i need a repersetative for a appeal with ssi on my sons benifits is there anyone in the medford oregon area that can help me ...

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i need a repersetative for a appeal with ssi on my sons benifits is there anyone in the medford oregon area that can help me

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DakotaLegal's picture

There are several important

There are several important things for you to think about, both in learnng more about the reasons for the denial, and in using a representative for filing an appeal with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Time is always ticking in the appeals process—usually, 65 days from the issuing of a denial letter. One thing you’ll want to do is to learn some of the basics of the SSI-SSDI process. I say this in part because you wrote about SSI (earnings-or income-based earnings), but you may also mean eligibility for SSDI (disability eligibility), too. It’s also not clear how your first application was prepared. In other words, did you, or another family member prepare the application? Is this the first denial, and is it the first time your son has ever submitted an application for benefits? Answers to these questions go to what sort of application you need to file (is there an emergency need?), and your son’s basic eligibility. Learn about the basic steps of appeals: http://socialsecurity.findlaw.com/social-security-disability/social-secu... .

Eligibility issues can be helped if you talk with a free advocate through Oregon’s protection and advocacy group: http://www.droregon.org/about-us/6-history or by calling their toll free number….1-800-452-1694. Based on your son’s disability, they will direct you to a specialist. You also need to know that the appeals rules have recently changed, and that pursing denial now means that you cannot file a new claim until you finish that denial process. It may take longer to go through an appeal than to file fresh.

The entire issue of winning an appeal means you to need to stop and look at the whole application, for example, to see any weaknesses or mistakes. Often, this requires expert help. Yet, there are some good self-help books out there. Here’s a good excerpt about SSDI benefits: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-security-disability-benefi..., to use before you talk to a representative. So let’s look at the question of legal help, first.

Picking A Representative

You were absolutely right to talk about a “representative,” instead of a lawyer. The Social Security Administration is one of those special areas of law where you do not have to have a lawyer to work for you. But you asked about getting a representative from the local area…and that’s another important consideration. In fact, you do not need to have a local representative. Part of the reason for this is to find out where you file for reviews, appeals, and reconsiderations…put your zip code into the SSA finding map to see where you follow your son’s application. http://www.socialsecurityofficelocations.com/

You’ll see that there are 17 offices in Oregon (including one in Medford). It’s not clear what stage your “appeal” is in. In fact, there are several stages of possible denials. There are office denials, which are based strictly in the Medford office. These denials may be based strictly on not your having filled out the forms completely.

Reviewing Your Application On Your Own

The bad news is that almost 3/4ths of all initial, first time applications end up being “denied.” The very good news is that denials are often reversed (meaning benefits are given). These reversal rates are very different from across the country.

By learning some basics about why appeals are won, you can save money, time, and maybe even get a reversal of a denial through a special review process. One example is that you have a right to ask for a review of your file from the personnel in the Medford office. But, once again, you need to have a specific reason or problem with your denial. This means going over your denial letter. One common problem is to find out whether the person who reviewed your file had the skills and knowledge that were required in your son’s specific case. You, if acting as your son’s advocate, have a right to learn all the reasons for a denial.

The other reason to check your file in the local Medford- office (meaning in person) is to see what notes and information have been added to your son’s file. If you end up picking a Social Security representative from outside the Medford area, you may be able to give them information they would not otherwise have.

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DakotaLegal's picture

There are several important

There are several important things for you to think about, both in learnng more about the reasons for the denial, and in using a representative for filing an appeal with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Time is always ticking in the appeals process—usually, 65 days from the issuing of a denial letter. One thing you’ll want to do is to learn some of the basics of the SSI-SSDI process. I say this in part because you wrote about SSI (earnings-or income-based earnings), but you may also mean eligibility for SSDI (disability eligibility), too. It’s also not clear how your first application was prepared. In other words, did you, or another family member prepare the application? Is this the first denial, and is it the first time your son has ever submitted an application for benefits? Answers to these questions go to what sort of application you need to file (is there an emergency need?), and your son’s basic eligibility. Learn about the basic steps of appeals: http://socialsecurity.findlaw.com/social-security-disability/social-secu... .

Eligibility issues can be helped if you talk with a free advocate through Oregon’s protection and advocacy group: http://www.droregon.org/about-us/6-history or by calling their toll free number….1-800-452-1694. Based on your son’s disability, they will direct you to a specialist. You also need to know that the appeals rules have recently changed, and that pursing denial now means that you cannot file a new claim until you finish that denial process. It may take longer to go through an appeal than to file fresh.

The entire issue of winning an appeal means you to need to stop and look at the whole application, for example, to see any weaknesses or mistakes. Often, this requires expert help. Yet, there are some good self-help books out there. Here’s a good excerpt about SSDI benefits: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/social-security-disability-benefi..., to use before you talk to a representative. So let’s look at the question of legal help, first.

Picking A Representative

You were absolutely right to talk about a “representative,” instead of a lawyer. The Social Security Administration is one of those special areas of law where you do not have to have a lawyer to work for you. But you asked about getting a representative from the local area…and that’s another important consideration. In fact, you do not need to have a local representative. Part of the reason for this is to find out where you file for reviews, appeals, and reconsiderations…put your zip code into the SSA finding map to see where you follow your son’s application. http://www.socialsecurityofficelocations.com/

You’ll see that there are 17 offices in Oregon (including one in Medford). It’s not clear what stage your “appeal” is in. In fact, there are several stages of possible denials. There are office denials, which are based strictly in the Medford office. These denials may be based strictly on not your having filled out the forms completely.

Reviewing Your Application On Your Own

The bad news is that almost 3/4ths of all initial, first time applications end up being “denied.” The very good news is that denials are often reversed (meaning benefits are given). These reversal rates are very different from across the country.

By learning some basics about why appeals are won, you can save money, time, and maybe even get a reversal of a denial through a special review process. One example is that you have a right to ask for a review of your file from the personnel in the Medford office. But, once again, you need to have a specific reason or problem with your denial. This means going over your denial letter. One common problem is to find out whether the person who reviewed your file had the skills and knowledge that were required in your son’s specific case. You, if acting as your son’s advocate, have a right to learn all the reasons for a denial.

The other reason to check your file in the local Medford- office (meaning in person) is to see what notes and information have been added to your son’s file. If you end up picking a Social Security representative from outside the Medford area, you may be able to give them information they would not otherwise have.