The LegalBEAT

The LegalBEAT http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Your Attorney Really Cares About Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1091

“12 months? Really? That’s the best you can do? He’s in really bad shape. I’m struggling to work two jobs and support the household. We may get evicted soon. You don’t understand where we’re coming from. I don’t know how long we can hold on.” I wish I could say this was the first time that I heard those words. Unfortunately, I can’t. Those were the words of a loved one trying to hold on while I try and get her boyfriend the disability benefits he desperately needs. It’s not a new conversation. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve told my clients that “I’m going to be in your case for awhile.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t always sink into their mind, at first. At then, it happens. LIFE! The bills start to mount up. The foreclosure (or eviction) notes are posted on the door. And you start struggling to get financial assistance. It all becomes too much to bear. With no end in sight, the client will turn to (and on) the person they hired to help them fix this mess. The attorney. As the attorney, we are taxed with the responsibility of fixing this problem. Of helping the person in need receive their benefits. But, it’s taking too long. The financial strain is too much. And at some point, the attorney is considered a part of the problem. But, know that the attorney really cares about your Social Security Disability case: 1. They know it’s going to take a while. Most attorneys know that you are going to have to wait a year or longer. It’s the nature of the beast in this practice and they know this going into it. 2. They want your case to go faster, too. You would be surprised by the number of people who legitimately believe that attorneys want the case to drag out so they can make more money. First of all, that’s unethical. Second of all, a happy client is a client who will tell others how happy they are with the attorney services. So, why would they make the process longer so you can bad mouth them? 3. They know you’re running out of money The bottom line is that you’re not working. NO work. NO money. Your attorney knows this already and they know the sooner they can get you benefits, the better. 4. They know you need your medical benefits. Yes, we know you need to go to the doctor. We know there is no universal health care. Yes, we agree with you when you ask, How can I prove I am disabled if I don’t have the money to go to the doctor?”. Trust me, we know all too well. 5. They know the words don’t help but they still want you to know. No attorney wants to tell their client bad news. We don’t want to tell you Iit’s going to be another 12 months,, or that the records aren’t helpful, or that this judge is really tough. You’ve had enough bad news but we have an ethical obligation to keep your informed. Sometimes, it’s easy to turn your frustration on the one person who is there to help you. Just remember, they are a part of the solution, not the problem.]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case/feed 0 Q&A: Social Security Disability Today – 1.29.2012 http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-1-29-2012 http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-1-29-2012#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:46:00 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1087

1. i am getting ssd and v.a. my kids get a check from my ssd also but i am also paying support out of MY ssd....is that legal and do i need an attorney to fix this? 2. How do I prove I’ve gotten medical treatment when I can’t afford it?]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-1-29-2012/feed 1 How to Cure the Credibility Cripplers for Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/how-to-cure-the-credibility-cripplers-for-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/how-to-cure-the-credibility-cripplers-for-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:22:44 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1083

There are very few things that can kill your social security case. If you apply for SSI and you win the Powerball multi-million dollar lottery, you probably won’t win your SSI case. If you were out of work for 11 months and went back to work full-time, you probably won’t your disability case. I know the process is long but it is a process. Fortunately there very few situations that may kill your disability case. However, there are a bunch of situations that may cripple your case. You would be surprised by the things that people do or say that hurt their disability case: Are you still using drugs or drinking alcohol? Yes. Are you still smoking even after the doctor told you to stop? Yes. The doctor told you to exercise. Are you exercising? No. It’s amazing. What’s even more amazing is how people will try to tap dance around these facts in court: Why are you still using drugs or drinking? Well, see, what had happened was……. Why are you still smoking? I know I need to stop but I’m cutting down. Why aren’t you exercising? It’s too hard to get out of the bed. Really? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in court and my client has blown up their case right before my very eyes. What’s the most amazing part is that almost all of these situations are fixable. So why not fix them? If you have a few crippling facts that may have a negative impact on your case, you should employ my E.F.M approach:Embrace it, Fix it, and Move on. Embrace it You would be surprised by the number of times people will sugar coat, downplay and even straight out lie about a negative fact in their case. Why are you ducking it? It’s in the file. Everybody knows about it. And, guess what? If you’re in front of the judge, you will not be looking very good to him/her if you’re not straightforward. Stop tap dancing and just admit it. A negative fact comes across much better coming directly from you as an acknowledgement as opposed to the judge asking you to explain something you’ve intentionally omitted. Fix it Stop making excuses for the problem. You know what it is well in advance, fix it. If the doctor tells you to stop smoking, stop smoking! If your attorney or representative tells you to stop using drugs, stop using drugs! There is nothing in your case that can’t be fixed so stop making excuses and fix it. Move on You can’t undo the negative facts. You can’t pretend like they never happened. The best thing you can do is acknowledge the facts, highlight what you’ve done to fix them, and then stress how you have conducted yourself after you fixed the problem. In the end, you have the ability to heal the cripple in your case. So you have to decide. Do you want your case to walk into the court room or limp into the court room?]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/how-to-cure-the-credibility-cripplers-for-your-social-security-disability-case/feed 0 Q&A: Social Security Disability Today – Special Edition (Federal Courts) http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-special-edition-federal-courts http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-special-edition-federal-courts#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:40:15 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1080

