Recovering
$ MILLIONS
For Disabled Pennsylvanians
TRUSTED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LAWYER IN NORRISTOWN, PA
ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLIENTS FOR OVER 42 YEARS IN NORRISTOWN, PA
Navigating the complexities of Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can be a challenging ordeal for anyone, especially for the disabled residents of Norristown, PA facing physical and bureaucratic hurdles. At Larry Pitt & Associates, we understand the trials you endure and the pressing need for a supportive financial structure to ensure stability in your life. With a legacy spanning over four decades, our firm has been steadfast in its commitment to assist those who are struggling to secure their rightful benefits.
When you come to us, you’re not just getting legal advice; you’re enlisting a partner that will stand by your side every step of the way in filing your claim or the appeals process. Our deep knowledge of the SSD process and unwavering dedication have enabled us to recover millions for disabled Pennsylvanians, reflecting our tenacity and success in handling these Social Security disability cases. With Larry Pitt & Associates, your case is not just a file number; it’s a personal mission for us to ensure you receive the financial support you deserve.
We take pride in our personalized approach to each case, working closely with you to understand the nuances of your situation. Whether you’re at the beginning stages of filing an SSD claim or facing the frustration of a denial, our team is equipped with the knowledge and resources to help you navigate through. Trust in Larry Pitt & Associates to provide the compassionate, competent legal representation you need to achieve a favorable outcome for your SSD benefits claim in Norristown, PA.
GET A FREE CONSULTATION WITH LARRY PITT
GET A FREE CONSULTATION WITH OUR NORRISTOWN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LAWYERS AT LARRY PITT & ASSOCIATES
Living with a disability is hard; choosing the right lawyer for your needs doesn’t have to be. If you have become permanently disabled, or if your application for benefits has been denied, Larry Pitt & Associates is here to help. Please call 888-PITT-LAW or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of Norristown’s premier Social Security disability attorneys. Our firm proudly represents clients in and around:
FILING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CLAIMS
No one ever plans on becoming disabled. If a debilitating personal injury or illness renders you unable to work, it is easy to feel like you are out of options. That is why the federal government offers Social Security benefits to people who can no longer work to support themselves or their family members if they are suffering from a disability.
At Larry Pitt & Associates, our experienced disability attorneys have spent more than three decades securing financial assistance through the disability claims process. Your Social Security Disability attorney will guide you through the complex Social Security Disability claim process and answer all your questions along the way so that you can regain control over your life and your finances.
If you have suffered a long-term, permanent, or even fatal disability anywhere in Berks, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, or Philadelphia Counties, we want to hear your story and secure for you the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits you are entitled to under the law.
WHAT IS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI)?
This is an insurance program for workers who become unable to work due to a disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for the operation and administration of this fund. Money for this fund comes from the “FICA” tax withheld from workers’ pay and employer contributions. People who have worked and paid FICA tax for at least five of the ten years prior to the onset of their disability are usually covered. Depending upon age, others may be qualified to receive benefits with fewer years of work.
Eligibility for SSDI benefits in Pennsylvania is dependent upon three factors:
You must be able to prove to the SSA that you cannot perform your job because of your disability.
The SSA must decide that you cannot do another kind of work because of your disability.
Your disability must be one that will last or is expected to last 12 months or longer.
The Social Security Administration uses a formula based on your average lifetime earnings and the total number of years you have worked to calculate the benefit amount. You can receive up to a maximum of approximately $1,500 per month, depending on your past earnings. If you have a family, you could receive additional benefits – up to 50 percent of your own monthly benefit amount.
At Larry Pitt & Associates, we help you and your family obtain the benefits you are entitled to under the law. Your Norristown disability lawyer will handle all aspects of your case. They will collect your medical evidence, file your initial claim for long-term disability, provide legal representation at any SSD hearings throughout the process, and if necessary handle the appeals process.
Our goal is to handle your disability claim from start to finish. This is usually a frustrating process to manage on your own. Social Security disability claims can be complex and take time, and it’s in your best interest to have by your side an SSD attorney with years of experience.
ELIGIBLE CONDITIONS TO APPLY FOR SSD
Certain medical conditions are considered automatically eligible for SSD – but that does not mean your application will automatically be approved. There are many factors that go into a claim for Social Security Disability benefits. At Larry Pitt & Associates, we have filed successful SSD applications on behalf of clients with a disability affecting their: Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Musculoskeletal System, Respiratory System, and Special Senses & Speech.
We also represent people with:
- Congenital disorders affecting multiple bodily systems
- Endocrine disorders
- Genitourinary disorders
- Hematological disorders
- Immune system disorders
- Malignant neoplastic disorders
- Mental disorders
- Neurological conditions
- Skin disorders
People with HIV/AIDS may qualify for Social Security Disability when they can no longer work, or they must limit their work due to the disease. The laws affecting children are a bit different than those affecting adults, so it is smart to seek the help of our Social Security disability attorneys if you have questions, or if you have a child who has a permanent disability or medical condition. More than 700,000 children with disabilities currently receive SSDI benefits, and we can help your child obtain them too.
