Social Security Disability

Serving Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and surrounding areas

Oklahoma Social Security Attorney If you are disabled, and can no longer work, the federal government offers disability payments to individuals who qualify under the Social Security Disability Insurance plan.

The insurance is designed to provide income to people who would otherwise be unable to work because of a disability. The payments continue until the condition improves, and is guaranteed to continue if the condition does not improve. Filing a disability claim is a daunting task and must go through many steps. In order to ensure that you file everything you need in a timely manner, consult with the Oklahoma law office of Stipe Injury Law.

The following five basic elements determine eligibility.

Are you engaged in substantial gainful activity
Do you have a severe impairment
Does your impairment meet or equal a listing
Can you perform you past relevant work
Can you perform other work

The process of qualifying for SSD is time consuming and tedious. If you have all your documentation available when you first apply, you will have a better chance of being approved. Approximately 70% of applicants are denied benefits initially. The biggest mistake most applicants make is that they don’t appeal the denial. To ensure you get everything correct, you should consult with the knowledgeable Oklahoma attorneys at Stipe Injury Law. You only have 60 days from the day of your denial to appeal. It is therefore important to contact an attorney immediately.

There are several levels where your claim may be denied. Local Social Security offices evaluate the technical or non-medical eligibility of your claim to determine entitlement. If you are claiming against your own SSD, you must have worked 5 of the last 10 years.

After the local review for technical data, your application moves to the state Disability Determination Services or DDS where medical evidence is gathered. This evidence is reviewed by a two person adjudicative team consisting of a medical or psychological practitioner and a disability expert. The process may take several months, sometimes even a year, so it is important to have all your paperwork in order. The most important documentation that the state Disability Determination Services evaluates is the medical records of your treating doctors. It is very important that you continue seeing your treating doctors.

For more information about Social Security Disability click on the links below:

If you suffer from a disability that prevents you from working, you may be eligible to collect SSD benefits from the Social Security program. If you live in the Oklahoma City area, please contact the office of Stipe & Belote for a free initial consultation. We work on a contingency basis and are only paid if we collect benefits for you.

Although medical professionals are required by law to exercise the utmost care, skill and diligence when treating their patients, it is estimated that over 90,000 people every year are either injured or killed due to physician or nurse error.

When workers are injured, employers and their workers compensation insurance carrier are responsible for providing those employees with the medical care they need as quickly as possible.

If you are disabled, and can no longer work, the federal government offers disability payments to individuals who qualify under the Social Security Disability Insurance plan.