Social Security Disability (SSDI) lawyer recommendation? (US)

[Jenc]

I am looking for recommendations for an SSDI lawyer. My case is currently in Maryland but I don't need someone local.

 

[gbells]

You can look up lawyers in the Martindale Hubbel directory. Look for good ratings and feedback. However, I would review doctor's notes initially and keep a pain and function diary. Line up some discriptive letters of support from friends who know you can can comment about problems you have like trash piling up, dirty apartment, your lack of activity reduced from previous life. Submit to SSA.

 

[Jenc]

You can look up lawyers in the Martindale Hubbel directory. Look for good ratings and feedback. However, I would review doctor's notes initially and keep a pain and function diary. Line up some discriptive letters of support from friends who know you can can comment about problems you have like trash piling up, dirty apartment, your lack of activity reduced from previous life. Submit to SSA.

Thanks - I am looking for personal recommendations as getting one who understands ME/CFS would be my preference - I'll edit the thread title if I can

My specialist completed a residual functional form for me and referenced these sites so the basics are in hand

https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/social-security-disability/
https://www.massmecfs.org/.../han.../Disability_Handbook.pdf (from
https://www.massmecfs.org/social-security-disability )

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2019.00231/full

https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2014-01-di-01.html

There was also a recent webinar (from the Bateman center maybe?) on documenting disability

 

[Pyrrhus]

I am looking for recommendations for an SSDI lawyer. My case is currently in Maryland but I don't need someone local.

One name that has been reputably mentioned is Barbara Comerford:
https://www.tristatedisabilitylaw.com/

She even co-authored an article on ME/CFS:
https://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor203178

 

[Jenc]

One name that has been reputably mentioned is Barbara Comerford:
https://www.tristatedisabilitylaw.com/

She even co-authored an article on ME/CFS:
https://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor203178

I contacted her office already - the paralegal was very helpful, helped me complete their intake form and said I would be contacted by a lawyer within 24 - 48 hours.

It has been 3 days since that chat, I've emailed 2x since to try to arrange the intro call.

No lawyer has tried to contact me; not even to say they are busy and to schedule for a later date.... not great start to the experience. I hope others have better luck

 

[gbells]

One name that has been reputably mentioned is Barbara Comerford:
https://www.tristatedisabilitylaw.com/

She even co-authored an article on ME/CFS:
https://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor203178

I don't think you could get a better lawyer than Comerford. Keep contacting her.

Neuropsychological testing was the final determinant for my positive SSD decision. Without it I would have been denied. I wasn't even successful on a claim of ME, they gave it to me based on the testing.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[nyanko_the_sane]

Some tips: I don't think anyone actually gets disability from just claiming they have ME/CFS. Often it has to do with the number of conditions you have and the severity. Age is also a factor as the older you are the fewer jobs you can do with your determined RFC. There is no such thing as too many records, the more evidence you have the better. Frequent visits to your doctors is also important. Make sure you know what is actually in your medical records, request copies of everything to the finest detail. Social Security will often not give significant weight to your doctor's opinions without supporting objective evidence, they will defer to their doctor's opinions.

My best tip: Don't give up, keep fighting till you prevail.

 

[gbells]

Make sure you know what is actually in your medical records, request copies of everything to the finest detail. Social Security will often not give significant weight to your doctor's opinions without supporting objective evidence, they will defer to their doctor's opinions.

My best tip: Don't give up, keep fighting till you prevail.

Good advice. My lawyer didn't review the doctor's records but only made sure submissions were received and forwarded on time. SSA said both my MDs (integrative MD) and their own experts (psychiatrist, occupational examiner MDs) were noncredible and the only expert they couldn't rebut was the neuropsychologist PhD which resulted in the SSD award. I suspect if I hadn't gotten the neuropsych testing they would have judged their experts credible and sustained the denial. It's all rigged to deny claims which is why so few ME cases get disability. It took me four years to navigate all the appeals and I was only able to survive on public assistance.

 

[Jenc]

I don't think you could get a better lawyer than Comerford. Keep contacting her.

Neuropsychological testing was the final determinant for my positive SSD decision. Without it I would have been denied. I wasn't even successful on a claim of ME, they gave it to me based on the testing.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks _ I spoke with a lawyer there yesterday. Have you used them personally?

 

[gbells]

Thanks _ I spoke with a lawyer there yesterday. Have you used them personally?

No but anyone who is a coauthor on an article about ME related disability knows her stuff.

 

[Davsey27]

I am looking for recommendations for an SSDI lawyer. My case is currently in Maryland but I don't need someone local.

You can try the friedman law firm in Alabama

 

[nyanko_the_sane]

My lawyer didn't review the doctor's records but only made sure submissions were received and forwarded on time.

A good advocate knows the law and goes over your records with you. They should be able to advise you on whether your case is strong enough to win. It also really helps if they know the ALJs in your region.

You can go it alone for most of the battle, but it really helps to have an advocate for the last mile.

I had to go through the SSDI process twice before finally prevailing, all in all it took me 12 years to build a case strong enough to get disability. It took just under two years from applying to receiving an ALJ decision. The same advocate stuck with me since the very beginning, he really earned his pay.

 

[gbells]

A good advocate knows the law and goes over your records with you. They should be able to advise you on whether your case is strong enough to win. It also really helps if they know the ALJs in your region.

You can go it alone for most of the battle, but it really helps to have an advocate for the last mile.

I had to go through the SSDI process twice before finally prevailing, all in all it took me 12 years to build a case strong enough to get disability. It took just under two years from applying to receiving an ALJ decision. The same advocate stuck with me since the very beginning, he really earned his pay.

What evidence changed their mind? For me it was the neuropsychology testing that disproved malingering and was positive for cognitive problems.

 

[Davsey27]

Check out attorney Walter Hnott III on youtube

Mr Hnot is an attorney based in Florida and he has a
show airing every Thursday 8-10pm est where he answers disability related questions and will practice mock hearings with claimants

Although,I cant speak of the results as he isn't assigned to my case he does seem to have good reviews and seems to be very knowledgable of the system,providing updates on almost a daily basis on new changes in the SSA system,relevant info for individuals who are applying for diaability and are on it.


Mr Hnot also works with the homeless in florida,seems to be empathetic and isn't afraid to put himself out there



Hope this may help

 

[gbells]

I think he's great. I've been through an ALJ hearing and understand what he's saying. However, if you are claiming SSD for depression appearing overy lively could contradict your claim so I don't agree with that.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Related discussions:

on YT there is a lawyer that talks about this. Her name is Nancy Cavey. I'm not sure where she handles cases but it sounds like she does actually take ME/CFS SSDI cases.

There is another attorney, Jonathan Ginsburg, that talks about Fibromyalgia cases. He's very honest about what it takes to get onto SSDI with such a diagnosis. You could look for others there too but I did not see too many--not for SSDI anyway. When I was trying for it, I watched a lot of his videos. He explains things very well.

My SSDI attorney, Aimee Dugas
https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/my-ssdi-attorney-aimee-dugas.75381/