National Leaders in Social Security Disability Law

Attorney John E. Horn of the law firm of Horn & Kelley, PC, just won another social security disability case, this one at the initial level, step one of the Social Security Disability process.  He won the claim of a 51 year old Plainfield disability applicant who suffered from Blood clots in both legs, Cellulitis, diabetes, arthritis in knees and shoulders- bilateral, Open wounds in left leg – reduced blood flow, Swelling in feet, HBP, Obese..

We Can Handle Tinley Park Disability Claims at All Levels

Do not make the same mistake so many others have, call us before you file. We can handle your claim from the very beginning.  We apply for Tinley Park disability claimants online.  Applications for social security disability benefits have a seventy percent chance of being denied.  Then it is necessary to file an appeal called reconsideration.  We request reconsideration for Tinley Park disability applicants by filing online.  Eighty-five percent of claims are denied at reconsideration.  Then it is necessary to file another appeal requesting a hearing by an administrative law judge.  We request hearings for Tinley Park disability applicants online.  Tinley Park disability claims are heard in the Orland Park hearing office.  Many claims are won at the hearing level, but if you do not win, an appeal must be filed with the Appeals Council.  Like everyone else, Tinley Park disability applicants file their appeals in Falls Church, Virginia, by fax or mail.  The Appeals Council denies eight out of ten appeals.  Social Security used to allow sixty-five percent of all claims, but now it is allowing only forty percent.  We aim to win every claim without a hearing, but Social Security is just a big insurance company, and like any other insurance company, it only wants to take in premiums and not pay benefits.  That means you need a Social Security Disability Lawyer who will if necessary take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court.  Tinley Park disability applicants file suit against Social Security in the United States District Court in Chicago.  If Tinley Park disability applicants do not win in the District Court, they appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Free Consultation, No Fee Unless We Win

Lawyers for
Plainfield Disability Applicants, John E. Horn & H. Elizabeth Kelley

When you apply for social security disability, make sure you hire a local fighter, a lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court or United States Court of Appeals if necessary.  You have at least a fifty percent better chance of winning with a fighting lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals or even the United States Supreme Court.  Visit our website at www.johnehornattorney.com.  We are national leaders in social security disability law with more cases published in the Forum of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives than anyone else in the country for the last three years.  We show other lawyers how to win.  Horn & Kelley won nine of ten decisions in 2014 in the United States District Court and two out of two decisions in the United States Court of Appeals in 2014.  We have represented many Tinley Park disability applicants successfully.

Horn & Kelley are attorneys who represent people on disability claims at every level in Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana.  Horn & Kelley has offices in Chicago, Tinley Park, and La Grange, Illinois, as well as Highland, Indiana.  Their Chicago office serves Southwest Chicago.  Their Tinley Park office serves Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs, including Tinley Park.  Their LaGrange office serves Chicago’s west suburbs.  Their Highland office serves Northwest Indiana.  They have represented more than 5,000 clients in the past twenty-five year. If you are a Tinley Park disability applicant, get a free evaluation of your social security disability claim and call Horn & Kelley at 888-921-5297.  A Tinley Park disability applicant would ordinarily make an appointment at our Tinley Park office, depending on what is convenient for you.  Horn & Kelley practice only in the field of Social Security Disability.  Follow Horn & Kelley on Twitter @HornKelleyLaw and like us on Facebook.

Vocational experts are called by Social Security Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) to testify about the type of work a disability applicant can do. As such, vocational experts are the most important witnesses that can appear at your benefits hearing.

This is what you should know about vocational experts before you consider taking on the task of interviewing one on your own.

What Does a Vocational Expert Do?

As witnesses, vocational experts are supposed to apply their unique knowledge and skills to each disability case in front of the ALJ in an independent, unbiased fashion. The testimony of these witnesses is supposed to be based on their knowledge of the skills required by each profession, each profession’s unique physical, mental, and emotional demands, and a claimant’s transferable job skills.

You need to understand that vocational experts work for Social Security. They are far from independent experts, and their testimony is not often neutral. In addition, their understanding of each job’s requirements is based on descriptions of a job — not actual experience. The description of a job can often vary considerably from the reality of the workplace.

