Social Security Disability

Government Benefits Attorney Serving Spartanburg and Greenville

A lifetime of hard work, a debilitating illness, or an unexpected accident can wreak havoc on your body, leaving you with serious conditions that may have a substantial impact on your life. Fortunately, federal laws provide benefits to people who suffer from physical or mental illnesses or injuries that meet certain minimum qualifications. Although this system seems like it should be relatively straightforward, applying for Social Security benefits can be a long and complicated process, especially if you are dealing with painful injuries. Greenville and Spartanburg Social Security lawyer Patrick E. Knie has assisted many South Carolina residents with navigating this system so that they can assert their rights to the full amount of benefits to which they may be legally entitled.

Understanding the Social Security Disability System

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is available to individuals who have accumulated a sufficient number of work credits during their lifetime. In their application, they would need to show that they are suffering from a physical or mental condition that is expected to last for at least one year or result in death.

In many situations, a claimant can establish eligibility for SSDI by showing that his or her disability meets the criteria of one or more conditions in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments, sometimes known as the Blue Book. However, these criteria are extremely specific, and the SSA recognizes that not every disability may fall within one of the Listings. As a result, the agency created the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment process to determine whether a claimant who does not meet the criteria of any Listing should still receive benefits.

The RFC process allows an individual to show that he or she not only cannot continue working at his or her most recent job but also cannot work at any job that is commonly available in the national economy. If that situation is established, the claimant will be entitled to receive SSDI despite falling outside the parameters of the Listings.

After submitting your application, you will receive notice that you have been approved or denied. If you have been denied, you can file a Request for Reconsideration. While most initial decisions are upheld at this stage, the SSA allows claimants to next pursue a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Once their administrative remedies have been exhausted, they can bring their case to federal court if they believe that their SSDI benefits have been wrongfully denied.

Consult a Social Security Lawyer in Greenville or Spartanburg

If you are dealing with a devastating injury or illness and wish to seek SSDI benefits, Spartanburg and Greenville Social Security attorney Patrick E. Knie is ready to help. He knows what it takes to file a persuasive claim or appeal. At the Law Offices of Patrick E. Knie, we can help you gather the documents and testimony necessary to support your right to benefits. We offer a free consultation to discuss your situation and help you learn about the legal options available to you. Patrick E. Knie represents Social Security claimants and other injured individuals throughout Cherokee, Greenville, Union, Laurens, and Spartanburg Counties. Call us at (864) 582-5118 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with a government benefits attorney.