does the Social Security Disability Appeal Process Take?

When you can’t afford to pay your bills without disability benefits, time is of the essence. We understand you may be concerned about how long the appeal process will take, which is why we urge you to contact our legal team as soon as you get your rejection notice. In fact, you must submit your reconsideration request within 60 days of being notified of the rejection.

If you’re denied at the first stage of the appeal process, you can move to the next step, which is requesting an ALJ hearing. However, you must do this within 60 days of being denied at the reconsideration request stage. The judge often takes up to a month after the hearing to make a decision.

If your claim is denied at this stage, you have up to 60 days to request an Appeals Council review. If your appeal proceeds to the final step, which is a lawsuit against the SSA, it will take longer to get a result since lawsuits can last for years.

Simply put, the appeals process can take anywhere from a couple of months to a few years, depending on which stage your case reaches. If you want results as quickly as possible, you should contact a lawyer right away so you can start the appeal process.

What Are the Most Common Reasons for the SSA to Reject an Application?

Before you appeal the SSA’s decision, you should understand why the claim was rejected. Your notice from the SSA should tell you the reason, but if it’s unclear or seemsinaccurate, call a lawyer for clarification.

Some of the most common reasons for the SSA to reject Social Security Disability applications include:

• Your injury or illness isn’t considered long-term since it will affect you for under one year
• You did not follow your doctor’s orders regarding medical treatment
• Your condition doesn’t qualify you as disabled according to the SSA’s guidelines
• Your disability was caused by drug or alcohol abuse
• You did not submit strong enough proof that you’re disabled or that you earned sufficient work credits
• Your income and assets are higher than the maximum limit allowed by the SSA
• You made a mistake on your application

When you contact our South Carolina law firm for help appealing the decision, we’ll review the reason for it and guide you through the appeal process. Call us to get started on your case with the assistance of a caring lawyer.

Why Should You Hire Social Security Disability Appeal Lawyers in South Carolina?

At Chad Brown Law, PLLC, we realize how disappointing it can be to learn your claim for benefits was rejected. Our goal is to restore your hope and guide you through the process of appealing the rejection so you have a better chance of being approved for the benefits you deserve.

Our lawyers are board certified in Social Security Disability law, so you can rest assured we know how to navigate the complex appeal process. If you are ready to learn more about your legal options regarding Social Security Disability benefits, call our South Carolina law office at 336-962-5373 for a free initial consultation.