During your hearing, the ALJ will ask the vocational expert to give his or her opinion about what type of jobs you can still do, despite the limitations imposed by your disabling conditions. The vocational expert will describe your past relevant work experience — anything that you’ve done long enough — and tell the judge what jobs you have available based on that experience.

If you can’t persuade the vocational expert’s testimony, your disability claim is going to fail.

How Do You Defeat a Vocational Expert’s Testimony?

You can generally expect a vocational expert to testify that there are at least a few jobs available that you can do, no matter how simple or menial. A significant amount of preparation and skill is necessary to defeat this testimony.

The first thing that your attorney can do is examine exactly what factors the vocational expert used in his or her determination. The vocational expert usually relies on the ALJ’s hypothetical questions about a claimant, which are frequently incomplete pictures of a claimant’s real limitations.

By rephrasing the hypothetical question to include all of your limitations, your attorney can oblige the vocational expert to reexamine the facts of your case.

For example, the vocational expert may testify that a claimant with a back injury (who cannot lift, stand, crawl, or carry anything heavy) can still work a telemarketing job. The back injury wouldn’t preclude sedentary work.

However, that scenario doesn’t take into account additional limitations caused by a claimant’s pain medication. Opioids and muscle relaxants that are necessary to control chronic back pain and muscle spasms can interfere with a person’s ability to concentrate, follow flowcharts, or even stay awake for an 8-hour shift.

A good attorney also knows to elicit testimony from the vocational expert about his or her understanding of a job’s actual duties. Whenever possible, an attorney can often get the vocational expert to admit that the description of those activities omits important information.

For example, a desk job may include a significant amount of standing and bending in order to file documents away or pull documents out of storage. A job described as uncomplicated, like janitorial work, may require a broad range of social skills, self-direction, and problem-solving that a claimant with mental disabilities can’t handle.

Cross-examining the vocational expert is one of the most important jobs a Social Security Disability attorney does at any benefits hearing. This cross-examination is an incredibly difficult thing for a layperson to do effectively because it requires both technical knowledge and the ability to subtly shift a question in order to draw out new testimony. For information about the role of a vocational expert in your own case, talk to the attorneys at Horn & Kelley, PC Attorneys at Law.

National Leaders in Social Security Disability Law

Attorney John E. Horn of the law firm of Horn & Kelley, PC, just won another social security disability case, this one at the application level, step one of the Social Security Disability process.  His client was a forty-eight year old Griffith disability applicant with COPD, blocked artery in the right leg, obesity and chest pains.  We have represented many other Griffith disability claimants successfully.

Free Consultation

Lawyers for
Griffith Disability Applicants, John E. Horn & H. Elizabeth Kelley

Do not make the same mistake so many others have, call us before you file. We can handle your claim from the very beginning.  A Griffith disability applicant would ordinarily make an appointment at our Highland, Indiana office.  We apply for Griffith disability claimants by filing online.  Applications for social security disability benefits have a seventy percent chance of being denied.  Then it is necessary to file an appeal called reconsideration.  We request reconsideration for Griffith disability applicants by filing their appeals online.  Most claims are denied at reconsideration.  Then it is necessary to file another appeal requesting a hearing by an administrative law judge.  We request hearings for Griffith disability applicants by filing online.  Many claims are won at the hearing level, but if you do not win, an appeal must be filed with the Appeals Council.  Like everyone else who appeals to the Appeals Council, Griffith disability applicants file their appeals in Falls Church, Virginia, by fax or mail.  The Appeals Council denies eight out of ten appeals.  Social Security used to allow sixty-five percent of claims overall, but now it is allowing only forty percent of claims.  We aim to win every claim without a hearing, but Social Security is just a big insurance company, and like any other insurance company, it only wants to take in premiums and not pay benefits.  That means you need a Social Security Disability Lawyer who will if necessary take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court.  Griffith disability applicants file suit against Social Security in the United States District Court in Hammond.  If Griffith disability applicants do not win in the District Court, they appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

No Fee Unless We Win

When you apply for social security disability, make sure you hire a local fighter, a lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court or United States Court of Appeals if necessary.  You have at least a fifty percent better chance of winning with a fighting lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals or even the United States Supreme Court.  Visit our website at www.johnehornattorney.com.  We are national leaders in social security disability law with more cases published in the Forum of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives than anyone else in the country for the last two years.  We show other lawyers how to win.  Horn & Kelley won nine of ten decisions in 2014 in the U. S. District Court and two out of two decisions in the U. S. Court of Appeals in 2014.  We have represented many Griffith disability applicants.

