Social Security has begun sending out Form SSA-4547, Advance Designation of Representative Payee, to certain disability claimants. I got a call last week from a client who received the form in the mail, and inferred that her Title II disability claim must have been granted at Reconsideration. But no. Her claim is still pending
Welcome! This site is written for Social Security disability claimants, for their legal representatives, and for the network of people involved in the Social Security disability claim process. I hope you find it helpful.
Practice notes
Get access to your client’s Patient Portal
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes, Tips
Almost all the hospital groups now have patient portals, which give patients online access to their medical records, test results, upcoming appointments, and more.
When developing a disability claim, I find that I am asking clients more and more frequently to provide me with the user name and password for their patient portal account.…
Ask for a copy of the Disability Determination Explanation
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes, Tips
Those seeking Social Security disability benefits often contact a lawyer after they receive a notice of disapproved claim in the mail. That denial letter offers some explanation of why the claim was disapproved, but it is often too vague to be much help to the lawyer developing the claim.
After an appeal of that initial…
SSA’s Workplace Support Units
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes
Lately Social Security has been sending initial disability claims filed online to a Workplace Support Unit (WSU), instead of the local field office. There are several of these WSUs around the country, set up to do overflow work. I have had initial claims filed online sent to various WSUs, including Boston, Tampa, and Birmingham.
Once…
On the Record Request
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes, Terms
An “on the record” (OTR) request asks Social Security to grant your case on the record without a hearing. This request is for claims pending at the hearing level at the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO).
OTRs are favored by Social Security, because they save valuable resources. Why go though the hearing process if the…
A Fully Favorable decision without a hearing
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Listings, Practice notes
I enjoy my Social Security disability law practice. I have focused on this area of law for over 15 years, and I know what a difference an award of disability benefits can make to my clients.
I learned of a Fully Favorable decision for a client earlier this week. This case was out of the…
Best Practices for Claimants’ Representatives
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes
The Social Security Administration’s website has a list of Best Practices for Claimant’s Representatives, which was significantly updated last November.
The best practices are organized into categories:
- In General
- Prior to an Administrative Law Judge Hearing
- After an Administrative Law Judge Hearing
- Actions Before the Appeals Council
This list of best practices is required…
Your Functional Limitations are the Nuts and Bolts of Your Social Security Disability Claim
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes
Back in the day, the vast majority of granted Social Security disability claims were decided by Social Security’s listed impairments, which set forth medical criteria of a condition that is presumed to be disabling at step 3 of the sequential evaluation. Today, however, the majority of allowed claims are determined based upon medical-vocational…
New rule regarding evidence in Social Security disability cases
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes
Social Security has issued a new rule regarding the production of medical evidence for Social Security disability cases. Entitled Submission of Evidence in Disability Claims, the rule makes several changes in the regulations effective April 20, 2015.
If you are practicing in this area of law, you have to read the new rule.…
The Binder & Binder bankruptcy
By Gordon Gates on
Posted in Practice notes
Binder & Binder, a nation-wide firm of advocates for those seeking Social Security disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits, is roughly $40 million in debt and is preparing declare bankruptcy under Chapter 11, according to the Wall Street Journal.
For those of us who represent clients before the Social Security Administration, this is quite…