SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY UPDATES

As a service too our readers, the Forsythe Firm is listing some of the telephone numbers for Social Security offices around North Alabama.  Some offices close at noon on Wednesday.  Call before you visit. Athens, AL (served by the Decatur SSA office)     1-888-289-9185 717 McGlathery Lane, Decatur, AL 35601   1-888-289-9185 4970 Research Park Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805   1-866-593-0665 203 South Walnut Street  Florence, AL 35630 (256) 767-3138 412 Martling Road  Albertville, AL 35951 (256) 891-0672 501 The Mall Way, Jasper, AL 35504 1-205-221-6463 Scottsboro, Al (served by the Huntsville AL SSA office) (See above number) Social Security's National Customer Service   1-800-771-1213 (serves all areas) - Up to 45 minute wait times _______________________________________ Social Security Disability Advocates The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville, AL Never a fee until you win and get paid! ...

If you have applied for Social Security disability (SSD), they may send you to one of their contracted doctors for a consultative examination (CE).  These can be treacherous territory for the disability claimant.  Here are some of my concerns. The doctor may be part of a large practice that specializes in Social Security or employment medicine.  They may do little else except this type of exam.   While the doctor is supposed to spend at least 30 minutes with you during a CE, some of my clients report that the doctor saw them for only 5 or 10 minutes.  It can be a rush in, rush out scenario. Rarely is the doctor given instructions to perform any tests or X-rays.  He may be asked to evaluate your back pain by simply laying a stethoscope on your back or asking you some questions.  The doctor might have you bend over, do a leg raise test or some other quick check.  However, without at least an X-ray, he can tell very little about why your back h...

You are sick or injured and expect to be out of work for a year or more.  Your income has suddenly been shut off.  The panic sets in.  How will you support yourself and your family?   Unemployment benefits may come to mind.  But you are going to apply for Social Security disability benefits .   How will an application for unemployment benefits affect Social Security disability (SSDI)? Fundamentally, state unemployment insurance and Social Security disability insurance have different goals.  Social Security pays persons who are not able to work for long periods beca use of medical disability, while unemployment programs pay people who are able to work but just can't find work. UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS - for persons who are able to work, are looking for work, but who can't find a job.  Th is benefit i s short-term.  It is expected that the individual will soon find a job and the unemployment checks will stop.  Persons who are disa...