Horn & Kelley are attorneys who represent people on disability claims at every level in Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana.  Horn & Kelley has offices in Chicago, Tinley Park, and La Grange, Illinois, as well as Highland, Indiana.  Their Chicago office serves Southwest Chicago.  Their Tinley Park office serves Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs.  Their LaGrange office serves Chicago’s west suburbs.  Their Highland office serves Northwest Indiana, including Griffith disability applicants.  We have represented more than 5,000 clients in the past twenty-five years. If you are a Griffith disability applicant, get a free evaluation of your social security disability claim and call Horn & Kelley at 888-921-5297.  Horn & Kelley practice only in the field of Social Security Disability.

Follow Horn & Kelley on Twitter @HornKelleyLaw and like us on Facebook.

National Leaders in Social Security Disability Law

Attorney John E. Horn of the law firm of Horn & Kelley, PC, just won another Social Security Disability case, this one at the hearing level, step three of the Social Security Disability process.  His client was a fifty-nine-year-old Wheaton disability applicant with Lupus, fibromyalgia, astha, cataracts migraines, neuropathy in hands and feet, IBS, colitis, varicose veins, GERD, anemia, and depression.  We have represented many other Wheaton disability claimants successfully.

We Can Handle Wheaton Disability Claims at All Levels

Do not make the same mistake so many others have, call us before you file. We can handle your claim from the very beginning.  A Wheaton disability applicant would ordinarily make an appointment with us at our LaGrange office.  We apply for Wheaton disability claimants by filing online.  Applications for social security disability benefits have a seventy percent chance of being denied.  Then it is necessary to file an appeal called reconsideration.  We request reconsideration for Wheaton disability applicants by filing their appeals online.  Most claims are denied at reconsideration.  Then it is necessary to file another appeal requesting a hearing by an administrative law judge.  We request hearings for Wheaton disability applicants by filing online.  Many claims are won at the hearing level, but if you do not win, an appeal must be filed with the Appeals Council.  Like everyone else who appeals to the Appeals Council, Wheaton disability applicants file their appeals in Falls Church, Virginia, by fax or mail.  The Appeals Council denies eight out of ten appeals.  Social Security used to allow sixty-five percent of claims overall, but now it is allowing only forty percent of claims.  We aim to win every claim without a hearing, but Social Security is just a big insurance company, and like any other insurance company, it only wants to take in premiums and not pay benefits.  That means you need a Social Security Disability Lawyer who will if necessary take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court.  Wheaton disability applicants file suit against Social Security in the United States District Court in Chicago.  If Wheaton disability applicants do not win in the District Court, they appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Free Consultation, No Fee Unless We Win

Lawyers for
Wheaton Disability Applicants, John E. Horn & H. Elizabeth Kelley

When you apply for social security disability, make sure you hire a local fighter, a lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court or United States Court of Appeals if necessary.  You have at least a fifty percent better chance of winning with a fighting lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals or even the United States Supreme Court.  Visit our website at www.johnehornattorney.com. We are national leaders in social security disability law with more cases published in the Forum of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives than anyone else in the country for the last three years.  We show other lawyers how to win.  Horn & Kelley won nine of ten decisions in 2014 in the U. S. District Court and two out of two decisions in the U. S. Court of Appeals in 2014.  We have represented many Wheaton disability applicants.

Horn & Kelley are lawyers who represents disability claimants at every level in Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana. Horn & Kelley has offices in Chicago, Tinley Park, and La Grange, Illinois, as well as Highland, Indiana.  Their Chicago office serves Southwest Chicago.  Their Tinley Park office serves Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs.  Their LaGrange office serves Chicago’s west suburbs, including Wheaton disability applicants.  Their Highland office serves Northwest Indiana.  We have represented more than 5,000 clients in the past twenty-five years. If you are a Wheaton disability applicant, get a free evaluation of your social security disability claim and call Horn & Kelley at 888-921-5297.  Horn & Kelley practice law only in the field of Social Security Disability.

