Appealing A Decision

If you've previously been refused a claim by the Social Security Administration, the law offices of Kassin and Carrow in St. Louis, MO can help you with the appeals process. There is a four-step process the SSA uses in the appeal. Each step should be completed in order, and we'll help you each step of the way.

1.    Reconsideration. Upon sending the form, your case is delivered to the State Disability Determination Services office. There, someone aside from the initial reviewer will take a look at your medical records and make a new determination about your disability.

2.    Hearing. If the reconsideration is refused, the next step is for us to send a request to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. At this point, you may possibly meet face-to-face with the judge. After the meeting, the judge will alert you in writing of the decision concerning your case.

3.    Appeals Council Review. The third step is similar to the disability hearing. Your request will once again be taken to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. Somebody there will again review your medical records and notify you in writing of the decision on your case.

4.    District Court Case. At this level of appeal, you need to have an attorney. Your case must be filed against Social Security in a District Court. From there, your case will be heard by a district court judge, who'll notify you in writing of the decision on your case.

The law offices of Kassin and Carrow are St. Louis, Missouri’s disability law professionals. If you're disabled and live in St. Louis, St. Charles, Kirkwood, St Peters, or Litchfield, MO, give consideration to scheduling an appointment to see what benefits you might be entitled to.

A Word About Our Fees

In the economy today, many household budgets are exhausted. At Kassin and Carrow in St. Louis, MO, the last thing we want to do is to add further financial burdens to you and your family. We feel that if you don't win your case, you should not pay our fee.

For many cases, we work on a contingent fee basis of 25% of past-due benefits or $6,000.00, whichever is less. Any fee ought to be approved by the Social Security Administration. Should you not win your case, then you will not pay any fee.

We will ask you to repay us for cost of getting medical records, and for whatever your physician charges for writing reports to help us win your claim. Total expenses tend to be under $100.00.

If you don't win your case, then you do not pay any fees. If you think that you may be entitled to SSI or SSDI benefits, contact the law offices of Kassin and Carrow today. They help people in St. Louis, MO and the Metro East St. Louis Illinois area.

The SSI Basics

Signed into law by President Nixon in 1972, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) operates in conjunction with Social Security to shield low-income seniors and individuals with serious disabilities against the worst effects of impoverishment. The modest income support from SSI gives senior citizens and people with disabilities who have constrained income and resources the capability to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table, and pay for required, often life-sustaining medications. That’s why the law offices of Kassin and Carrow in St. Louis, Missouri concentrates on SSI and disability law.

Key Facts

• SSI provides crucial income support to more than 8 million Americans -- including 1.2 million children with extreme disabilities.
• There are reasonable requirements to be eligible for SSI. Assistance is available for those who are blind; age sixty-five or older; or have a disability -- and who meet very reasonable income and asset limitations.
• Benefits for SSI are really modest, and average around $509 per month, or just $6,108 each year -- just half the federal poverty level.

Supplemental Security Income addresses an important need in our country. Disability can strike any time. As part of our nation’s Social Security system, Supplemental Security Income has a key role in assisting millions of Americans and their loved ones maintain dignity and independence.

With regards to resources, or things that you have, Social Security will look at things like real estate, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and cash.  If your resources are worth a maximum of $2,000, you might be able to get SSI.  For couples, the resources may be worth no more than $3,000.

Social Security doesn't count everything you own. Things that aren't considered are:

• Life insurance policies with face value lower than or equal to $1,500
• Your vehicle in most cases
• Burial plots for  you and members of your immediate family
• Burial funds up to $1,500 for you and $1,500 for your spouse
• Your residential home you reside in and the land it is on

If you feel that you might qualify for SSI disability income and you live in St. Louis, St. Charles, St. Peters, Missouri or Metro East St. Louis or Edwardsville, Illinois, get in touch with the law offices of Kassin and Carrow. They can help you get the benefits that you deserve because they are experienced disability benefits attorneys.

The SSDI Basics

Since 1956, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has been a very good social insurance program that helps people whose physical or mental disabilities are so severe that they are unable to do substantial work. Not being able to work, along with disability-related expenditures, can make meeting basic monetary needs extremely difficult. That’s why the law offices of Kassin and Carrow are here in the St. Louis area to help the people of Wentzville, St. Charles, Kirkwood, St Peters, St. Louis, Collinsville, Litchfield, and Edwardsville.

