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Technology Used in Disability Claims
The Social Security disability claims process can take a long time. SSA representatives have to sort through medical records, applications, and work history in order to determine if someone meets the SSA's definition of "disabled." Recently, the Administration has adopted many new technologies to help speed up the time it takes to reach a decision for a disability claim.
The Coye Law Firm knows the value of using the latest technology in disability claims. There are many advantages to using computer-based records or communication, both for clients and for attorneys. If your claim for disability benefits was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. Make sure your case is handled efficiently by contacting a disability lawyer at the Coye Law Firm.
Electronic Records
Documentation is the basis of a disability claim. Without medical records, a detailed work history, and other application materials, the Social Security Administration has nothing to use in determining if someone is disabled. This is why applicants must be thorough and complete when they submit an application for disability benefits.
All of this material can be difficult to keep track of if it is printed on paper and kept in a physical file folder. Electronic records, on the other hand, are easily accessible and organized. A person does not need to flip through section after section and paper after paper to find what they are looking for. Instead, they can look for specific documents and save a lot of time searching for information. Additionally, the information is not limited to a small space on a shelf may be thousands of pages long, but it is not a problem if it is stored on a computer. A disability claimant's records can be accessed from virtually anywhere.
Recently, our firm began using the electronic records system offered by the Social Security Administration. It can take days for printed records to arrive through the mail, and sometimes faxed records can be unreadable or incomplete. Our office is now able to collect electronic records from Social Security and use them to build a strong disability case and present them at a disability hearing.
iPads & Tablets
Some disability claimants must appeal their denied disability claim. The first stage in the disability appeals process is to file a Request for Reconsideration. If that request is denied, then the claimant must file for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. At a hearing, the disability claimant has a chance to discuss their claim in person. If they have an attorney, he or she presents a strong case by showing supporting documents.
To help present this information, some attorneys and representatives are turning to tablet computers, such as the iPad, to quickly scan through materials and documents. Our attorneys are beginning to use this technology to bookmark and add notes to certain parts of a claimant's records. This way, the attorney can present information in the order they intended and make sure that nothing is left out.
Video Conferencing
Disability claimants may be confined to their homes due to illness or injury, making it difficult to meet with an attorney or attend a hearing in regards to their disability claim. In some cases, the client may be able to have a face-to-face conversation by using video conferencing technology. Many video conference services, such as Skype, are free and easy to use. Whether the attorney and client are 5 miles or 500 miles away from a hearing site, video conferencing has its advantages.
While our firm has used this technology for a few years, we are working with the Social Security Administration to begin using it for hearings. The National Social Security Hearing Center is located in Falls Church, Virginia. While it was intended to "help speed disability decisions," it may not easily help those who lives across the country. Once we are able to conduct video hearings with this center, claimants may receive a decision on their disability claims faster than before. Video conferencing saves the client and attorney the time and money associated with traveling to a hearing.
Technology & Disability Claims
If you are hurt and out of work, you may find that disability benefits are necessary to support yourself and your family. Waiting for a decision can be difficult and stressful. Call the Coye Law Firm for guidance. We offer free consultations for disability claims and we want to help you by using the most advanced technology we can. Contact our firm today by calling 800-648-4941.