Follow Horn & Kelley on Twitter @HornKelleyLaw and like us on Facebook.

Cancer could be considered one of the most serious conditions that an individual has to suffer in his or her lifetime. The disease itself can be incapacitating, and the treatments that are used to hopefully send the cancer into remission can negatively affect an individual’s health and life as a whole. Luckily, cancer is recognized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as an eligible impairment.

Cancer affects millions of people, with more than 1.6 million new cases being diagnosed each year, as well as almost 600,000 cancer deaths each year. Some of the most common types of cancer in the United States include breast, lung, prostate, colon, bladder, melanoma, thyroid, kidney cancer, among many others.

How Does the SSA Evaluate Your Application?

When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits and list that you have been diagnosed with cancer, the SSA will look at particular factors to determine your eligibility. First, they will look at where the cancer originated and then look at the extent of the involvement of the cancer.

Next, the SSA will begin looking into the treatments that you have undergone. In regard to these treatments, the SSA will pay attention to the how long you underwent the treatments, how frequently you had to have treatments, and how your body responded to the treatments. Lastly, the SSA will consider post-therapeutic residuals and how they have affected you.

All of these factors will be applied to your individual case based on the specific cancer that you have been diagnosed with. Each person and their disease is unique. Therefore, the SSA approaches each case differently.

What Type of Evidence Is Required to Be Submitted?

While you need to make sure that you completely fill out your application, you also need to attach any and all additional information that is required of you by the SSA, including medical proof of your cancer diagnosis from your healthcare provider.

As a general rule, the SSA will require various types of medical proof, including:

• Blood tests or other results lab results
• Pathology report or biopsy results
• CT scans or other types of imaging scans

You will also likely need a full medical report of any treatments that you have received, as well as the treatment’s results, including the side effects that you experienced while undergoing the treatment.

How Long Does Is the Process?

The SSA may take months to process your application for Social Security Disability to be approved. And if your application is denied and you have to go through the appeals process, you may even be looking at a year or more before your application is approved.

Thankfully, the SSA does have the ability to speed up the review process for some people. For example, if you have an illness that is listed on what is known as a Compassionate Allowance, which includes certain types of cancer, you may be able to have your application approved in less time. Some cancers that are on this list include breast, bladder, kidney, liver, ovarian, prostate, and thyroid cancers.

Should You Hire an Attorney?

Navigating the mound of paperwork that is involved in Social Security Disability applications can be extremely difficult, particularly because the language can be confusing. But the last thing you want or need is for your application to be denied because you accidentally wrote the wrong answer to a question on the application that you didn’t understand. Social Security Disability attorneys also know how to attempt to make the process much faster, especially if you unfortunately are terminal.

When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits, you want to make sure that all of your paperwork is completely and properly filled out in its entirety the first time. A correct application increases the chances of a speedy approval. Therefore, you may want to consider hiring someone with experience, such as a Social Security Disability lawyer, to assist you in the process.

To ensure that you have everything that you need before submission and that the application process goes smoothly, contact Horn & Kelley P.C., Attorneys at Law and allow us to help you.

In our increasingly fast-paced world, social media is being used to connect people with distant friends, family members, and acquaintances. Social media platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are great ways to stay updated on the major milestones of people you care about.

However, social media is also being used in professional and legal settings. A lot of information that you would prefer to only be shared with family and friends is becoming public knowledge. Sometimes, the information that you put on Facebook and other social media outlets is used against you, affecting things like your job or legal claims like Social Security Disability.

Can Your Facebook Profile Be Used as Evidence?

Officially, your social media presence should have nothing to do with your Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration has passed rules making internet searches off-limits in determining an individual’s eligibility for disability benefits.