Key Facts

• Our Social Security system guards American workers and their families against death, disability, and retirement.
• Few workers have other options; only 1 in 3 private sector employees has employer-provided disability insurance.
• SSDI provides vital economic security to over 8 million disabled workers.
• Workers must have paid in to Social Security via payroll taxes to be entitled to benefits.
• They need to also satisfy the rigid Social Security disability standard to qualify.
• Average disability benefits are small: Individuals, $1,132 per month; for a family, $1,919 per month.
• Benefits replace half or less of pre-disability earnings for the majority of disabled employees.

By continuing to keep this program strong for individuals that have paid into the system, it prevents significant burdens such as homelessness brought on by foreclosures, evictions, and bankruptcies in the St. Louis, MO area.

Growth in Social Security Disability Insurance

Although the growth in the number of individuals receiving SSDI was expected, it is leveling off. What explains the rise in the past few years?

• Baby Boomers: aging and getting “high disability years.” People are two times as likely to be disabled at the age of 50 as they are at age 40 and two times as likely to be disabled at the age of 60 as they are at age 50.
• Women: increasing numbers of women in the workforce in recent decades who are now themselves eligible to receive benefits.
• Raised Retirement Age: as the Social Security retirement age rises, disabled workers get SSDI for longer before converting to retirement benefits.

Regardless of your situation, the law offices of Kassin and Carrow are available to the people of St. Louis, Missouri and the Metro East St. Louis area to assist those who're in need of benefits.

Employment Issues Questions

There are a lot of questions that can come to mind concerning Social Security disability income, or SSDI. Kassin and Carrow in St. Louis, Missouri has clarified a few of these questions below to assist you as you take on the SSDI process.

My daughter hasn't ever been able to work since she has been disabled from birth by cerebral palsy. Can she get disability benefits from Social Security?

Possibly. If the child is less than 18 and you've got limited income and resources, the child may be able to be eligible for SSI disability benefits. If the child is above eighteen, she may be able to be eligible for SSI disability benefits without regard to the earnings of her parents. If either of her parents is drawing Social Security benefits of some kind or is deceased, and the child's disability started before age 22, the child may be eligible for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits.

I used to work, but lately I've been staying home taking care of the kids. I recently became sick. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?

Potentially. If you worked five out of the last ten years before being disabled, you may have enough earnings to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. For people 31 or less, the requirements are a bit different, since such individuals have not had such a long time to work. Unless an individual has been staying home and taking care of their kids for quite a long time, it is very possible that they'll be eligible for Social Security disability benefits based upon their own earnings. A homemaker, depending on their financial situation, may be able to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) whether or not they have worked previously.

I'm disabled, but I have never been employed. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?

If you have got very restricted income and resources, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you're disabled, even if you haven't worked previously. It is also possible to qualify for Disabled Adult Child benefits on a parent's work history if you became disabled prior to age 22, or for disabled widow’s or widower’s benefits on the work history of a late wife or husband.

I am a widow. I've not worked in years, but I'm disabled. Can I get Social Security disability benefits?

If you're over 50 and became disabled within seven years after your husband or wife passed away or within seven years after you last drew mother's or father's benefits from Social Security, you can get disabled widow’s or widower’s benefits. If you are age sixty-five or older, or have a disability, and not a lot of income and resources, you might be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

I got hurt on the job and I’m drawing worker's compensation benefits. Can I get both worker's compensation and Social Security disability benefits?

Indeed, you can get both simultaneously. Nevertheless, either your worker’s compensation or your Social Security disability benefits will be decreased to compensate for the dual enrollment. You don't have to wait until the worker's compensation ends. It is best to file the Social Security disability claim as quickly as possible because otherwise there may be a gap between the time the worker's compensation ends and the Social Security disability benefits begin.

I am still on sick leave from my employer. Can I file for Social Security disability now or have I got to hold off until the sick leave is exhausted?

No, you don't have to wait until the sick leave is exhausted. You should file for Social Security disability benefits now, if you feel that you will be out of work for a year or more.

If you reside in Edwardsville, IL, or St. Louis, St. Charles, or Chesterfield, MO and have questions about SSDI, schedule an appointment with Kassin and Carrow today.

Exactly What Are The Available Social Security Benefits?

