The Social Security Administration can require a consultative examination known as a CE for short. This can be scheduled by the disability examiner at the initial claim and reconsideration stages and by an administrative law judge at the hearing stage.

Most often these consultative examinations are scheduled because your records indicate that you haven’t seen a doctor recently or because there might be a condition for which you never received treatment. I have written an article about preparing for you consultative examination.

If the disability examiner or judge notes in your medical records that you are “depressed” or “anxious,” the Social Security Administration may be obligated to send you for a mental consultative examination even if you don’t claim to be depressed or anxious on your application and never sought treatment.

Many disability claimants are surprised when they receive a letter from the Social Security Administration scheduling them for a mental consultative examination when their disability application is filed on the basis of a pure physical problem such as a heart problem, degenerative disc disease, or diabetes.

If you are scheduled for a mental consultative examination, we suggest that you call Tampa St. Petersburg Social Security Disability lawyers, Cavey & Barrett to discuss what will occur during that evaluation, how you should prepare for that evaluation and how you should present yourself.

Posted March 04th 2009 to Getting a Lawyer,The Claims Process | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Without a doubt, you can improve your chances of winning at the disability hearing stage by finding a qualified Social Security Disability attorney, such as Sharon Barrett, who is based in Tampa/St. Petersburg.
Sharon will assist you in obtaining your medical records, getting a Residual Functional Capacity sheet completed by your physician, and submitting this documentation to the judge who will be hearing your Social Security Disability case.

Social Security lawyer Sharon Barrett will also assist you in preparing for your Social Security Disability hearing.

Posted March 01st 2009 to 10 Mistakes to Avoid in the Claims Process,Getting a Lawyer | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Attorneys Nancy Cavey and Sharon Barrett are nationally recognized for their expertise and contribution to the field of Disability Law. With their new book “What You Should Know Before Filing Social Security Benefits” they have provided the consumer with an essential tool. Disability, whether it is yourself or a family member, can be a very difficult time in one’s life. This book can protect the reader from making critical mistakes that could have disastrous results for the disabled and their family. If you are concerned about Social Security Disability benefits this book is a must read.

Vaughn DeKirby, Disability Attorney

San Franciso, CA.

Posted February 07th 2009 to Getting a Lawyer | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

The decision to file for social security disability is an important one. An error or wrong turn can result in a denial or
significant delay of often much-needed benefits. It would be a serious mistake to file your application without the clear and
cogent information in this helpful book.

I highly recommend the book, and its authors, to anyone who wants to get it right the first time.

Brenda Hollingsworth
Ottawa, Lawyer

Posted February 07th 2009 to Getting a Lawyer | Comments (1)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

According to the Counsel for Disability Awareness, three out of ten American workers will become disabled  during their working lives.

Do you know, that according to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 48.9 million Americans have some type of disability and 16 million are unable to work in any capacity.

If you are unable to support yourself or your family because of a disability, you should apply for Social Security Disability benefits. At Cavey and Barrett, Pinellas County Social Security Disability lawyers, we find that most Social Security disability applicants are denied benefits at the initial ad reconsideration stage. The Social Security Administration’s denial isn’t because the applicant doesn’t have a real disability or are able to support themselves.

Sharon Barrett, who was employed by the Social Security Administration as a staff disability attorney, reviewed thousands of denied Social Security Disability applications. Sharon will tell you that most Social Security claims denials are because the social security  disability applicant didn’t understand the standards used by the Social Security administration in evaluating a claim and didn’t have the proper medical evidence.

All too frequently, Social Security disability benefits are denied simply because the applicant didn’t know how to go about properly filing their claim and submitting appropriate documentation.

At Cavey and Barrett, we can assist you every step of the way. We will help you file your initial claim for Social Security disability benefits, collect your medical records, assist you with the appeal process, if necessary, secure appropriate medical documents from your doctor to establish your disability, file a prehearing memorandum of law, prepare you for the hearing in front of the administrative law judge, and be your advocate before the Judge.

Posted November 29th 2008 to Getting a Lawyer | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post