Understanding pursuing a Civil Action in Federal Court]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-special-edition-federal-courts/feed 0 Cost Effective Ways of Going Through the Social Security Disability Process http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 The LegalBEAT http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Your Attorney Really Cares About Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1091

“12 months? Really? That’s the best you can do? He’s in really bad shape. I’m struggling to work two jobs and support the household. We may get evicted soon. You don’t understand where we’re coming from. I don’t know how long we can hold on.” I wish I could say this was the first time that I heard those words. Unfortunately, I can’t. Those were the words of a loved one trying to hold on while I try and get her boyfriend the disability benefits he desperately needs. It’s not a new conversation. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve told my clients that “I’m going to be in your case for awhile.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t always sink into their mind, at first. At then, it happens. LIFE! The bills start to mount up. The foreclosure (or eviction) notes are posted on the door. And you start struggling to get financial assistance. It all becomes too much to bear. With no end in sight, the client will turn to (and on) the person they hired to help them fix this mess. The attorney. As the attorney, we are taxed with the responsibility of fixing this problem. Of helping the person in need receive their benefits. But, it’s taking too long. The financial strain is too much. And at some point, the attorney is considered a part of the problem. But, know that the attorney really cares about your Social Security Disability case: 1. They know it’s going to take a while. Most attorneys know that you are going to have to wait a year or longer. It’s the nature of the beast in this practice and they know this going into it. 2. They want your case to go faster, too. You would be surprised by the number of people who legitimately believe that attorneys want the case to drag out so they can make more money. First of all, that’s unethical. Second of all, a happy client is a client who will tell others how happy they are with the attorney services. So, why would they make the process longer so you can bad mouth them? 3. They know you’re running out of money The bottom line is that you’re not working. NO work. NO money. Your attorney knows this already and they know the sooner they can get you benefits, the better. 4. They know you need your medical benefits. Yes, we know you need to go to the doctor. We know there is no universal health care. Yes, we agree with you when you ask, How can I prove I am disabled if I don’t have the money to go to the doctor?”. Trust me, we know all too well. 5. They know the words don’t help but they still want you to know. No attorney wants to tell their client bad news. We don’t want to tell you Iit’s going to be another 12 months,, or that the records aren’t helpful, or that this judge is really tough. You’ve had enough bad news but we have an ethical obligation to keep your informed. Sometimes, it’s easy to turn your frustration on the one person who is there to help you. Just remember, they are a part of the solution, not the problem.]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case/feed 0 The LegalBEAT http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Your Attorney Really Cares About Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1091

1. i am getting ssd and v.a. my kids get a check from my ssd also but i am also paying support out of MY ssd....is that legal and do i need an attorney to fix this? 2. How do I prove I’ve gotten medical treatment when I can’t afford it?]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-1-29-2012/feed 1 The LegalBEAT http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Your Attorney Really Cares About Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1091

