My SSDI attorney, Aimee Dugas

[I AM]

Aimee Dugas is an SSDI attorney located in Philadelphia PA but with Friedman Law Firm, P.C. out of Birmingham AL. Aimee can handle SSDI hearings in virtually any state, and at the federal level, and she has experience in ME CFS cases. It is not at all easy to find an attorney with these criteria, especially given the unique nature of ME CFS being a very poorly understood "rare" disease among the medical community and beyond.

We had our hearing today and I was very impressed with Aimee's performance. She was well-prepared, summarized the medical findings and pointed the judge to the most compelling records, and asked a few questions of me and of the vocational counselor to show how very disabled I am.

I also was appreciative that Judge Frank Barletta was kind and polite during the 30-minute hearing. He did not ask any strange questions, seemed compassionate, and asked good questions that my attorney said she would not have been able to ask me (eg what are called leading questions).

The vocational specialist was on the phone. By the end of his weighing in on the judge's questions, the vocational specialist said there was no job that I could do.

Now I pray for a full acceptance by the judge and award of the maximum monthly benefit under SSDI with full back pay to day 1. I have a feeling that I will know relatively quickly.

 

[jesse's mom]

That is wonderful @I AM Phoenix

 

[I AM]

I thought it was strange that after I talked about my affluent career and the vocational counselor said that I could not do those jobs any longer but that someone like me could be a mail sorter or a cleaner or a third thing which I forget, this following the doctors' statements that I could not do any repetitive tasks, could not do any sedentary work, and the horrible results of my CPET etc that these jobs which are clearly involving repetitive tasks and physical labor would even be suggested. In the end the vocational counselor said I could not do any jobs and that is what is most important but I just found that "interim" discussion to be odd.

 

[prioris]

You can relax. I'm approving you for disability.
Third thing was probably peasant.

 

[I AM]

You can relax. I'm approving you for disability.
Third thing was probably peasant.

Thank you xoxo

 

[I AM]

@prioris Aimee said that they often like to throw "Walmart Greeter" into the mix, except that now Walmart is letting go of all their disabled workers -- perhaps that is why it was not suggested.

 

[prioris]

Walmart Greeter ... That is funny

 

[CFS Mom]

I am just beginning the process of trying to help my 23 year old daughter w/ CFS apply for disability. Can anyone suggest good lawyers in NC with experience with CFS cases? And also, can anyone tell me if it would be detrimental for my daughter to move out of state while filing for disability? I’m wondering if she needs to stay in NC to get SSI benefits from NC, or if it’s a federal program and thus it doesn’t matter where she lives.

 

[prioris]

I am just beginning the process of trying to help my 23 year old daughter w/ CFS apply for disability. Can anyone suggest good lawyers in NC with experience with CFS cases? And also, can anyone tell me if it would be detrimental for my daughter to move out of state while filing for disability? I’m wondering if she needs to stay in NC to get SSI benefits from NC, or if it’s a federal program and thus it doesn’t matter where she lives.

Why not try to contact Aimee Dugas

When your too much under the age of 50, applying for disability is made more difficult. Heck I got disease sometime under age 6. Some court ruling sometime in last 10 years or so has made filing for CFS much easier from what I understand.

My think is to apply without any lawyers involved in initial application and first appeal since lawyers offer virtually no help in filling out online SS application or do any real work. This part will take 4 months but they may approve her. Lawyers get involved from second appeal on.

I assume she went to a CFS specialist doctor and has done all the exclusion tests and got support of doctor. If so, doctors office makes a copy of the pertinent records and you mail it.

I remember they said in past that moving had no effect ... it just reverts to a different state ... technically it shouldn't matter but i'd be too scared to move ... lol ... maybe getting on disability in different states is made more difficult ... who knows

 

[I AM]

There are average approval ratings per state and per judge listed online. I forget the website.

There is a very useful document that the SSA prepared that explains the definition of disability and what SSA needs from doctors when evaluating disability in patients with ME/CFS. It lists, for example, inclusionary and exclusionary tests. https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/documents/64-063.pdf

 

[Breagjam]

Aimee Dugas is an SSDI attorney located in Philadelphia PA but with Friedman Law Firm, P.C. out of Birmingham AL. Aimee can handle SSDI hearings in virtually any state, and at the federal level, and she has experience in ME CFS cases. It is not at all easy to find an attorney with these criteria, especially given the unique nature of ME CFS being a very poorly understood "rare" disease among the medical community and beyond.

We had our hearing today and I was very impressed with Aimee's performance. She was well-prepared, summarized the medical findings and pointed the judge to the most compelling records, and asked a few questions of me and of the vocational counselor to show how very disabled I am.

I also was appreciative that Judge Frank Barletta was kind and polite during the 30-minute hearing. He did not ask any strange questions, seemed compassionate, and asked good questions that my attorney said she would not have been able to ask me (eg what are called leading questions).

