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Here are some very basic principles that you need to follow to be successful in your disability claim:

* Make sure that you go to the doctor. If you do not have medical treatment you will lose your case;

* Tell the doctor your problems and limitations. The Judge reads the medical records to determine how you are restricted due to your condition;

* Follow the doctor’s orders. Judge’s will punish you if you do not take your medications or if you fail to keep your appointments;

* Do not drink alcohol to excess. This is the quickest way to lose your case. Do not believe people who tell you that drunks get disability;

* Do not use street drugs. Social Security rules prohibit disability for drug users;

* If you have had an alcohol or drug problem you must stop using, and seek treatment. You can then testify that you have rehabilitated yourself;

* Make sure you get some good advice about what is going to happen during the Social Security Disability process.

It does not cost any upfront money to get an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer. You only pay a fee from your back benefits if you win your case. Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation law is complicated.

The basics are straight forward but getting to a fair settlement is not always easy.

The bottom line is that an experienced Workers’ Compensation Attorney does not cost you any upfront money.

A lawyer can only charge you 20 percent of what you recover in your case.

This means the lawyer has an interest in maximizing your settlement because the lawyer makes money when you make money.

The insurance company has plenty of lawyers advising it of ways to defend, delay and minimize your recovery.

It only makes sense to have someone to look out for your rights.

It also helps to have a lawyer who you can ask questions.

This gives you the peace of mind that you are getting all you entitled to according to the law.

It does not hurt to call a lawyer and ask questions about your case and let them know what the insurance company has told you.

An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will talk to you for free and explain your rights and answer your questions on the initial call.

Representing yourself in an Illinois work injury case can turn out to be a costly mistake.

Questions about your work comp case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Your Social Security Disability hearing will last approximately one hour.

Most Administrative Law Judges will not tell you their decision at the time of the hearing.

This is because the law requires that the decision about your disability be in writing.

It usually takes about 30 to 45 days for the decision to put in writing and mailed to you. However, there are no set timelines within which the Judge must issue a decision. If the time seems to be unusually long you can contact the hearing office and ask for the status of the decision.

The decision will either deny your disability, grant your disability, or give you a partially favorable decision.

A partially favorable decision means that you are granted disability but with a different onset date than you alleged in your application.

Or it can mean that you were disabled for a period time but are now able to work.

If you disagree with the Judge’s decision you can appeal it the Appeals Council.

The Council acts much like a court of appeals.

It will usually takes 12 months for the Appeals Council to rule on your appeal.

If you are denied, then you also have the right to reapply for Social Security Disability benefits in most cases.

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

It can take a long time to find out if you are eligible for Social Security Disability.

From start to finish (from application to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge) it can take up to 20 months in Illinois.

Some cases take less time such as 4 to 5 months, but this does not happen very often.

If you cannot work, then you have no choice but to apply and go through the long process and prove that you are disabled so that you can get your monthly payments.

Your only other choice is to get a job.

If you can work full time, then you are not eligible for disability.

If you can work only part-time, then you can still be eligible for Social Security Disability (part-time work is making less than $1,000 a month gross).

The wait is terrible because you are in poor health and the stress of being without a job and income is great.

I am glad to help people from start to finish in the Social Security Disability process. This includes filing the application online, completing questions from Social Security, getting you ready for the Social Security Doctors’ appointments, preparing you for the hearing, and going to the hearing with you.

Applying for disability is not something you should do alone.

There are too many pitfalls.

All attorney fees depend on whether or not you win.

If you do not win you owe nothing.

If you win you only have to pay 25 percent of the back benefits you win with a cap of $6,000.

A lifetime of benefits for this small amount is worth it.

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

It makes sense to plan ahead for unexpected events.

That is why people have insurance or map out a trip.

It also a good idea to know what to do if you are hurt at work.

Tell your supervisor right away if you are injured at work.

You should do this even if you are not certain that the injury is that bad.

I have seen too many people who did not think they had a serious injury and failed to tell anyone. Later their condition worsened and the insurance company denied the claim because they did not report it.

Another thing you should do is file an accident report as soon as possible.

This will protect you from faulty memories.

The accident report describes how the injury happened, when it happened, and what body parts were injured.

Make sure you get a copy of the accident report for your records.

You should go to the doctor right away and tell her what happened to you at work.

I have also seen too many people who put off going to the doctor. This will cause nothing but trouble for you. The Work Comp insurance company will argue that you waited so long to go to the doctor because you were not really hurt at work. Your injury came from some off work activity or home repair project.

Our initial reaction is to wait it out and hope the pain goes away, however if it does not go away then you will have all kinds of problems proving your case.

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