National Leaders in Social Security Disability Law

Attorney John E. Horn of the law firm of Horn & Kelley, PC, just won another social security disability case, this one at the hearing level, step three of the Social Security Disability process.  He won the claim of a 61 year old Plainfield disability applicant who suffered from Guillan-Barre Syndrome (GBS), Paresthesia, Chronic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Hip Replacement.

We Can Handle Plainfield Disability Claims at All Levels

Do not make the same mistake so many others have, call us before you file. We can handle your claim from the very beginning.  We apply for Plainfield disability claimants online.  Applications for social security disability benefits have a seventy percent chance of being denied.  Then it is necessary to file an appeal called reconsideration.  We request reconsideration for Plainfield disability applicants by filing online.  Eighty-five percent of claims are denied at reconsideration.  Then it is necessary to file another appeal requesting a hearing by an administrative law judge.  We request hearings for Plainfield disability applicants online.  Plainfield disability claims are heard in the Orland Park hearing office.  Many claims are won at the hearing level, but if you do not win, an appeal must be filed with the Appeals Council.  Like everyone else, Plainfield disability applicants file their appeals in Falls Church, Virginia, by fax or mail.  The Appeals Council denies eight out of ten appeals.  Social Security used to allow sixty-five percent of all claims, but now it is allowing only forty percent.  We aim to win every claim without a hearing, but Social Security is just a big insurance company, and like any other insurance company, it only wants to take in premiums and not pay benefits.  That means you need a Social Security Disability Lawyer who will if necessary take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court.  Plainfield disability applicants file suit against Social Security in the United States District Court in Chicago.  If Plainfield disability applicants do not win in the District Court, they appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Free Consultation, No Fee Unless We Win

Lawyers for
Plainfield Disability Applicants, John E. Horn & H. Elizabeth Kelley

When you apply for social security disability, make sure you hire a local fighter, a lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court or United States Court of Appeals if necessary.  You have at least a fifty percent better chance of winning with a fighting lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals or even the United States Supreme Court.  Visit our website at www.johnehornattorney.com.  We are national leaders in social security disability law with more cases published in the Forum of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives than anyone else in the country for the last three years.  We show other lawyers how to win.  Horn & Kelley won nine of ten decisions in 2014 in the United States District Court and two out of two decisions in the United States Court of Appeals in 2014.  We have represented many Plainfield disability applicants successfully.

Horn & Kelley are attorneys who represent people on disability claims at every level in Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana.  Horn & Kelley has offices in Chicago, Tinley Park, and La Grange, Illinois, as well as Highland, Indiana.  Their Chicago office serves Southwest Chicago.  Their Tinley Park office serves Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs, including Plainfield.  Their LaGrange office serves Chicago’s west suburbs.  Their Highland office serves Northwest Indiana.  They have represented more than 5,000 clients in the past twenty-five year. If you are a Plainfield disability applicant, get a free evaluation of your social security disability claim and call Horn & Kelley at 888-921-5297.  A Plainfield disability applicant would ordinarily make an appointment at our Tinley Park office, depending on what is convenient for you.  Horn & Kelley practice only in the field of Social Security Disability.  Follow Horn & Kelley on Twitter @HornKelleyLaw and like us on Facebook.

National Leaders in Social Security Disability Law

Social Security Disability Lawyer John E. Horn of the law firm of Horn & Kelley, P.C., just won another social security disability case, this one at the remand level of the Social Security Disability process.  Our client was a 23-year-old Blue Island disability applicant who suffered from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). We have represented many other Blue Island disability claimants successfully.

We Can Handle Blue Island Disability Claims at All Levels

Do not make the same mistake so many others have, call us before you file. We can handle your claim from the very beginning.  We apply for Blue Island disability claimants by filing online.  Applications for social security disability benefits have a seventy percent chance of being denied.  Then it is necessary to file an appeal called reconsideration.  We request reconsideration for Blue Island disability applicants by filing their appeals online.  Most claims are denied at reconsideration.  Then it is necessary to file another appeal requesting a hearing by an administrative law judge.  We request hearings for Blue Island disability applicants by filing online.  Many claims are won at the hearing level, but if you do not win, an appeal must be filed with the Appeals Council.  Like everyone else who appeals to the Appeals Council, Blue Island disability applicants file their appeals in Falls Church, Virginia.  The Appeals Council denies eight out of ten appeals.  Social Security used to allow sixty-five percent of claims overall, but now it is allowing only forty percent of claims.  We aim to win every claim without a hearing, but Social Security is just a big insurance company, and like any other insurance company, it only wants to take in premiums and not pay benefits.  That means you need a Social Security Disability Lawyer who will if necessary take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court.  Blue Island disability applicants file suit against Social Security in the United States District Court in Chicago.  If Blue Island disability applicants do not win in the District Court, they appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, maybe even to the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Free Consultation, No Fee Unless We Win

