| Disability, in the context of social security, is identified as | | | | they would brought up before an Administrative Law |
| a medical condition which hinders a person from | | | | Judge who was given the authority to review all the |
| performing a substantial gainful activity prevents him | | | | denied petitions. And if in case the ALJ still denied the |
| from obtaining sufficient income to support his family's | | | | claim, the case will be automatically brought to the |
| basic needs. Whether short termed or long termed, | | | | Social Security National Appeals Council which will |
| incurring disability while working is very much possible. | | | | review the decision of the ALJ. This appeals council |
| This may be due to various illnesses which may hinder | | | | has the power to reverse the decision of the ALJ. But |
| the employees to perform their jobs for a certain | | | | then again, if the appeals council favors the decision of |
| period of time. Such experience will definitely cause the | | | | the ALJ, the claimants would have nothing left to do |
| workers to loss their source of income during that time | | | | but to result in filing a lawsuit against the SSA at a |
| being. | | | | federal court. |
| In order to provide financial support to those disabled | | | | The federal court hearings of a social security case |
| workers, the Federal government has developed the | | | | involve the usual formal litigation procedure wherein the |
| Social Security and Supplemental Security Income | | | | lawyer of the SSA will try to defend their decision |
| disability programs. These two insurance benefits are | | | | against the claimant's lawsuit. Thus, if this legal |
| indeed of great help for those people who fail to get | | | | endeavor still fails to succeed, the claimant may have |
| their own insurance policies from private insurance | | | | the last try in the U.S. Supreme Court which will have |
| companies. Both these programs of the government | | | | the final ruling about the matter. |
| are managed by the Social Security Administration | | | | These stressful, time-consuming and complicated |
| which has the sole duty to determine whether a | | | | procedures of making appeals would not have |
| disabled applicant can be entitled of either benefits or | | | | happened if only the claimants have hired the services |
| not. | | | | of a qualified social security attorney. A legal counsel |
| Generally, the initial applications, which are filed in the | | | | who has the expertise and the sufficient skills in |
| SSA office for either benefit, will have big chances of | | | | providing assistance and representation can increase |
| being denied as well as the application for | | | | the petitioner's chances of acquiring his benefits in such |
| reconsideration. Hence, most persistent petitioners | | | | a short period of time without even going through |
| would result in filing a formal appeal of denial which | | | | these numerous appellate courts. |