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
The Social Security Administration recognizes certain physical impairments as acceptable injuries or conditions for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. However, having a physical condition on the list does not guarantee that you will automatically receive benefits. You must still follow the proper procedure for filing, and provide ample medical proof from a doctor that you have the disability and that your ability to work is impeded by it.
A qualifying disability can be acquired (like breaking your back in a fall or developing a disease or condition like Multiple Sclerosis), congenital (where you are born with a condition, like a heart defect) or hereditary (where a condition, like hemophilia for example, is passed through the genes). Certain mental or “impairments considered severe enough to prevent an individual from doing any gainful activity” according to the SSA. Those physical impairments include:
- Cardiovascular system conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes
- Digestive system conditions, such as those caused by liver disease or by conditions like IBS
- Endocrine disorders affecting the adrenal, pancreas, parathyroid, pituitary, and thyroid glands
- Genitourinary disorders, chronic kidney disease or disorders
- Hematological disorders such as hemophilia
- Immune system disorders like HIV/AIDS
- Malignant neoplastic disorders like cancer
- Musculoskeletal system conditions like arthritis or a spinal cord injury
- Neurological conditions including Parkinson’s, Epilepsy, cerebral palsy, MS, muscular dystrophy, ALS or a traumatic brain injury
- Respiratory system conditions like mesothelioma
- Skin disorders, such as those resulting from burns or presenting with lesions
- Special senses and speech problems, such as vision or hearing loss
Acceptable physical impairments can range from visible amputations to a less clear – but just as medically acceptable – diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The Social Security Administration’s list of acceptable conditions is comprehensive, but that does not mean that you are ineligible if your condition is not on their list. Larry Pitt & Associates has successfully represented clients whose medical conditions were unlisted but still serious enough to prevent them from working. Whether you need help with your initial application or your previous attempt to claim Social Security benefits was initially denied, our Philadelphia, PA law firm can help.
What Our Clients Say
ELIGIBLE MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
The Social Security Administration recognizes a number of mental impairments and disabilities that can make it impossible for a person to support him or herself – psychologically, emotionally, or financially. If the person has developed or acquired such an impairment and has contributed to the Social Security fund for at least five years, then he or she should be eligible for disability benefits.
The SSA has a list of specific mental and physical impairments that are automatically considered for benefits – but this is no guarantee that you will be granted those benefits. That is why experienced Social Security Disability lawyers like those at Larry Pitt & Associates are a crucial part of the application process. We represent the best interests of people who suffer from:
- Anxiety disorders, such as manic depression/bi-polar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders
- Congenital disorders affecting multiple bodily systems, like Down Syndrome
- Intellectual disabilities, usually indicated by a low IQ
- Personality disorders, such as sociopathic tendencies
- Psychosis-related disorders such as schizophrenia or paranoia
- Organic mental disorders that affect the brain but are not related to other types of disorders. Organic disorders may present with memory loss, could be brought on by an illness or a traumatic brain injury, or could be caused by any number of reasons
- Somatoform disorders, which present with physical symptoms but lack any “proof” of why those symptoms exist
- Substance addiction
In order to prove that your mental impairment makes it impossible for you to work and support yourself, you must have documentation from a doctor that supports the diagnosis. At Larry Pitt & Associates, we work with your doctors and medical providers to ensure that all of the paperwork is in order. We want you to start collecting your benefits as quickly as possible, but we will never substitute thoroughness for speed. That is why so many people in and around Norristown, including people whose initial application for benefits was denied before they came to see us, trust our firm to help and protect them.
OBTAINING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS
Social Security Disability benefits are granted to people who have paid into the system for at least 5 years, and who are suffering from an illness or injury that will take no fewer than 12 months to recover from. But the Social Security Administration is notorious for denying a person’s benefits in the initial stages. That is why you want an experienced Social Security disability attorney on your side. When you apply for Social Security Disability (SSD), you need to gather some important information to include with your application. That information consists of:
- Your medical records, including the names of your doctors and your medications
- Your birth certificate and marriage license (if you are married), as well as the birth certificates of any minor children you have
- A list of all the employers you worked for in the last 15 years, and contact information for any employer you have worked for in the last two years (plus your current employer)
- Your bank name and account numbers
- What type of education and job training you have had
- Proof of any military service
Certain physical and mental impairments are considered automatically eligible for Social Security Disability benefits – but that does not mean your application will automatically be accepted. We review all of our clients’ applications before filing them because even one seemingly minor mistake can cost you your benefits on your initial try. The lawyers of Larry Pitt & Associates can also help you gather your information if you are having difficulties, or if it is not readily available to you, and will walk you through the application itself to ensure that it is filled out correctly.
Our firm can also help determine whether or not you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income. A person whose initial application is accepted will begin receiving their benefits very soon. But sometimes the initial application for SSD benefits is rejected. Larry Pitt & Associates has helped thousands of people in and around Norristown who have tried to fill out the application on their own, or who originally enlisted the help of another firm for their disability benefits application. If your initial claim has been denied, we assist you through the rest of the process, including the:
- Hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge
- Review of the decision by the Social Security Appeals Council
We also represent clients who wish to file a civil lawsuit in federal district court.