Lawyers for
Blue Island Disability Applicants, John E. Horn & H. Elizabeth Kelley

When you apply for social security disability, make sure you hire a local fighter, a lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court or United States Court of Appeals if necessary.  You have at least a fifty percent better chance of winning with a fighting lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals or even the United States Supreme Court.  Visit our website at www.johnehornattorney.com. We are national leaders in social security disability law with more cases published in the Forum of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives than anyone else in the country for the last two years.  We show other lawyers how to win in the field of Social Security Disability law.  Horn & Kelley won nine of ten decisions in 2014 in the United States District Court and two out of two decisions in the United States Court of Appeals in 2014.

Horn & Kelley are attorneys who represent people on disability claims at every level in Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana.  Horn & Kelley have offices in Chicago, Tinley Park, and La Grange, Illinois, as well as Highland, Indiana.  Their Chicago office serves Southwest Chicago.  Their Tinley Park office serves Chicago’s southwest suburbs.  Their LaGrange office serves Chicago’s west suburbs, such as Blue Island.  Their Highland office serves Northwest Indiana.  They have represented more than 5,000 clients in the past twenty-five years. If you are a Blue Island disability applicant, get a free evaluation of your social security disability claim by calling Horn & Kelley at 888-921-5297.  Horn & Kelley practice only in the field of Social Security Disability.

Follow Horn & Kelley on Twitter @HornKelleyLaw and like us on Facebook.

National Leaders in Social Security Disability Law

Attorney John E. Horn of the law firm of Horn & Kelley, PC, just won another social security disability case, this one at the application level, step one of the Social Security Disability process.  He won the claim of a fifty-nine year old Matteson disability applicant who suffered from an occlusion in the branch retinal vein on his left side, permanent eye damage requiring injections, chronic lower back pain, two level fusion and arthritis in back, and high blood pressure.

We Can Handle Matteson Disability Claims at All Levels

Do not make the same mistake so many others have, call us before you file. We can handle your claim from the very beginning.  We apply for Matteson disability claimants online.  Applications for social security disability benefits have a seventy percent chance of being denied.  Then it is necessary to file an appeal called reconsideration.  We request reconsideration for Matteson disability applicants by filing online.  Eighty-five percent of claims are denied at reconsideration.  Then it is necessary to file another appeal requesting a hearing by an administrative law judge.  We request hearings for Matteson disability applicants online.  Matteson disability claims are heard in the Orland Park hearing office.  Many claims are won at the hearing level, but if you do not win, an appeal must be filed with the Appeals Council.  Like everyone else, Matteson disability applicants file their appeals in Falls Church, Virginia, by fax or mail.  The Appeals Council denies eight out of ten appeals.  Social Security used to allow sixty-five percent of all claims, but now it is allowing only forty percent.  We aim to win every claim without a hearing, but Social Security is just a big insurance company, and like any other insurance company, it only wants to take in premiums and not pay benefits.  That means you need a Social Security Disability Lawyer who will if necessary take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals, or even the United States Supreme Court.  Matteson disability applicants file suit against Social Security in the United States District Court in Chicago.  If Matteson disability applicants do not win in the District Court, they appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Free Consultation, No Fee Unless We Win

When you apply for social security disability, make sure you hire a local fighter, a lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court or United States Court of Appeals if necessary.  You have at least a fifty percent better chance of winning with a fighting lawyer who can take your case to the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals or even the United States Supreme Court.  Visit our website at www.johnehornattorney.com.  We are national leaders in social security disability law with more cases published in the Forum of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives than anyone else in the country for the last three years.  We show other lawyers how to win.  Horn & Kelley won nine of ten decisions in 2014 in the United States District Court and two out of two decisions in the United States Court of Appeals in 2014.  We have represented many Matteson disability applicants successfully.

