Frequently Asked Questions about Social Security Disabilty

Robert Musicant, Ph.D. Attorney at Law

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I have to do to obtain benefits?

The first step is to apply. You may start the application process by calling or just dropping in at your local Social Security office, or calling the nationwide Social Security number:

1-800-772-1213.

What do I do if I apply and Social Security turns me down?

You will need to file an appeal. You can contact this office for a free consultation regarding the appeal process, and for an opinion concerning your likelihood of success. Robert Musicant presently takes cases of applicants in all of Connecticut, in Westchester and Rockland Counties, New York, and

in northern to central New Jersey.

What do I do if I am disabled because of an illness that Social Security does not recognize?

There is no such thing. Any medical condition that interferes with your ability to work may serve as the basis for a favorable decision by Social Security.

Is it true that Social Security will have to turn me down twice before they can approve my application?

No. A substantial number of applications are approved with just a single filing. If the initial application is denied, you will have to ask for "reconsideration." At the reconsideration stage still more applications, though not many, are approved. If you are denied a second time, you will have to request a hearing. It is at this stage that you are strongly advised to obtain the assistance of an attorney experienced in handing Social Security disability cases.

I really can't do any work. Why does Social Security keep turning me down?

At the initial application and reconsideration stages, your medical records are reviewed by physicians and other professionals who are trying to see whether your medical records alone firmly establish your disability. Where the primary reason you are unable to work is that you are in too much pain, or suffer from other subjective symptoms such as fatigue or mental confusion, it will generally require that you have a face-to-face hearing with a judge who hears only Social Security cases. It is in cases like that where having an attorney represent you can make the difference between whether you win or lose your case.

Robert Musicant, Ph.D. Attorney at Law

9 Mott Avenue Suite 207