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Looking for a Job and Work Comp

Dirk May Help, Illinois Work Comp Attorney, Illinois Work Comp Lawyer, Jobs, Law, Settlements, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission

In Illinois, in almost all cases you have to undergo a job search to prove you are entitled to a wage differential settlement.

A wage differential means that your work injury results in permanent restrictions that will prevent you from performing your old job.

If you made $21 per hour in your old job and have to take a new job that pays $14 per hour, then you are entitled to 66% of the $7 per hour wage difference.

The only way to prove the value of the wage differential is to find a job that fits your restrictions.

You can find the job on your own or with the assistance of a vocational consultant. Some insurance companies will agree to pay for a person to help you put a resume together and provide you with interview tips and job search ideas. You must ask the insurance company to help you with the job search. If the insurance company agrees to do this it will pay you while you search for the job. You can also force the insurance company to provide you with job search assistance.

Sometimes a insurance company will complain if the job you find is too low paying. It will argue that you have the ability to find a higher paying job based on your restrictions and abilities.

The important thing is to make sure that the Work Comp insurance company provides you with help and pays you while you search for the job.

A wage difference case may add great value to your Workers’ Compensation settlement because it takes into account your earning loss over many years.

Questions about your work injury. Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp Attorney Dirk May at309-827-4371.

What if You Lose Your Social Security Disability Case?

Dirk May Help, Illinois, Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney, Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Your questions

Social Security Disability cases take a long time to get to hearing so if you lose it is very disappointing.

However, there is still hope.

You have the option to appeal the case to the Appeals Council. The Council acts as an appellate court to review the Administrative Law Judge’s decision.

Beyond the Appeals Council you can appeal to Federal Court. Not many cases go this far because it is difficult to win at the Federal level, but depending on the facts of your case it may be possible.

The other option is to reapply.

The surprising thing is that once you reapply it seems as if a new set of eyes at Social Security looks at the case and there are a number of cases that are approved.

The bottom line is that you should not give up.

Keep trying because you never know what will happen.

The only other option is to try to return to work and see what you can do.

I have had clients who have returned to work and worked as long as they could and then reapplied.

The advantage to this approach is that it builds up your benefit payments, and once you can no longer work it shows a good faith attempt to Social Security.

Questions about your disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

‘I Lost A Hand And This Is Workman’s Comp. … I Didn’t Lose A Hook!’ : NPR

Dirk May Help, Illinois Work Comp Attorney, Illinois Work Comp Lawyer, Law, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission

'I Lost A Hand And This Is Workman's Comp. … I Didn't Lose A Hook!' : NPR.

Click above to read.

Difficult to believe at times that this would happen a the United States in the 21st Century. Make sure that you have an experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney to protect you.

Vocational Consultants and Your Disability Case

Dirk May Help, Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney, Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Your questions

At almost every Social Security Disability hearing there is a vocational consultant present.

The vocational consultant is often very important in deciding whether or not you will receive disability benefits.

The Judge will usually ask you questions about your past work, your problems and limitations.

If you have an attorney, then the attorney will ask you questions.

After all questioning is completed, the Judge will ask the vocational consultant questions.

The Judge will ask the vocational consultant what are called hypothetical questions.

It will go something like this: assuming that a person can stand and walk 6 out of 8 hours of the day, sit 6 hours out of 8 hours of the day, lift 20 pounds occasionally, 10 pounds frequently, handle and finger frequently, with occasional stooping and kneeling, no stairs or climbing, with only simple work processes. Can the person perform past relevant work? Are there any other jobs the person can perform?

If the Vocational Consultant lists jobs in response, then you must be able to ask the consultant questions to eliminate those jobs or you will lose your case.

The reason is that if the Judge finds you can do any of your past work performed in the last 15 years, then Social Security rules provide that you are not disabled. If you are under 50 years of age and you can do any type of work, then you are not disabled. If you are over 50 years of age it gets more complicated.

The bottom line is that you must know the proper questions to ask the vocational consultant or you will lose.

It is important to have an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer on your side to help you ask these questions.

It does not cost you any money to have a lawyer on your side until you win your case and get paid money from Social Security.

It is certainly worth it to win your case and get Social Security Disability benefits paid to you for the rest of your life.

Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Surgeries and Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Dirk May Help, Illinois Work Comp Attorney, Illinois Work Comp Lawyer, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission

If you have had surgery as a result of your Work Comp injury you should make sure to talk with an experienced Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney about your case.

Surgeries make your case more complicated and more valuable.

Once you have had a surgery you may need future medical treatment down the road.

For instance, back fusions or disc surgeries may cause the need for future surgeries or result in complications.

Shoulder surgeries may develop into the need for future medical treatment because the shoulder is delicate and not easily repaired.

Knees surgeries may later develop into arthritis or the need for a knee replacement.

If you settle your case, then any future treatment is your responsibility.

A lawyer can explain your options regarding future medical treatment.

Many insurance companies do not want to pay full value for surgical injuries.

Make sure that you have an attorney review your case to determine the proper value and do not let the insurance company fool you into thinking that they are offering you the correct settlement amount.

Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Work Comp attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.