Lawyers for
Matteson Disability Applicants, John E. Horn & H. Elizabeth Kelley

Horn & Kelley are attorneys who represent people on disability claims at every level in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.  Horn & Kelley has offices in Chicago, Tinley Park, and La Grange, Illinois, as well as Highland, Indiana.  Their Chicago office serves Southwest Chicago.  Their Tinley Park office serves Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs, including Matteson.  Their LaGrange office serves Chicago’s west suburbs.  Their Highland office serves Northwest Indiana.  They have represented more than 5,000 clients in the past twenty-five year. If you are a Matteson disability applicant, get a free evaluation of your social security disability claim and call Horn & Kelley at 888-921-5297.  A Matteson disability applicant would ordinarily make an appointment at our Tinley Park office, depending on what is convenient for you.  Horn & Kelley practice only in the field of Social Security Disability.  Follow Horn & Kelley on Twitter @HornKelleyLaw and like us on Facebook.

Social Security Disability benefits are available for those who cannot work because of physical or mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder. Though some individuals can control their bipolar disorder with the appropriate combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and therapies, others are unable to get their disorder under control.

This leaves them unable to interact with other individuals or take care of themselves in a way that permits them to hold down a stable job.

If you cannot work due to your bipolar disorder, apply for Social Security Disability benefits. Here are a few important things you need to know about making a Social Security Disability claim for your bipolar disorder.

1. Allow Time for the Process

A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is not enough to procure approval for Social Security Disability payments. Bipolar disorder has multiple levels of severity, some of which include symptoms of psychosis and extreme mood swings. You need to prove that your bipolar disorder is so severe that it renders you unable to work. This process takes time.

Be prepared to visit multiple doctors who can diagnose and attest to the severity of your bipolar disorder. The doctors should come to a general consensus that your mental illness renders you unable to function in a way that permits steady employment.

Some individuals with bipolar disorder are unable to function on their own but do have moderate success in completing the activities of daily life while living in a group home. You can still receive Social Security Disability benefits if this fits your situation.

Again, you need to show that other lifestyle changes and medications were ineffective at controlling your bipolar symptoms and that you cannot function outside of the highly controlled environment of your group home.

2. Don’t Forgo Seeing Your Doctor Due to Financial Concerns

If you cannot work and are not currently receiving Social Security Disability payments, your budget is likely tight. You may start searching for expenditures that you can cut or reduce. However, make sure that you keep up with your doctor visits and continue to take any prescribed medication. Strong medical evidence of a disability is one of the most effective ways to secure Social Security Disability benefits.

One of the requirements for receiving Social Security Disability payments is that you have to be able to prove that approved treatments (such as medication or therapy) are unable to control or reduce your bipolar disorder to a level that permits you to hold a steady job.

By visiting your doctor regularly, you have objective proof that you have tried multiple treatment options. Your doctor will include documentation in your medical records as to what medications are unsuccessful and which ones you have tried. Your regular doctor visits also add an additional level of proof concerning the severity of your bipolar disorder.

3. Make Your Claim or Appeal as Strong as Possible

Individuals who apply for Social Security Disability benefits often initially have their claims denied. At this point, you have the option to drop your claim or appeal the decision.

One way you can increase the chance of winning your appeal is to make your claim as strong as you can. Hiring an experienced attorney who specializes in dealing with Social Security Disability cases is an excellent way to strengthen your case.

Your attorney knows what it takes to win a case and can advise you of any elements that your case is missing. For example, you may need a strong written statement from your doctor that your bipolar disorder is unlikely to improve, even with treatment, over the next few years.

Dismiss any financial concerns you have about paying an attorney. An attorney is a worthwhile investment, and you do not have to pay unless your attorney wins your case for you.

Are you ready to build an effective appeal for your Social Security Disability case? Contact Horn & Kelley P.C. Attorneys At Law for your free consultation.