Help

There were 2 pigs who lived together on a farm.

One of the pigs was quiet and never missed a meal, but he did not over eat. He also listened to the older pigs who gave him advice about how to behave on the farm and explained what the farmer was like.

Another pig liked to live large and loud. He ate his own meal and some of his fellow pigs meals. He liked to throw around his weight. He scoffed at the other pigs advice. He also thought that he ran the farm, and not the farmer.

Market day came and the farmer looked over the pigs and the large, loud pig caught his attention and off he went in the farmer’s truck.
The other pig eyes got a little larger and he moved to the back of the herd of pigs.

Sometimes it takes a little wisdom to win your Social Security Disability case.

It certainly helps to listen to people who know their way around the process.

Many people do not understand that you can get important advice and guidance from a Social Security Disability lawyer without any upfront fees.
A lawyer only gets paid if you win your case and there is a limit on the amount that can be paid the lawyer.

It makes no sense to go in a courtroom before a Judge without help.

I saw a recent decision involving a person without a lawyer and the Social Security Judge took great advantage of the claimant.
It was as if the person wandered into a slaughter house. An experienced disability lawyer would have been able to guide the client and point him in the right direction.

Questions about your Social Security case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability lawyer Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.

What if the Work Comp insurance company doctor denies your medical treatment.

It often happens that the insurance company will send you to see its doctor and the doctor will give an opinion that you are not entitled to any more treatment.

If your doctor says that you need a surgery what can you do?

If you have your own medical insurance you can seek treatment and pay for it with your own insurance. This is the quickest route to getting the care you need and your insurance company will be repaid at the end of the case.

If you do not have your own insurance you will have to set your case for trial so the Arbitrator can decide which doctor he believes and then he will either rule for or against further treatment for you.

Before you can have the trial the doctors must testify.

This is done by way of deposition. This means that the lawyers will ask questions of the doctors in their office and the answers will be transcribed on paper so that the Arbitrator may read them at the time of trial.

Scheduling the deposition of the doctors will often take some months. This delays the case but it is necessary for proving your case.

Questions about your work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.

Seems like a lot of bad news on the Social Security Disability front.

BACKLOGS

Cases are taking longer and longer to decide in Central Illinois.

Of course, it is difficult enough to battle disability and pain and fight the government but it seems like it takes forever.

It was taking about 3 months for the initial review and another 3 months for the next level.

However, it is now taking about 6 months at the initial level, and another 6 months at the next level.

It was taking about 8 months to get a hearing.

Now it takes about 10 months for the hearing.

As a result some people are homeless, or have to move in with friends or relatives.

Social Security says the backlogs are because more people are filing for disability and there are not enough workers to process and review the cases.

MORE DENIALS

At a recent congressional hearing several administrative law judges were being grilled for approving over 95 percent of the cases before them.

This is ridiculous of course.

That percentage of people cannot be disabled.

This involves only a small number of judges, but the problem is perception and politics.

The pressure is on the rank and file judge to reduce the percentage of approval ratings to show that they are not reckless and outside the mainstream.

The approval percentage nationwide has dropped from approximately 60 percent to the low 50s.

In Central Illinois the approval rate is the low 30s.

This is a dangerous trend for everyone applying for disability.

People who are applying for disability need to be aware of the trends and be ready to strengthen their cases.

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

Social Security Disability has some pitfalls for the unwary.

They can make the difference between winning and losing your case.

One area problem area is skilled work in the last 15 years of your employment.

If the Social Security Judge believes you are able to perform any of your jobs in the past 15 years or that you have transferable skills learned in these past 15 years, then you are not disabled.

This can present a major problem for people who have had a college degree or who have developed on the job skills over a number of years.

Back or leg problems may limit you to a sit down job, but the Judge may believe you can continue with a skilled job because many of these positions can be performed in the seated position.

The key to proving that you cannot perform past relevant work at the semi-skilled or skilled level or being able to transfer your skills to another job is showing impaired concentration.

This can be done through treatment for depression, anxiety, memory problems, or chronic pain.

Symptoms from these conditions can reasonably be expected to interfere with concentration, persistence, pace and remaining on task.

You should treat consistently with a doctor, psychiatrist or counselor and describe your complaints and limitations as a result.

This will show that you are having limitations in these areas.

Any former employers who are able complete forms or write letters to describe problems you had on the job will also help.

Questions about how to best present your disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.