There are very few things that can kill your social security case. If you apply for SSI and you win the Powerball multi-million dollar lottery, you probably won’t win your SSI case. If you were out of work for 11 months and went back to work full-time, you probably won’t your disability case. I know the process is long but it is a process. Fortunately there very few situations that may kill your disability case. However, there are a bunch of situations that may cripple your case. You would be surprised by the things that people do or say that hurt their disability case: Are you still using drugs or drinking alcohol? Yes. Are you still smoking even after the doctor told you to stop? Yes. The doctor told you to exercise. Are you exercising? No. It’s amazing. What’s even more amazing is how people will try to tap dance around these facts in court: Why are you still using drugs or drinking? Well, see, what had happened was……. Why are you still smoking? I know I need to stop but I’m cutting down. Why aren’t you exercising? It’s too hard to get out of the bed. Really? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in court and my client has blown up their case right before my very eyes. What’s the most amazing part is that almost all of these situations are fixable. So why not fix them? If you have a few crippling facts that may have a negative impact on your case, you should employ my E.F.M approach:Embrace it, Fix it, and Move on. Embrace it You would be surprised by the number of times people will sugar coat, downplay and even straight out lie about a negative fact in their case. Why are you ducking it? It’s in the file. Everybody knows about it. And, guess what? If you’re in front of the judge, you will not be looking very good to him/her if you’re not straightforward. Stop tap dancing and just admit it. A negative fact comes across much better coming directly from you as an acknowledgement as opposed to the judge asking you to explain something you’ve intentionally omitted. Fix it Stop making excuses for the problem. You know what it is well in advance, fix it. If the doctor tells you to stop smoking, stop smoking! If your attorney or representative tells you to stop using drugs, stop using drugs! There is nothing in your case that can’t be fixed so stop making excuses and fix it. Move on You can’t undo the negative facts. You can’t pretend like they never happened. The best thing you can do is acknowledge the facts, highlight what you’ve done to fix them, and then stress how you have conducted yourself after you fixed the problem. In the end, you have the ability to heal the cripple in your case. So you have to decide. Do you want your case to walk into the court room or limp into the court room?]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/how-to-cure-the-credibility-cripplers-for-your-social-security-disability-case/feed 0 The LegalBEAT http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Your Attorney Really Cares About Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1091

Understanding pursuing a Civil Action in Federal Court]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/qa-social-security-disability-today-special-edition-federal-courts/feed 0 The LegalBEAT http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com General Legal Issues by Anthony Reeves, Esq. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Your Attorney Really Cares About Your Social Security Disability Case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/your-attorney-really-cares-about-your-social-security-disability-case#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:14:48 +0000 Anthony Reeves http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/?p=1091

So, you’ve filed your application for disability benefits. Now, you’re freaking out. Why? You’re asking yourself all kinds of questions: How am I going to get treatment? How can I pay for treatment? How can I afford the medication? How can I pay for the medical records? Your mind is running a mile a minute. You don’t know what to do. You’ve never gone through this before. You are still trying to figure out how you’re going to survive while you wait through this process. Food, clothing and shelter are more of a priority than treatment, medication, and medical records. Unfortunately, treatment, medication and medical records are what you need to prove your disability case. But, how do you do that with no insurance? You can’t afford the co-pay. Out of pocket is almost impossible. What can you do? Before you start freaking out, take a breath first and step back. For most people, the journey into the uninsured population is a new one but it can be navigated. More importantly, if you are trying to prove you’re disabled while uninsured, you have a few cost effective options: 1. While your case is at the Local Office level, make sure you let SSA know the names of all of your doctors. SSA typically gets all of your records when the case is pending at the local office level. Let them know so they can get the records for you-for free. 2. SSA will only pay for a certain dollar amount so if they don’t have everything, be prepared to get it yourself. When someone contacts a medical facility for records, the facility usually will charge for copying the records. SSA normally puts a cap on the amount of money they spend for records. Make sure you find out what SSA was able to get so you can get whatever they don’t have, instead of also paying for documents they already have. 3. The moment your case is turned over to the hearing office, review the file to find out what they have and don’t have. A lot of time people have no clue what SSA has or has not been able to retrieve from their providers. Make sure you look at the file as soon as the file is at the hearing level. 4. Start looking for a free clinic or low cost clinics. The moment you no longer have insurance, you need to start looking for free clinics or low cost clinics in your county. If you have them, use them. 5. After you’ve seen your doctor, immediately ask for a copy of your records. In most situations, the clinic you attend will provide you a copy of your records if you ask. Whenever you have a visit, ask if you can get a copy of the records 6. Contact your county health department for treatment programs and services. Most people don’t know where to begin to find resources to help them. The health department is the best place to start. 7. Don’t be afraid to ask for free samples of medications. Sometimes, doctors have the ability to provide free samples to you. Don’t be afraid to ask. 8. Pace yourself and your money. Remember, the process can take a while so try to do the best you can to make your money stretch over the entire process. Make sure you stress to your doctors your financial situation. 9. Doing something looks better than doing nothing. Most people don’t realize that, at some point, you will have to go before a judge. If you don’t have treatment, the judge is going to ask why. It’s better to tell the judge what you have done to try and get treatment as opposed to saying you haven’t done anything. Remember, the process can take up to a year or longer. Focus on your health and well being and use the resources available to the best of your ability]]> http://legalbeat.anthonyreeves.com/general-legal-topics-and-discussions/cost-effective-ways-of-going-through-the-social-security-disability-process/feed 0