Qualifying for Social Security Disability benefits requires an individual to be unable to perform substantial gainful activity based on an individual's education, age and experience. An individual's disability must be expected to last for at least twelve months in order to be eligible. Because age and limited education are factors that may limit the number of potential jobs available, it is often easier to be awarded Social Security Disability benefits if one is older and has limited work experience or education. It is important not to become discouraged when one receives notification of a denied claim.  It is very common for claims to be denied at the initial application level and at the second level, or reconsideration level.

          It is generally necessary to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. This is where an attorney can make all the difference in the success of your case.  It is also important to understand that when an individual misses a deadline, he/she will then be required to start the process over from the beginning.  It is very important that you respond immediately to all letters that you receive from the Social Security Administration immediately.

          It can take twelve months or more to have a hearing scheduled.  We will prepare you for the hearing and present your case before the Administrative Law Judge. The Social Security Administration will use the testimony of a vocational expert to determine if there is a suitable job in the local economy that the individual may be able to perform. The question is not whether an employer would offer an individual a job, but rather, if there are jobs available that the individual could perform. Under certain circumstances we are able to expedite the claimant's hearing or even win the case without a hearing.

          Statistics suggest that individuals represented by an experienced social security attorney will have greater success than those who are unrepresented. Because there is a limited time to appeal and the Social Security Administration adheres strictly to deadlines, it is essential that an individual respond immediately to paperwork that is received by the individual applying for disability.  This is one reason an experienced attorney is the best option, particularly when an individual is focused on his/her health and medical condition. We can remove the stress of dealing with the paperwork and deadlines while you focus on your health and family.

          Jack Leader of Elrod Pope Law Firm has over thirty years experience helping people obtain Social Security Disability benefits. In addition to his experience, he has integrity and compassion. He understands the frustration that an individual, who has worked for years, feels when he realizes how difficult it can be to get the help he believed would be there for him when he needed it most.  

          We do not get paid unless we win your case. Call us at (803) 324-7574 or toll free (800) 324-7574 to schedule a free consultation.  Let us help you get the benefits you are entitled to.