The following information provides a snap shot of Social Security disability benefits. People may obtain benefits under either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The law offices of Kassin and Carrow want you to be aware of what benefits are around for you to obtain.

If I'm approved for Social Security disability benefits, exactly how much am I going to receive?

•   For disability insurance benefits, the amount will depend on how much you have worked and earned in the past.
•   For disabled widow's and widower's benefits, the total amount depends upon how much the late husband or wife worked and earned.
•   For disabled adult child benefits, the total amount is determined by how much the parent worked and earned.
In general – benefits are quite modest. The average SSDI benefit for a disabled worker is approximately $1,130 per month. For a family, the average benefit is $1,919 per month.

If I'm accepted for SSI benefits, exactly how much will I get?

For all kinds of SSI benefits, there is a base amount that an individual with no other income receives. Other income that an individual has reduces the amount of SSI which someone can receive.

Under SSI, the maximum benefit for 2013 was $710 every month for an individual, just three-quarters of the federal poverty line and under $17 a day. Since a beneficiary may get less due to their earned income, or the individual’s living situation, the average SSI monthly benefit is $509 per month for an individual.

How far back will they pay benefits if I'm found disabled?

•   For disability insurance benefits and for disabled widow's and widower's benefits, the benefits can't start until five months have passed once the individual becomes disabled. Furthermore, benefits cannot be paid over one year prior to the date of the claim.
•   For a disabled adult child, there is no five-month waiting period for benefits to start, but benefits can't be paid more than six months before the date the application for benefits was filed.
•   SSI benefits cannot be paid before the beginning of the month following the date of the claim

I'm currently receiving Social Security disability benefits, but I am worried that my benefits will be halted down the road. What are the prospects of this taking place?

Social Security regularly reviews specific cases to determine eligibility for disability benefits. When Social Security reviews a case of someone already on Social Security disability benefits, they continue benefits in the vast majority of cases.

In the next several years, Social Security will be completing far more reviews of people to determine whether they are still disabled. However, most people who are reviewed will see their Social Security disability benefits continued.

If Social Security attempts to cut off my disability benefits, what can I do?

You will want to appeal immediately. If you appeal within ten days after being alerted that your disability benefits are being ceased, you can request that your disability benefits continue while you appeal the decision cutting off your benefits. If you do not appeal within the first 60 days of receiving notification, you might lose the right to appeal.

It is a wise decision to talk with a lawyer about representing you on your case, but it's a good idea to do so as quickly as possible so that you can file the appeal right away. The law offices of Kassin and Carrow have helped individuals in Belleville, Granite City, Alton, Edwardsville, Arnold, St. Peters, and St. Louis get the benefits that they deserve.

All About Disability Hearings

If you have been denied in the application process, you might want to request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The legal professionals at Kassin and Carrow have some important information for you with regards to this process. If you reside in Alton, Illinois or elsewhere in the Metro East St. Louis area, this information is for you.

How much time will it take to get a hearing on a Social Security disability claim?

There is some variation throughout the country, but the nationwide average is a bit over one year.

What's the Social Security hearing like?

The hearings are very informal. The only people apt to be there are the judge, a court staff member operating a tape recorder, the claimant, the claimant's legal representative, and anyone else the claimant has brought with them. In some instances, the ALJ has a physician or vocational expert present to testify at the hearing. There isn't a jury nor are there spectators at the hearing.

What are my odds of winning at a hearing?

About 50% of claimants who go to a Social Security disability hearing win. About 90% have representation from a qualified attorney like those with Kassin and Carrow at their hearing.

If the Administrative Law Judge denies my claim, can I appeal anymore?

Yes. You may appeal to the Appeals Council in the Social Security Administration.

What is the Appeals Council?

The SSA Appeals Council reviews decisions made by the ALJ. The Appeals Council is able to reverse a decision made by the ALJ. If the Appeals Council thinks more info is necessary, they could remand your claim for an additional hearing with the ALJ.

What if I disagree with a ruling made by the Appeals Council?

If you disagree with the judgment made by the Appeals Council, you can file a civil action suit in the United States District Court, and then appeal to the Circuit Court.  A Social Security disability claim could go all the way to the Supreme Court. Every one or two years, the United States Supreme Court hears an appeal involving a Social Security disability case.

Kassin and Carrow have years of experience managing all kinds of Social Security Insurance (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims. If you think you may be qualified to receive disability, contact them today to have them take a look at your case.