The vocational specialist was on the phone. By the end of his weighing in on the judge's questions, the vocational specialist said there was no job that I could do.

Now I pray for a full acceptance by the judge and award of the maximum monthly benefit under SSDI with full back pay to day 1. I have a feeling that I will know relatively quickly.

hi there, I contacted this law firm today for legal guidance. I’m trying to find some cases they won. Did Aimee end up winning the case for you? Thanks very much

 

[I AM]

hi there, I contacted this law firm today for legal guidance. I’m trying to find some cases they won. Did Aimee end up winning the case for you? Thanks very much

Yes. She did. I know of another mecfs patient who recently used them and said his hearing went well. He feels he too will get a favorable decision.

 

[Breagjam]

That’s encouraging. Glad to hear this

 

[Davsey27]

I too benefited from this firm.The attorney wrote a stellar brief and I was fortunate. You still need to have evidence and do your own research on what tests may be needed Cpet and/or nueropsych exam and I did ask for a brief to be written which the attroney did.Make sure documents are submitted

If you are willing to do some of the legwork on your own and stay on top of things,find out which tests are needed relevant to me/cfs the attroneys seem to be a very good at the presentation. My attorney seemed to have a good rapport with the judge which I thought was an x factor and am greatful for.I have no regrets with signing with the firm

 

[Breagjam]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I am really leaning towards using them.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

I used this Friedman Law, too, and won at application stage. I would also recommend Atty. Moselle Leland. When I initialky consulted, both Atty Jessica Friedman and Atty Leland felt I already had strong case and might want to wait for a denial before hiring them. My LTD would credit for lawyer fees when offsetting my LTD pay with SSDI pay, so it was a no brainer to hire a lawyer this early.

Atty Leland gave excellent early advice but I ultimately went with Friedman because I wanted a firm that was more geographically close to GA: CA vs AL.

I interacted mostly with Caitlin Rich at Friedman Law with one phone call with Atty Friedman. I found them to be responsive and helpful.

I appreciated both lawyers/firms were honest in assessing my case (strong) and suggested I might want to have a wait and see approach, to save me money.

 

[jamie13]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I'm glad you hear you have had some success.

I'm running into issues so far because I'm much younger than 50 years old and attorneys tell me they'll have to prove that I cannot work ANY job at all. (I don't understand this logically, even if I could get through a very minimal part-time job, how would that ever be nearly enough for me and my son to live off of?)

I think it's going to be a really long road for me, but it sounds like reaching out to a more experienced attorney out of state may be better... I'm in Illinois, and haven't been able to find an attorney that takes CFS that seriously yet, especially because I'm under 50.

 

[I AM]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I'm glad you hear you have had some success.

I'm running into issues so far because I'm much younger than 50 years old and attorneys tell me they'll have to prove that I cannot work ANY job at all. (I don't understand this logically, even if I could get through a very minimal part-time job, how would that ever be nearly enough for me and my son to live off of?)

I think it's going to be a really long road for me, but it sounds like reaching out to a more experienced attorney out of state may be better... I'm in Illinois, and haven't been able to find an attorney that takes CFS that seriously yet, especially because I'm under 50.

I know a man from California who was under 50 yrs old and used Friedman Law Firm out of Alabama (not to be confused with the other Friedman Law Firm). The case was held virtually in Texas owing to Covid. And they won his case for him. I urged him to get the 2-day CPET done and it cost him $800 — it’s the gold standard test to prove disability from MECFS. Go for it.

 

[I AM]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I'm glad you hear you have had some success.

I'm running into issues so far because I'm much younger than 50 years old and attorneys tell me they'll have to prove that I cannot work ANY job at all. (I don't understand this logically, even if I could get through a very minimal part-time job, how would that ever be nearly enough for me and my son to live off of?)

I think it's going to be a really long road for me, but it sounds like reaching out to a more experienced attorney out of state may be better... I'm in Illinois, and haven't been able to find an attorney that takes CFS that seriously yet, especially because I'm under 50.

In fact I think he was in his 30s.

 

[jamie13]

I know a man from California who was under 50 yrs old and used Friedman Law Firm out of Alabama (not to be confused with the other Friedman Law Firm). The case was held virtually in Texas owing to Covid. And they won his case for him. I urged him to get the 2-day CPET done and it cost him $800 — it’s the gold standard test to prove disability from MECFS. Go for it.

ok, I contacted Aimee and we’re going to discuss my case. She’s not in Alabama though, so I will look for that form as well!

will attorneys know things like CPET well enough to recommend them for disability? Just curious… I know SSA wants to see medical evidence and if a CPET is what they need, then fine… but hey, they should pay for that then! Of course our country is backwards though, another story for another day.

and thank you for that information. I really appreciate the insight & help. I am in my 30s.